/ / / <// / . / ' / / Puhhij iVDay 17 l'<>iwfU Sft t82t ■ r^-^tro THE ■ - LIFE OP , ? ■ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE; COSTAIN'INO EVERY AUTHENTIC PARTICULAR yjj/ which his extraordinary Charafter has been formed; WITH A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVB OCCASIONE-D HIS UNPARALLELED ELEVATION, AND A , PHILOSOPHICAL REVIEW OF HIS MANNERS AND POLICY AS A Soldier, a Statesman, and a Sovereign.- IN'CLUUING Memoirs and Original Anecdotes OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY, AND THE MOST CELEBRATED CHAllACTCRS THAT HAVE APPEARED IN FRANCE DURING THE REVOLUTION, By WILLEM LODKAVYK VAN-ESS. VOL. I. FIFIIl EDITION. LOiSDON : Printed by W. Uay, 13, Goiwcll Street, For E. BUMFORD, Nu. 5, Ni:\\GArE STREET, AND iOLD uy ALI, ROOKiLLLl.Ri IN TiiE l/NiI£D KINGDOM. ADVERTISEMENT. To write the Life 0/ Napoleon Buona- parte, is to record the orign and the progress of that zoo7iderJul HetohUion zchich has con- vulsed the civilized zvorld, and de&troijtd and dismembered some of its viightitst and most an- cient States and Principalities ; ivhich has al- ternatelij formed Kingdoms into Republics and HepuOlics into Kingdoms ; and which has sur- prized the universe, bij exhibiting an obscure In- dividual advancing himself to the greaUst height of human elevation^ and securing his porier bij a sublimity of arrangement, that threatens to baffle the attempts of the most refined hostility/. Whether such an Individual should be ulti- matelij successful or 7iot, his Memoirs, and the facts zoith which they are connected, must be equallij interesting ; and the lessons to be gained by his success or his fall, must be equally im- portant. To render any character instructive, it must be impartially given ; and the Biographer, in 4 the present instance, has sedulouslj/ axcnded at- tributing any aciion to a zcrong motive, and been careful neither improperhf to approve, nor ■unjustlij to condemn. IJis situation in life has afforded him the means of observation, zeithout enrolling him either among thejlatterers or the enemies of Buonaparte ; and zcithout havi'ng at- tempted to depreciate any similar und, rtaking, he has endeavoured to render his ozcn dtserving of pub lie ^ipj) ro bat io n . LONDOX. fcOth JcNx, 1800. I. I F 1] OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. CHAPTEll I. Anecdotes of Infancy unimportant ...Birth of Buonaparte. Count Marbceuf and Buonaparte's Mother ...Her Infidelity, Reflexions on Calumny.. .Buonaparte's reputed Illegitimacy and the Crimes of his Family.. .His Admijfion into the Royal Military Schoolat Brienne. ..Account of the French Royal Mi- V'tary Schools... Early Difpojition of Buonaparte ...His Gar- den at Brienne . . . Studies . . . Father Patrauit . . . Library of the Pupils. .. Buonaparte' sretired'Purfuits andLtterary Recrea- tions. ..Attachment to CorJica...St. Napoleon.. .Buonaparte's Lo've of Paoli... Haired of the Genoefe, and its confequences to a Corfican Pupil... His contempt of the French luho fer'ved m CorJlcn...His aufieriiy...The Leader of Rebellions in the School. ..Jwjenile Military Battalion. ..Buonaparte an Offi- cer, tried and difgraced.. DireBor of the School Di'verjion's. Infliiutes ancient Military Sports, luhich are fuppreffed by the Superiors ...A Winter Campaign . ..Buonaparte Comman- der in Chief ...His Fortifications, and his Violence of Tern- per. ..St. Louis's Day, and the Hilarity of the Pupils. ..Buo- naparte's Retirement and Gloom. ..Fire lForJis...A dreadful ExplofioH... Buonaparte's Revenge. ..M. Ic Chevalier de Renault remonjes him to the Royal Military School at Paris. Charaiier of Buonaparte. ..Monge...LauriJion...Dupont... Bourienne... Buonaparte's Studies at Paris. ..He enters the Coips of ArtilUry...His faiiious Seniiments... Death of Count Marbceuf... Buonaparte efcapes being droioned by fame Officers.. .His Hopes from the popular Dfcontents. J- MC Jegendary narrations of the nifaniine actions and purluits of the Subject oftheib M; moir?, are as numerous and as doubtful as thofe which have been 6 THE LIFE OF told of otlier great and extraordinary men. The peurilities of childhood however, are below the dig- nity of biographical record ; they do not increafe our ftores of ufeful knowledge, and are incapable of im- proving our judgment; ihey are only objects of cu- riofity to a mind debilitated by dotage, or weakened by an undeviating purfuit after tnfles, and are therefore unworthy ofcither our inquiry or our notice. Napoleon Buonaparte was born on theljthof Augufl, 1769, at Ajaccio, a fniall town in the ifland of Corfica. He was the eldest fon of Carlo Buona- parte, a lawyer of Italian extraction, by his wile Letitia RanioUni ; and it has been laid, that General Paoli was his god-father. General Count JNIarboeuf •was the early patron of Napoleon ; be had con- quered Corrtca for the kingdom of France, and was appointed governor of the ifland. His protection be- came advantageous to the family of Buonaparte, and it is reported to have been excited by the charms of Napoleon's mother, that her blandilhments obtained the Count's warmeft regards, and that he rewarded her intimations of fondnefs by an attachment dif- graceful to her reputation, and diftionourable to her liulband ; fhat thefe folicitations were but a continu- ation of the conduct (he adopted towards others pre- vious to her marriage; that ihe was tlien noiorioully unchafte, and that her connexion with the Count, at the fame time thai it confirmed her liulband's fuipi- fcion of her infidelity, alfo gave him Napoleon for an hen-. The elevation of individuals from low Nations to exalted ranks in life, whether by their merits, their crimes, or their intrigue, has always atforded the NAPOLEON BUONAPAr.tE. f malignant an opportunit}^ of calumny, and the cu- rious a fund of inquiry; the hatred of ihe one, and the frivolity of the other are alike injurious to trutii ; the one will forge a fact, and the credulity of the other pronounce it genuine and give itcurrency, and thus the vile and the virtuous are equally fubjecl to milVepre- fentation and abufe. Thoi'e narrations, therefore, \vhich indii'criniinatcly impute to the family and connexions of Buonaparte, the conunillion of fla- grant and deteftable crimes, and incorrigible depra- vity of h(-art fliould be liftened to with a cautious referve, and fuch as elude inquiry as to thicir origin, or wliofe origin does not fully prove tlieir authenti- city, we have no fufficient warranty to bclieye. The ftory of Buonaparte's illegitimacy is at pre- fent deilitute of tlie authority we require, but be liis origin what it may, lie became fo nuicii an object of the Count INIarbocuf's protection as to have been ad- mitted by his influence with the Martchal de Segur, the French INIiniiler at War, as an Eleve du Roi, into L'EcoIc Roiinl MUifaire, at Brienne, in the province of Champaigne, It w^as there that he acquired a knowledge of the military and political fcicnces, which he has (Ince fo well matured by experience, and which has enabled him to lead mighty arrnif s to battle, and to conquer; which has bought princes to his feet to i'ue for the nomin.il porieiTion of their ftates, which has procured for him kingdoms that he has bellowed on thole whom he chofe to create fovereigns, and which has given him the uncon- trouled and the abfolute dominion of an empire, that he railed to be the mightieft on the continent of Eu- rope, and feated him on the throne of the molt 8 tHE LiFB or ancient and powerful dynaflies of tlie civilized ^YOl•ld. The fchool at Brienne was one of the tliirteen Rui/al Military fchoois, or colleges,- which were efta- bliflied in various provinces of the kingdom of France, and they were jiarticularly patronifed by the two lalt fovereigns of ttie Bourbon family. Thefe eftatjiiiiunents were rnagnificiently endowec], and the pupils enjoyed every advantage which wis eflential to their domftic convenience. The nioft able mafters fuperiutended tiieir education, and they were prin- cipally encouraged to acquire a competent know- ledge of the ancient and modern languages, geo- graphy, liifiory, the mathematics, and every branch of military fcience. Thefe purfuits were, however, enlivened by the charms of elegant literature ; the lit He and the (/i<7L/wereoccafionally blended, and the fatigue of mind arifmg from abftrufe inquiries was fucceeded by an indulgence in h",dies that were lefs elaborate. The pupils were alio cxpecled to partake itt- fuch amufenients as inure the conUitution io lci!s which men, trained to the militiiry I'ervice are likely to experience. The rules of thel<; fchoois put in re- quilition all the talents and activity c.i th.e pupils, di- rected their curiofity to fubjefts the moft likely to d-ii'play their ingenuity in diicuding them, and by e.xercifing llieir minds and bodies hr.pj ily attempered the corporeal and mental facult.ct to the advantage of their country. I'Ei'oIc lUiijalc MiUtaire at Paris, was at the head of the other mi'itary fchoois in the pro\iuces, an 1 it was to thislchoolthat not only fubordmation was acknow- ledged by the pupils uf the olherS; but to whith tliey SfATOLEON BUONAPAnXK. 9 looked forward as Uic havri:! of nil tlie youths of pre-eiuineiil genius, that the niilitarv I'chools of the provinces had educi'ted. l''.xainiiiations were an- nually held in (lie pi (fence of a rovai infpcftor, who was inoft commonly a general otlicer, and of two members of the Frencl) academy, and fach pupils, whole proficieiicv iji ftiidy qualified them for candi- dates, and whole good reputation in the fchool was veriiied by the teilimoriv of the regents, were then felet'led and admitted pupils of the R(^yal Military Scho )I at Paris. Here their ftudies were completed, and *'roni hence they were honourably difmifTedjand immediately attached to fome regiment, or appoint- ed to fome military employment. Napoleon Buonaparte arrived at the Royal Mili- tary School at Brienne in the year 1779) being then only ten years old. At this early age, however, he difcovered a peculiar temper of mind. He avoided the juvenile fports and amufements of the other pu- pils, and courted folitude and gloom ; withdrawing himfelf from their mirth, he devoted his attention to fed'ntary, rather than to aftive employment, and appeared entirely engaged in his own individual and retired purfuits. He feldom expofed himfelf to his fchool-fellows, for as he came only as a monitor, they repulfed his reprimands and railleries, by blows, which he received with indifference, returned with coolnefs, and never Ihunned by retreating from fa- pcrior force. A large plot of ground adjoining the fchool, had been divided into a number of portions, and the boys were allowed to cultivate thefe portions, or ajipro- priate ^them to fuch other purpofes as they pleafed. 10 THE LIFE or One of thefe parcels was allotted to Buonaparte and two other lads ; he fucceeded in prevailing on bis two partners to give up their right to participate in tlie amufeinents which their ground would buve af- forded, and having ihu5 excluded all claim on the part of any onv elle, lie rroceeded to lay it out into a garden, which he took much pains to improve, and his attention to wliich was the principal part of his recreation. He expended the money which the Count Miii'oaMif hid fent him for his pocliet, in the conftruction of a ilrong p;i'if:i:Ie around his garden, by winch he reudrred it difficult of acceis.. I'he flirubs which Le alio planted, fe>nie of which were furmtd into impenetrable arbours, cori'jibuted to its fecluiioa from the grounds of the otiier boys, and encrcai'ed the difikulties of their intrution. It does not appear, that on his iirll entrance at fchool, any extraordinary acquirements of learning marked an inordinate deiire of iuflrudtion, or intenfe- nefs of application; he feems to have negleded, if not altogether rejected, in his early years, the attain- mer.t of the Latin language. He foon, however, applied himfelf with earneftnefs to tbe mathematics, the rudiments of which he was taught by Tather Pa- trauk, a miniin, at Brienne. Fortifictition, and all the other branches of military fcience and ta£tics iie fludied with increafing ardour ; and thefe, with the reading of hiftory, principally of ancient Rome and Greece, were his moll deliglitful occupation. During this p,'»-iod which Buonaparte continued, at Brienne, a library was formed for theamufement and jnfiruftion of the pupils, and which was to be under their entire direction. To give them proper notions NAPOLEON BUONAPAKTE. 11 of arrangement and order, their fuperiors left the diftribution of the books and other affairs to the management of two of the boarders, chofen by their comrades. The calls of Buonaparte on one of thefe who was appointed librarian, were fo often and fo much more frequent than the applications of his com- panions, that the young man confidered him tire- fome, and fometimes loft his temper; Buonaparte was not lefs patient, nor lefs pofitive, and on thefe oc- cafions extoi,"ted fubmiffion by blows. The hours of vacation between his attendance on the preceptors of the fchool were fpent in his gar- den, which he cultivated fo affiduoufly, as to preferve its interior in a ftate of order and cleanlinefs. Its boundaries became impervious, and enclofed a re- treat that might have been coveted by a religious re- «lufe. Here, when his horticultural labours were ended, he retired to its arbours, with his mathema- tical and fcientific works, and, furrounded by thefe and other books, chiefly on hiftorical fubjeds, he meditated the reduftion of the principles he had im- bibed to praftice. He planned the attack and de- fence of fortified places, the arrangement of hoftile corps in order of battle, calculated the chances of fuccefs on the one part, and of defeat on the other, altered their pofition, and formed charges and vi(So-' ries upon paper, and on the ground, which he after- wards realifed with fuecefs when diredting the evo- lutions of the French armies. His military ardour was increafed by his hiftorical reading ; his enthufiafm was excited by the lives of thofe antient legiilators, heroes, and warriors, which are recorded by the ve- nerable Plutarch, the fplendour of whofe adions ]'2 THE LIFK OF have eclipfed the injuftice ut which they fonictimes aimed, and which more irtquently originated in the darhig puipof'ts of the factious partilan, or in the defperate pohcy of the bold-faced tyrant, than in the laudable deiign of the intrepid patriot, to trca his country from defpolilin; or, than in the refolntiou of the Chief of a free Peoi)!e, to preferve their inde- pendence, and fccnrc their gC'Vurnnient from treach- ery. Tlie Life of the Marlhal, Prince of Saxony, was alfo a frequent lecreation to Buonaparte, after a clofe application to the mathematics. He perfifted in all his ftudii^ with avidity. Tire Belles Lettres were not any fource of his en- tertainment, his fole and undivided attention was to military acquirements, and a proficiency in the ftu- dies which form the habits of a warrior. Polite, or liberal accompliliiment, he appeared to confider that a foldier fliould difdain. He had, doubtlefs, heard of the achievements of Marlborough in the field, and perhaps that he had alfo (tudied the art of. pleafing, " that by it he gain(;d, whoever he had a mind to gain; and he had a mind to gain every body becaufe he knew that every body was, more or lels worth gaining." But it was not by gracefulnefs of demeanour tliat Buonaparte defigned to win what he could not gain by mere force, he never fought lo at- tain by a difplay of any endeavour to pleafe what he could n<;t pofil'fs bv his power, he never rclin- quiflied the purfuit of, but acquired it by fcrataui ni, in which t!ure was no feeing of hit mfim nee- lie fcorned the arts of a courtier, nor even employed th(-m where it might liave been fuppofed thut no other attempt would iucccd. All oilier n.eau?., N'APOLEON BUONAPAUTR 13 which power, and the ingemiity of an unciiltivaic-d mind would have deviled, he uftid, without hehta- tlon. Ills comrades tailed him The Spartan, and he retained the name until l.c quitte.d B lenue. 15uonaparte's attachment to Corlica was ahnoft proverbial. It was ufual for ilu- boys to receive tlie communion and be coufiriu'don the fame day, an.d the ceremony was performed at tlie Mihtary Schoi 1 by the Archbilhop : when he came to Haonaparlc, he asked him, like the reft, liis Chriftiun name; Buonaparte anfwered aloud. The name of Napo- leon, being uncommon, efcaped the Archbiflujpjwho fiofued him to repeat it which IVaonaparle did, wiih an appearance of impatience. The niiiiifter v. ho ailiUed, remarked to the Prelate—" Naj)oleon ! I do not know that faint.'— "Parbleu ! I beleive it," obl'erved Tjuonnpartf', " the faint is a Co)iican." His fellow jiupils Irequently irritated iiim by call- ing him a French vall'.il : he retorted eagerly, and with bitternefs. lie fomelimes declared a belief that his deftiny was to deliver Coriica from its dependence on Frar.ce. The name of Paoli he never mentioned but with reverence, and lie afpired to liie honour of achieving the defign which the plans of that oliic-er could not acc(impli!li. Genoa bad iidded to the ca- lamity of his country ijy furrenderinj, it to I'ranee, and thus cx|.ofrd it to a fubjcition wlu' h it gallant! v re.fifted, but to which fuperiou' ibrec; compelled iub- niifTion. To the Genoele his hatred was inveterate and eternal; a young Corfican, on his arrival at the college, was prefented to Buonaparte, by the other ftudeiits, as a Genoefe ; the gloom of las countenance inftantly kindled into rage, he darted upon the lad Vol. I. — ..10. I. B ^ '• Tjii: i.nr, or V. ith vchemrnrOjtwiaed his liniuLs in Lis hair, nnd \'.as only prcvi ntid ufiir^ I'urtlfr \i()lenc(! hv tiio i!iiii!(-(Iiale iiiltr;crri!ce (iftl;c ftroni:fr boxs, win) (ira^'^i-d ti.e lad away JVcm his refeutmcnt. lii.s an- atv rekindled a:;;;!;)!! tliib- youth for many v/eeks ait« ]-\vai'ds, as tV( (nieiilly as ];C came near h'nn. Ivac-iiapartt'; was alwavs dcfirous of hcariiig ac- coiiiits ot: the public traHfaCtions ia C'.it\'i<::\. lie ivv(r;d his ccuutry, and never lueiuiourd its rellft- ai;re. to Frar.cc witliout enthufialiu. He liftCDed \'.it]'i lh(> irioft lively intereft to i!ie various f'ucc-elies <'f ill!' CcnI'can patriots in arms. Some of the Frep.ch clVceis v.liohad i'erved in Corfica, would frcqueiulv ro to the i'chool a.t I'rienne, and the C(inveri'alion often turned ujjon tiie Corfican war. They would ibnietimes cxaginM-atv tl^eir advantages over the CuriieanF, ar;d he alN.^v.Ml tiiom to talk quietly on, occarionally, however, an.:;;, a (lirewd (juelrion ; but, when he v,as certain ihey had fu'.siliefl a taor, he would cagfrly ( xclaim," A'-e )0u uol aih;inied, for :i !iion!entary gratitieatic n of vanity, to calumniate a wh(;le luition." At one time an ( iTieer was cielcrib- h:2 a victcjrv, that, he lairi, had been obtained Ijy iix luuidied of the I'rench, rmcuiaparti.' exehumed, " You fav there w(;re li,->; hundred of you in the eu- i^aiienienl. I know \gu were Iix thouland, and that v(;u were oj'poied only by a few wrelehtd Corficau peafanfs." lie then opened his journals and n)aps, and, referring to them, declaimed a-aiuft the vain- glorious boafungs of the French oilicers. liis manners were very remarkable ; pride was the prominent feature of his charaaer;his conducl was auflcre; if lie committed an error, it was not the NAPOLKON BUONAPAUrr,. .15 fault of a boy, it was th*; refult of deliberation, and what would, in mature age, iuive been deemed a crime, liii fe%onty never forgave the offences oHhU companions. His refolves w<^re imtnovcub!(\ and hi- fzrumeis in trdies lincturt d his behaviour with obui- nacy and eceentrieity. Frequenliy engaged in quar- rels, he was ol'tcn the greateft {'ufferer, ;is lie generally cnntended on the weakefi fide, and tiiough he was nioftlyfmgled out as an ubjeot oi revenge, he never ctanrilained to Iiis i'upcriors of ill treatment. He niediiated retaliation in lilence, and if iie could not inflict a puniriiment himfelf, b.e dilVhiUicd tipix'aling to an authority that could enlbrce it. Tlie boys of the fchool were, however, gradually familiarized to his Icmpei', he would not bend to them, and they were contented to concede to him. He ac- Ct^pted this acknowledginent of his fujieriority, witii- outany appearance of feif grutualaticjn, and although they could not ellecin him ibr any of the milder vir- tues, ihey feared his inilciiible nature, and allowed him either to indulge iu feclulion, or to aifociate with themfelvcs as he might pleai'e. 'I'he infurre£lions of the fcholars againll the mafters were frequent, and Buonaparte was either at the head of each rebellion or was feleded to advocate their complaints. He ■was therefore generally feledod as the leader, and fuf- fcred fevere cdalufer^ient. He often vindicated his conducl, but never entreated pardon. He liftened to reproach, and to reproof, to promiles, and to threats, without emotions of fear or furprife. He was never humilated by thofe punifhments that were in- tended to difg ace him, and the radiery of an unge- nerous comrade, or a powerful fuperiorjwas equally JO THE LliE OF received in fullen fileuce. He neither courted good- will nor feared refentnu-ut. The meetings of the boys were on the plan of a military eftablifi.nient. 'I'hey formed themfelves into companies, f ach imdcr the command of a cap- tain and other <;ffic('r?, and the whole compofed a battalion, with a colonel at its head. The offictis were chofen by the boys, and decorated by the orna- ments ufually attached to the; French uniform. Thefe diftinctions of rank being conferred by the lads were luoftly the reward of fome pre-eminent virtue or ability, they were, therefore, confidered by ihofe ■vlio were fo fortunate to obtain them, as an hon- ourable injignia of merit. Buonaparte was, unani- nioufly chofen, and held the rank of Captain. He, however, by no means courted their approbation ; •or he was foon afterwards fummoned before a court- martial, which was called with all due formality, •ind, on charges being proved aguinft him, declared unworthy to connnand thofe comrades whofe good- will he defpifed. The fenttnce difgraced him to the lowell rank in the battalion, he was ftripped of the Hirtinguilhir.!; marks of his command, but difdaiiicd r.'> fti'jw ihat iiG was allccted by the difgrace. The younger boy?, however, were paitial to Buo- ;,.i;:arte's mauuers.forlie fometimes encouraged them ;u ti.eirfports.aud occafionally pointed out fome ad- van Uu^'; whicii in their warlike plays had been omitted 'o be occupied, h'^nce he aflbciated with them, and ;hev voted hir.i, by acclamation, the Director of their DiverlioKS. 'i'hu?, if he felt regret for the lofsof his j ivenile military rank, he was now recompenfed l>y becoming the leader of the lads, who fubmilted to the NAPOLEON BUUN'APAPvTE. I? authority thev had beftowed on him, and vhich au- tliority foon extended itft If over all the youths in the fcliool. Without being Keftncted to obferve the rules vvhich are efiential to modern military (Uity, he could now bring liis forces into the field, and dired all their operations. He availed himfelf of this new com- mand, and he difciplined his comrades to a new mode of warfare. Buonaparte divided hisyouthful comrades into two parties ; thev were alternately the Romans and the Carthaginians, the Greeks and the Pcrfians. To re- prefent the mode of lighting of the ancients in the open field, was more caly for thcfe lads than to imitate the movements of an army of modern times. They were deftitute of artillery, which in European battles are fomet'mes more dccilive of the fate of the day than any weap( us of individual ufe. In fliam fights, indeed, the raufket is more often ufed, bccaule it more often happens that artillery is not to be ob- tained to heiijliteu the efled of the conteft,; but the raulket, which is the only weapon m the hands of the foldier, is infufiicieut to picture in a lliam fight its effects in an actual engagement, which is oftener de- cided by the bayonet than by fire arms. Buonaparte therefore inftituted and encouraged the praciiceoflhe. ancient warfare ; he e.\cited the enthufiafm of his youthful foldiery by his fpeeches antlhis aftious ; he led on one party agaiuft another, and the victory was often difputed with an obftinacy that would have honoured a more important liruggle. If his troops hed, he recalled them, by his reproches ; by expofing himfelf to dangers he revive d their ardour, and fup- ported tiieir intripidity by his own bravery. Thefe B 2 18 THEtlFEOK condifts were often repeated, and the field of buttle difputed with more firmnefs on every occafiou. At length the games, which commenced in fport, feldom doled until the wounds of the combatants proved the earnelinefs with which tliey contended. The fupcriors of the college intorfer«.:d, they reprimanded the } ouug General Buonaparte, and a renewal of thefe battles was prohibited. His adivity repreflfed in the only exercife to which he was attached, Buonaparte retired to his favourite garden, refumed his former occupations, and ap- peared no more among his comrades until the winter of the year 1783. The feverity of the weather had driven him from his retreat, the fnow had lain thick upon the ground, and a hard froft had let in. Buo- naparte ever fertile in expedients, determined to open a winter campaign upon a new plan. The modern art of war fuccteded to the ancient. Hav- ing been deeply engaged in the Uudy of fortilication, it was natural that he Ihould be delirous of reducing Jt3 theory to praftice. He called his fellow pupils around him, and collefling their gardening imple- ments, he put himfelf at their head, and they pro- ceeded k) procure large quantities of fnow, which were brought to particular fpols in the great court of the fchool, as he directed. Whilft they were thus occupied, he was bufied in tracing the bounda- ries of an extenfive fortification ; they foon formed intrenchments, and afterwards eagerly engaged in ereding fortSj baftions, and redoubts of fnow. They laboured with aftivity, and Buonaparte fuperin- tended their exertions. The whole of tlxefe work? were Iboii conmleted NAPOLEOK BUONAPAKXR. Ip according to the exuct rules of art. The curiofity of the peo})le of Briemie, and even of flrangei'S, was excited by the reports of their extent and llientjiic: conftrudlion, and they went in crouds during the winter to admire thein. Buonaparte, by tarns headed the aflailants and the opp-onenls ; he united addrefs with courage, and directed the operations with great applaufe. The weapons of the conter.d- ing parties were fnow balls, and he cont'inually kept up the iiifereft by fonie military manoeuvre, which always furprifed, if it did not aflonifli. I'lie en- counters were equally. earneft with thofe of the fum- aier campaign, but the arms were diOerent. The superiors now encouraged thefe games of the boys, by praifing thofe who diftingui/hed themfelves. The fporls continued throughout the winter, and it was not until the fun of the month of March 1784, li- quified the fortrefs, that it was declared no longer tenable. The rudenefs of maivnera which Buonaparte dif- played, and the violence of temper to which he was fubjed, were not at all foftened or fubdued previous to his quitting Brienne, his paroxifras of paffion had fometiines amounted even to fury, and his anger was often fo fuddeu and fo uncontrolable that few of his comrades would venture to hazard his difpleafure. The following inftance may be adduced of his ex- traordinary difpofition. The pupils of the Military School were permitted every year, on the day of St. Louis, (the 25th of Auguft,) to give then>felves up to pleafure, and the mod noify demonftrations of joy, almost without rcfiraint. All puniQiment was fufpended, all fubor- 20 THE LIFE or dinaliun ceafed, iuvl i;,euoraiiy fome accident oc- CL:ru:d b 1 T. V^f 'i.^y cojiciudcd. Such ;)iipi!s as liad attaiii-efl fourtem years of age, an old cu'.iou) ot liie co]U:ije had allowed the privi- lege of puicluifnie a certain qr.ai.titv of gun-powder, and, for a long tiaif b' fcjre the dav arrived, ihefe youilis would affv luuie to prepare tlu-ir fire-norks. Th y were alio pcriiiitted to difcharge fmall cannon, niuikcLs, and olhcr tire arms, when and as often as they liiougbt proper. It was on St. Louis's day, in 1784-, the laftyear of Baonapartc-'s r* n)aining at the Ichool, that he uftected an entire jn(iitfcrenc<^ to thf^ means which his comrades uffd tor its celebraticm. They were ail animation and iidrtritv, activity and fpirit. He was all gloom and taciturnity, lliought, and reflec- tion. Retired, the whole day in his garden, he not only did not participate in the general rejoicing, but pretended to continue his ufual lludy and oc- cupations, without being difturbed by the noife. His comrades were too much engaged in their amufemPDts, to think of interrupting him, and would onh liave laughed at his ftrange beha- viour, if an unci mmnn ciicumftance had not drawn upon him their general attenti£»n and re- fentment. Towards nine o'clock in the evening, about twenty of the young people were afl'embled in that garden which adjoined to his, in which the pro- };rietor had promifed to entertain them with a i^ow. It coalifted of a pyramid, c ompol'cd qf va- rio-us fire-works ; a light was applied, and, unfor- tunately, a box, containing feveral pounds of gun- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 21 powder, had been forgotten to be removed. While the youths were admiring the efledl of the tire-works, a fpa.rk entered tlie box, which inltuntly exploded ; foiiie legs and arms were broken, two or three faces milerably burned, and feveral paces of wall thrown down. The confuiion was very great, and fonie of the lads, in their alarm, endeavoured to efcape through the adjoining fence; they broke the paili- fades, and Buonaparte wiis feen, I'tatioutd on the (jther iide, armed with a pick-axe, and pufliing thofe back into the tire who had burll the fence, 'i he blows which he bellowed on the unhappy fugi- tives, encreafed the number of tiie wounded. Shortly after this occurrence, the annual exami- nation of the pupils by the Royal Infpeclor General, M. le Chevalier de Renault, took place. This otiicer found Buonaparte well verfed in the art of fortifica-' tioti, and as he himl'elf owed his preferment and his fortune to his talents, and to the uuiverfal teftimony of an honourable condudl, he knew well how to efli- mate the ingenuity and ability which are the refult of inquiry and refledion, and he adjudged thcit Buo- naparte's proficiency in military knowledge entitled; him to be lent to L'Ecok Lioijale Militaire, at Paris, His mafters, however, reprefeuted to the Infpeclor,. feveral occurrences unfavourable to his promoljon, but without effccl, and Buonaparte arrived at the Military College at Paris, on the 17th of October, J 7 84-. During the tin;e Buonaparte continued at the mi- litary fchool of Bricnne, we huve obferved that lie feldom courted the acquaiutauce of his lellow iVu- dents, nor was induced to leave his retreat either to V2 T H E I. ! » K O K alTorJ or receiTe ar.y ct thole iitt'e < ffices of kiiiri- net's wli^ch are coTigMiial lo the youtiitul <iii;;ofi- tidii.' Ii he quitud lub protodioiial dutie?; or uuciies for the corilpaKr of his comrades, it was j;rii;cij);inv' to ch^ck the OKuberar.cw- of their phiviuhiel!*. or lo contemn the objevHs of their folicitude. His uvorficn lo fociabilitv uas much eiicrf-alcf) bv his excr live indulgence in habits of fufpicion, but if be feared treachery, he a)fo avf-ided the poiFibility of being betrayed; he beft<;wed no coiUidonce, nor accepted cny favours. IJis temper was overbearing an't irri- table. He often eridenvouied to control ihe aftions of tiif.> other youths. Sometimes he excited their i-ndignaiiou b}' his fareafms, but never did b-e feur their vengeance, or flirink from their endeavours to punifli his ili-timed interferf nco ; ho bore their at- taci^s with 'firmnefs, and re^)elled them '.vith equal violence, and with various i'uccels. No throa-ti?, ei- ther from his efj-aa's, or fei« liij>eriors, nor i\& im- pending danger appeared to appai b-i*», and he lieemed as inlenft>4e to their ap^ilatffe as to their difpleafure. Sternly independent, and confiding in himlelf alone, refpe6Hng no talents in another, which he could not employ t-o Ifis own purpofes, in- triguing wliere he could not commaii;', firm in his reloives, impatient of rettraint, and difdauiful ot au- tliority — his character Vyhen he left Brienne, was as remarkable lor its turbulence, as for lis inflexibility. 'I'o complete his knowledge of the mathematics, was the principal obj. ^-i of Buonaf>aitc at the Mili- tary College of Paris. He laboared with unwearied diligence under the inUructions of the celebrated J^ionge. Ihe corps of Artillery and the corps of N nro S.F.ON' UUOMAi'AUTE. 23 Ilngin-'er^ uvie, at tljtit time, the only corps In Fram:c \vliere nu-rit was ct i-t;iin of pio^noLion, and in which ir.tiried liad no iufluence, r.nd n.to one ot Liu ie lie flf-tei mined to enter as luon i:s he hixd paiTed the rc- (luilite probation. There were then abont three hundred pupils at this college, and from them he feleded Laurilton, a youth of a phlegmatic tenij-er, and Dupont, adaiin^ and fearlefs young man, for his intimates. Jle had made one friend fliip at Hrienne, but which he never allowed to interrupt his prufeffional avocations : this was with Fuucalet de Bourienne, who was, like hin;- fe'f, a fiucientpf the mathematics, but of remarkably placid manners. The leifure hours of Ruonapartc at the college at Paris, were uiually fpent in oiu' of the ballions of a fmall fort, called " Lieu Brune,'' which had been ' oreiSted for the ufe of the pujjils. It was there that he was oft<'n foen willi the works of Vauban, dial- ler, Cohorn, and Folard, open before him, drawing ])ians for the attack and defence of this litcle fort, according to the rules of the military art. Monge had lo well qualified Buonaparte by his care and information, that, on his firft exauiination, he paffed with praile, and was allowed to en^er the regiment of artillery de la Fere, in garrifon at.^u^x.- one, as Lieutenant, in the month of July, 17t'-?.'.'<ir(d he immediately proceeded to join the regi,meni.; [His attention to the theory of his profeflicn \vas PS yi^re- inltting as ever; he devoted part of the nii^ht^to the fiudy of military details, ar.d pafled molt of the chiy in contemplating and examining the fortilicatiuns of the garrifon. In his occafional couverfations with 2+ Tlir, MKE OF tlip ofnccrs of tlie rcgimrnt, he exprcfTed opinions which were then cf)ii(ider('d as faction p, both by tljol'f of thf^ Iii'iiiPr order? and ihofe who were the partifans of rti'.iiity. His ill humour was leldom {•(luceah d ac'tiitilt anv regulations that abridged the privilej:ts or clnckcd tiie licentioufiiefs of the peo- ple, and whether thofe regulations afFecled the iiuh-;- feaiible right of an individual, or a public body, or curtailed the excefTes which arofe out of the inefii- cacy of the laws, or the laxity of their adminiftra- tion, he was equally adverl'eto the controlling pow- er. His oppofilion of fentinient to all the meafures of government was uniform and unchangeable by any endeavours to rcafon its inconfiftcncy or its in- juitice. The death of General Count Marba-uf, in th*^ year ]7S(), deprived Ruouaparte of his protection and in- fluence; the advantages which he derived from that ofTicer's peeiuiiary alliftance, were no longer attain- able, and his pav as a lieutenant was fcarcely ade- rp rate to fupport the ap))earance his rank required. His difiatisfartion was increafr'd Ijv the narrownefs .of bis income, and the nunuTous faoHons, which difordered all the ranks of focietv in France, induced l)ini to await with complacence tor ibme terrible r.onvulllon of the ftate that flionld open a path to hisTnilitary ai'livity and preferment. He was once walking in the Champ de Mars with fome young officers, and the converfation, as ufual, turned upon ttie ftate of artairs. Buonaparte de- clared againft the King ; the ilifpute ran higii, and )ie defended his ojiinion fingly, and with firnm(-fs, ngainrt them all. In a moment of cnthufial'm of NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 25 which ihere have been inunberlefs iiiftances in all .s|,he wars of opinion, the young men feized him, and were about to throw iiini headlong into an adjoining llrcam, when a momentary relleclion made them perceive the great inequality of their number, and they as inftantaneoully releafed him. He, by degrees, declined their company entirely, and, if he lupprcl's- ed his fentimenttf, they were neither altered nor extinguiflied. It was eafy for a deeply reflective mind to imagine ' tliat a great change of aflairs might take place, aud as even the energies of power as well as its abufes were, when he felt or witnefled cither, the objet^ls of liis refentment, every circumllance which tended to counteraft the operations of the Government he rightly confidered would hufien the event he wiflied for. The numerous venal factions, which divided alike the nobility, the clergy, and the people of Paris, the feparation of liieir interelts, anci the inordinate feliiihncfs of the individuals which compofed those bodies; — thofe diftracftions encreafcd his hopes, and emboldened his lan^uufie. VOL. I. — NO. II 26 in;; lii-;: oi* ClJAl'TEll ir. CAUSES .AND rKOGULSS OF l U E IRKNCH JIFAOLL TIOM. (Iranclt'ur of Louis 'KYl...Dt-pya-vi,j of his C'jurt ...C'in- fedr.racvofthe Literati againji the Dffj>oiifm...L',uis XI V. Mane AniODieltc.Arr'ygance and I,"xuyy of the Clervy ami Mobility ...He Ifijhnefs of the People ...Uiiordcr of public Af- fair s... 'rurgoi'sAd?ninifyalion...Dipnijfal...]Lvtrai>agance of the Royal Family IFretchednefs a/wjiig the People... Their Independence pr scented 'y tht Clerpy and Nobles... 'Jofeph \\....¥rojiee affijh America. ..M. Nti.ker... Account of the Caijfe d^ Ffcimptc.lti Failure. ..h/ibecilitv of the Monarchy ...Credit of the Caijfe d'Jifcontpte attempted to be rciji'ved...DifmiJfal of M. Necker...His Huccfffors ...M. Calonne...Mild Difpo/itiOH of the King... Influence of the (^uecn... Treaty luith Americ i...Comftiercial Treaty luiik England.. .EjfccTi of tin American Rii;oluti'.n on the French.. .Thetr fordid Notiom of Liber ly. .Account oft be Parliaments of France, and tcir Aulhori y ...(^curral Cry for Reform. ..Varliamcnlof Pari: renionllraiCi iviththe King for contrallmg the L'jan... The King orders the F.diB for it to bs regifiered...Refolution pmffed by the Parliament on Its Regijlry. The King orders the Refolution to be era feu'... Difficulty of raifing the Supplies.. .Determination of M. Calonne to attempt a Reform of the State. ..Meeting of the Notables. ..Equitable Plan of Taxation...RtjeHcd by the Notables... Fidlioufnefs of tlie OppoJitioK...KcJignation of M. Calonne. JL HE great and might}- Revolution in which fule had deligned this extraordinary young man to per- form a character more complicated and more im- katOleo.^ bcoxaparte. 2/ j-c-rtatit than ever was afiigiied to a fingle inuividnal lx>fore, took ils oiiiiin from tlio coinmcncciDent rjf the reign of Loni< XV. Like the coliccthii: tlo- inents of a tremfntloiis volcano, it filenl!}' roii[iiuu\l to form its variotis con,i!)inations till its deprive at- tradions were ronipletc, when, bv a convulfivo ef- fort, it i'uddmlv luirU open the bofoin of fc'crec) , and, rolling fov'ih in torrenl:- of irreliftible confniion, threw down tiie oldest (-nipires, nionarcdiies, aiul 'Jironi-8, in it^ impetnou? eo;nde, withont any ap'r;.'i- rrnt oi.jct.'-l-, hut ihat (;f r;ii!ing an oldeuK; pioifen to a r;ndv liule iideiior to a <lcity r.poh e;irih. During ihu reign of Louis the Xi\'ih France iiad bfen raifed to the Iiigheft pitch of grandeur that liie liad ever fecn, but it v, as a grandeui: by which the throne was exalted and the people deprelTcd. 'I'he t'jlory of the King confided in the pageantry of his rourt, rather tiian in ths opulence of his people, and the revenue v/as expended to difplay the tafte of the Monarch, inftead of improving the condition of the nation. At the death of Louis XIV. he left the kingdom to. his fon, an infant in the arms of his nurfe, and the government devolved upon regents, and wo- men, whofb frivolous minds led them conftantly to refort to expedientsjuftfufficient to extricate the na- tion from its temporary embarrafFments, but they never adopted any grand and profpefiive mcafure that was calculated for its future iDcnetit. When the King grev/ up, he feenicd to out-run tlie con- temptible manners of the court, by adding a degree oi" depravity to his own, which his exalted rank only 28 THE LIFK OF ferved to render them more pernicious ; its bad ex- ample may very properly be compared to an over- whelming flood, that carries evt ry thing before it. All orders of the Trench people were influenced by' the degeneracy of their leaders, and every privi- leged clafs vi'as fo anxious for the extenfioii of its rights, that, in puri'uit of their feveral uiurpations, they were all equally negligent of their duties. The Clergy and tl;e Ncbillty endeavoured to outvie each other m l!u> (lattery they daily olfered to the throne, and they expeCtf d then- aduhiiion to ho repaid by the homage that they exu-rr.td from the people. Rank and autliority was fuppofcd to be the only rule of moral fitnefs; acordiiigly they eltablifhed it as a maxim, that " the Will of tlie King was the only huv," and they ta'iigiit tlie INIonarcli to affign no other reafon for the nioft arbitrary ac:l, than, " fuch is our pleafurc." During ihis j^eiiod the authority of the cliurch of Rome over the numerous Clergy of France, and the fpiendour of its brilliant court, conltantly attracted a great number of exalted ftrangers to Paris, and amongil tlu;m tlu; mofi. learned and refpectable of the litereUi of ail itations. Such an aHemblage of perfoiis of incongruous ([ualiues could not fail to hafteu tljc criiis of a fyftcun, already vitiated. Not only did they diifufe their crilicifm and cenfures in France itfelf, but tliey formed a I'ort of umvcrfal cabal, by which tijcy agreed to return. to their re- fpecUve countrici^, ai^.d iflue lampoons and libels againft the defpotifm of the French court, and thus it flrortly became impollible ibr any Frenchman to NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 29 crofs the French fnu-iiier without becomi.ig difguflod with his own government. Ill addition to the general ilT-huniour that arifes out of ihe poverty and fervility of a people under a delpotic government, the people of France were conftantly irritated by arbitrary arrcfts, under the autl'ority of Lettrcs dc Cachet, as well as by innume- rable perfecutions on account of religious opinions, and by an odious tax, known in that country by the name oiGabcllc. Upon all thofe topics the literary men of the time were in the habit of animadverting with great feverity ; and though they might hav-e difcovered fomething nearly as objectionable in many other countries of Europe, a variety of accidents, combined to direct llieir attention principally to France. I'lifc King and his courtiers adhered perti- liucioufly to tlieir fy-ftem, but there was a public opinion riling up againft them, which only grant- ed a truce until it Ihould be able to ftrengthen it- f'-lf. Sue!) was the fla'e of the kingdom, when, in the year 177 [■, Louis XVI. mounted tlie throne. He uus a Prince to whom the people looked up with much expei'-lation, as his conduct while Dauphin had been of the moft exemplary kind. In the year 1770, he ha(i married Marie Antoinette, daughter of iNIaria Terefa, and fifter to Jofeph the lid. Fmperor of Germany, a princefs of an excellent capacity, and great dignity of mind, and which alliance might liave been eminently ferviccable t ■> the nation, but for the egotifm and felfifnnefs of the French, which conria:\tly led them to be guilty of any meannef? c 3 30 TilL LfFE OF ralber than to acknowledge a real obligdtioii to an-;* power but their own. If tlie young King and Qeeen were not endowed with every virtue, they co : a n be accufed of any vice, and, had they been happily furroundtd by a court, and a people as pure as themfelvcs, thtir reign might have been truly happy for themfelvcs, and profperous for the^r country: but tht infolent arrogance of the Nobility, and the fupercilious bi- gotry of the Clergy, knew no bounds, and the So- vereign was conftantly reftrainod from indulging the benevolence of his heart by thofe who would have been difcraced by the precedent. At the commencement of this reign a general de- pravity of manners was fo prevalent, that the mofb princely eftates were infufficient to fupply the luxury of their proprietors, and the Crown was obliged to connive at the rapacity of its miniflers, who by the moft barefaced venality, proftitut<"d the favours of their Sovtreigr., and rendered them contemptible in the eyes of the people. Patents (-f Nobility were fold to purchafers of any clafs, and the only qualifi- cation necefifary to «xait an impudent adventurer above the heads of the people, was a fmall fum to a waiting-woman or a lacquey. The extravagance of the opulent made them as difcon nted as the poor, and the only fentiinent in which the whole nation feemed to be united, was in the envy and hatred with which they looked upon each other. The education of their Majeftics had by no means taught them to hufband the fplendour with which •keir exalted rank enabled ihem to dazzle the eyes NAPOLEON BUONAPAKTE, 31 of tbeir gre .ly attendants, and the inivcPiit pre- eminence that they prefervc fl juit abovo th' iioids of the voluptuous Nobles, fxcitcd tiie envy ot'.-cM the viciouB and the vain, whf- unceafingly repii-e at the enjoyments of dthors. when the conlcioufnefs of crime deftroys the relifli of their own. This malitinant Ipirit ibou found an opportunitv uf difplaying itiHlf. The Qut en, being a foreigner, the mod bitter cenfu es might be painted againft her without wounding the national vanity of the French people fur their country, and therefore the heroes of the great nation commenced an attack upon her con- duct, and, by a feries of uninterrupted calumnies, perfuaded the sulgar and ignorant rabble, who knew :io Hiftory beyond that of their own Fauxhourgs, that all the confufion of the ftate had been produced by this one woman. Diforders prevailed in pixblic as well as private affairs, and the revenues of the flate were as inade- quate to its v.-ants as the incomes of individuals were unequal to tlieir demands. Every one f \vv the ab- folute ncceflTity for reform, but no one had virtue enough to begin it with himfelf; hence murmurs were hear-d inftead of confultations being held, and the violence of contention, inftead of the councils of amity. Circumftanced as the country was, the utmoft vigour and promptitude were required of the Go- vernment. Unfortunately, the King poffelTed nei- ther, and the fyftem of patching and mending, adopted in the former reign, was ftill purfued. Had the King poflefled an inflexibility of raind, .>3 THE LIFE OF Le mj^ut eafily I'.ave lecured the kini'dom agaiuft i!;tJ (iangers which m: iiaced it, for he faw the necellity ut a niyrc a?c(>ncmica! arrange meuts, and on '!;at account ap]X)inu;d Tur^o^, his minilter of Fin-riucc. Wifclom, integrity, and Iicnevolciico, niaik.td tlic ]M-ogrcf>; of ih'.s admiuiiiral ai,. whicli at on(c rc- itorcd tlie public crtdit,aud reduce..; liiv; grievances of the i-'eople ; bul the [>roilii:,.icv and dillipalion of the groat raiftd fuch virlt ni clamours againft t!ie prudent reftraints of this minilter, that the King was pcrfuadod to difmiis him; and he \ a^, followed by a iucceflion of thofe artificial treat men, who imagine that all evils may be remedied by allaying the difordcrs of the moment. It has been laid, that the Queen, and others of the Royal Family, were particularly delirous of this change, as their cxpchiive habits would not admit of any controu]. It is, however, extremely uncan- did to argue from fucli a circumftaiicc, that the fiat'.'. was ruined by their c.xtravatiuiice. The national dif- fic'jlties had been accumulating for a long fcri'js of years, and had nearly rtaciied tiieir height at the death of the late King. A great fiiare of prudence would have tau;.ht the Qutcn and the rell of the family that it would be [nojjer to co-op.erale witii jus IMajeftv in his plans of reform; tl;e amount (if tlicir crime, therefore, is, that tluy were aduated by a great degree of imprudence, not by any motives ori- ginating in moral turpitude. A firm and entcrprifing Prince, in the circuni- ftances of Louis the XVIih, would have benefited greatly by the general ftate cvf Europe. At the com- ^•A^OLEON^ BUOKAPAUTK. 33 mencement of his reign, England, the only power from whom France could expcd any caufe of quarrel, wa^ engaged in fuch numerous difputes with licr Indian and American colonies that foe could have nothing to apprehend from that quarter. The Kings of Prudia and Sweden, as well as the Emprefs Catherine, had made fuch various reforms in their fcvcral ftates, that the public were uuiverfdly pre- pared for amelioraiions and improvements, and the whole body of the literati hud fo far committed themfflves upon the reforms neceffary in France, that they could not, with any dcceiicy,have oppoled the corredion of fuch abufes as the French Mc- narch might have been determined to effect. The principal caufos of the general wretchednefs that afflicted France were, the fcLidal fyfiern, and the privileges and exemptions claimed by the Nobles and the Clergy, who opprefled the people by the mofl fevere attions of fervices and tythes, whilft they could not themfelves be forced to contribute towards the burdens of the ftate. The circumftances of the country required thai thofe immunities, the ufur- pations of barbarous times, fliould have been abo- liilied, and that the lands of both thofe clafiTes (hould have become chargeable with an impotl for the fup- port of the puijlic revenue. Jofeph the lid. broLher-in law of the King, was a prince of a nioll enlightened and benevolent mind, and who devoted every hour of his life to the fervice of his country, and exerted every effort to refcue his people from the oppreffion of the ariftocratical and eccleliaftical bodies. The influence of thofe two 3-i TKK LITE OF orders was nearly ;is pernicious in Germany n* it' \vas in France, and the Emperor would happily hme united bis rft'orts wiih thofe of Louis to have cl- iccled the independence of their people and a ge- neral toleration in their refpcctive ftatcs. M. Tur- got had recomni' iided tliofe meafurcs to the Kinir, but the felfi/hneft and bigotry of the Nobles and the Clergy deterred him from fuiloning this wile coun- Jtd. He feared the comI)in;itio!i of two po\verfnl '■>rders, by whoni n(^a!iy all the fixed property of the ."e.dni was polTeffed, and wlu) being lure of the co- ■ofK-j-ation of t!ie Po]'e, woukI h;ive gjtiiied a wiclely extended cn)pirG over the fuperfritious minds of thofe very fubjecls whofe condition he was endea- vouring to improve, Inftead of removing the evil, he contented himftlf with poftponing the danger, and the gilded hope of acquiring a fmall portion of national glory, at the expenfe of an ancient rival, ferved for awhile to fupport the fmking credit of the government. An undefined animofity had cxiftod for ages be- tween England and France, which was always more powerful in the latter people againft the Jvr.ghlh than ill the people of England againft the French. The American colonics had determined to diiTolve the bond that connected them with the mother country, and to declare themfelves independent of the crown of England. Every argument ufcd to juftify this, violent feparation, was calculated to teach the dii- contented that they might throw off their allegiance with impunity, and a prudent monarch ihould have feen that he wt^s moff fuduloufly called upon to gut^r.V NAl>Ol,KO>f BUONAPARTi;. 35 tigaiiift ttieir Liitrodia'iiou into his empire ; but the Court of France was lb ftrongly tempted by t.Iie op- portunity, of humbling a,n old antcigonift, that it it^eioed to overlook all confcquenccs, and injudi- cioully Ifut its aid to achieve the triumphs of rel^el- lion. One of the American leaders was ixdaiitted at Paris in the charai'icr of Amballador, and large ar- mies and fleets were fitted out and fent to the conti- nent of the ne'.v world, where they fought fide by fide with thofe who rnaintained that taxation was a fraud— that both the Nobles and Clergy were like ltx:ufts, that devoured the fruits of the earth, and that Kings themfelves were nuifanceii, whofe domi- nions they were fighting to get rid ot'. The forces of America and France aifted in con- junction for jiear fix years, and when the French troops embarked for their own country, they re- turned to tell their comrades and ntighbours at home, that tlie King's fuprentacy was a vulgar error, for that they had been alllfting a people to over- throw the eftablifhed law, and to reduce the burthens of taxation, by governing themfelves. Whether or not America could have fuccoeded in fecuring her Independence without the co-opera- tion of France, has occafioned diverfuv of opinion ; but as the King had contributed largely to it.- aiftual acquirement, his fhare of eclat was very confider- able. It is not in the French charafter to look be- yond the glitter of the moment, and therefore nei- ther the King nor the people faw the immediate con- fequences of their fublime fpeculations. The advantages that the people of France could 36 THE Llir, OF derive from the eftablilhinent of an empire acrofs the Atlantic were ver\' remote, but thcyfoon learn- ed that it had anticipated one hundred and ten mil- lions, whicli \v(.re to be provided for; and tlnuigh inch a fnm innfl havt- bten a mere hai^atelle to a eonntrv Lke France, an evi! Ipirit fecmed to pre- vail amongit all ranks, wliich int lined every one to wiilihold iiis ihare from the e(^v'tribution. •vl. Necker, who held the fituation of Minifter of Finance, during the war, had, favs a refpecf^able writer, " attempted tlie brilliant paradox of defray- ing the expenfes without burdening the people by new taxes," lie had raifed loans on the annual favings obtained by a reduction of the public ex- penditure, and he would have been entitled to the eternal gratitude of the country, if that rcdm51icn had been real; but infpite of all the plaufible repre- fentalions of the Minifter, the revenue continued to be foreftalled from vcar to year, and the ruin of the celebrated Caijf'c d'E/cu7/>pte was the confequencc of its reliance upon its paper tranfaftions with the go- vernment. As the aflairs of France were greatly influenced by the failure of this pitiful bank, it will be nectllary in this place to give fome account of it. It was formed- in 177^>5 about the time of M. Necker's appointment, by a company of private perfous, and its capital was fixed at 500,0001. fn ■.ling. Its pro- fefled dciign was to difcount bills at fliort dates, at the rate of 4 jier cent, per annum, but this interell being evidently not equivalent to the capital funk by the proprietors, they were allowed to ilTue notes NATOLEOJi BVOUAPARTl;. 37 lo the amount of Lluir capital, and, as they were not fulpeded of aiiv intrigue with the govemaient, by which they couid be rendered incapable of convert- ing into fpecie at aay time all the notes they might fo iflue, their paper was in high credit. As this difcount office arofe with the Minifter, there is much reafon to fuppofe, notwithftanding the veil of myfiery in which the whole tranfadion is in- volved, that it was ufed by him as one of the fliifts by which he contrived to poftpone the cataftrophe of the government ; for it only continued its pay- ments a few months after his difmiflfiil. The ftock was confiderably above par, and the credit of the CaiJJe d'EfcoTHpte wholly unfufpefted, when every province was fuddenly fl)ocked by the news that it had ftopped payment. Scarcely had the fpirit of dilconterit, which this event occafioned, diflemi- nated id'elf, when the bankruptcy of the government was alfo announced, by returning, unpaid, the bills that had been drawn upon it lor pa}'ing the army iu America. lufignificant as the overthrow of this Ihop muft appear to any perfon acquainted with the Banks of Mngland or Amfterdam, its elfecls were of the moft afionidiing kind iji France. The number of perfons immediately injured by the event was fmall, com" pared with llie population, b\it they were widelj i'cattered over the country, and their well-founded complaints produced fympa-thies in the roll of the people. 'Ihu nature oi the event occafioned dif- cuilion, and the nature of the difcuilion irritated other complaints, alr/3ac!y a<kn()wledo'ed throughout the kingdom, vrhich gsiVc- a licenfe to the molt c.oii- VOL. 1. NO. II O 38 THE LtFT. or temptible cabaret to fit in judgment upon the niea- fures of government. Affairs were in this ftate at the end of 1783, and the Monarciiy continued for nine years before it was overturned, but from that period it was in all the agonies of dilTolution ; its repofe was at intervals, which were foinetimes longer, fometimes fliorter; its efforts were ffruggles for exiftence. A new expedient was attempted to raife the credit of the Caijje d'Ejcompfv. The King was prevailed on to extend his protedion to the company, and four fucceffive edicts were paffed, by which the banks in Paris were ordered to receive its notes as currency. A lottery was alio eftabliihed, with a frock of one million fterling, the tickets of which were made purchai\tble in the like notes, and an arrangement was made for the payment of the bills drawn in America. By fuch means a temporary confidence was excited ; but an inquiry was afloat of too ferious a nature to be fatisfied by mere expedients. An attentive ob- ferver faw all thef: ■■'!> of commotion fcattering them- felves abroad, through every family, and into every bofom, and the only fubjecl left for fpeculation, was the manner in which it would commence. It would, perhaps, be hazarding an opinion to lay, that all revolutions are founded in the unaccommo- <lating fpirit, or the felf-will of either the govern- ment or the governed, but certainly foraething of the fort has been feen in the condu6t of the King and llie people of France towards each other. Mo- narchs are ufually defirous of grafping unlimited pov;er, and fubjefts as ufually averfe to contribute towards the burdens of the ftate. No better motive /;>' Napoleon buoxapaute. 3U ran be alTigned to the King for (lifmiffiiig M. Necker, nor to the people for determining not to be fatisfied' with any otlier MiniUer. Notwiihftancinig the fata- lity of Neekei's former attempt he wao a iJiun of very great talents, and capable of being made alto- gether lucli a jMinider as tlu; cirqumftances required.' The. folly of the nation in preferring a Minifiei,' merely, becaufe he- pretended to rule without taxe^, might have Ijee.n eured even by liim, andj perhaps^ they would have fubmitted to fonie. flight burdens . the more readily, if iiuuoi'ed by his hand, from a fonviclion that he would not have laid them un un- ueceiiariiy. In defiance oi' the ehildiih attaehraeiu ef the people to M. Neeker, the King appointed M. de Fleury in his fituation, and then M. d'Ormeffon; M. Calonne, who, befide an acknowledged ability, poflTefled th<j moll refined and poliflie<l manners, fol-. lowed tifterwards, Is'Qthing can, however, fatisfy a people .who are determined only to be fatisfied in a certain way, and the King Qiould have made his election^ either to have given them all they wiflied or to have temporized no longer. There is no reafon to doubt but the King was dif- pofed to relax the feverites of the government, and to improve the condition of the people, for he ubo- liihcd the torture, which had been praftifed, till his time, in his dominions, and he alfo commuted the punifliraent of death, which had been inflided for certain oftences in the array, for one lefs cruel, but more exemplary — labour m the gallics. His mild and flexible difpolition would probably have induced him to have conceded every point that juftice and 40 THK LIFE OF freedom could have required of him, had he liappeneo to have been either fupported or opjiofed by wife and temperate men. The Queen, and the reft of his family, it is faid, urged him to adhere to the princi- ples of rule that be had recti ved from his unceftors, and he a6ted mildy or obftiiiatelv as he ixt\m ac- cording to his own wilh, or that ot oth' rs— be it - fo — his misfortunes entitle him to pity ; yet there can be no doubt but he might have favcd liimfeUif he iad poflefTed firmnefs enough to have decided for either defpotifm or liberty. To fecure the good will of the people a treaty was entered into with America, by which it was ftipulated that the Stales ftiould reimburfe the funis that France had expended on tlicir account during the war, and the whole amount (i,'3 million of livreh) was to be paid, by annual iiiftahjient;!, in iwelvf' years. A treaty, oftenfive and dcfcniive, was entered into ■A'ith Holland, and a commercial treaty was entered into wkh England. Kverything failed of its obje6>. The molt four and ill-natured conftrudions were put upon every attempt to conciliate, and whicli, inftead of increafing falisfaftion, ferved only to aggravate the general difcontent. Among tiie meafures that created the greatcft rnurmur?, were the EngliHi commercial treaty, arid the eftablifliment of a company, with an exclufive trade, to the Eaft Indies. By the treaty the Frencli polilicia}ib faw nothing but the rain of their own nia- nufadtures, for they were ignorant enough to fuji- pofe, that we could not polfibly live without the wines, oik, cambrics, See. that they difpoftd of in the Enelifli market! auci ihrrciure the Court v.a:^ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, 41 cenfured as much for the conclufion of this treaty as it was for the eftabliflMnent of the Euft-India Company; although that monopoly was really op- preflive to a great number of merchants, who were obliged to difcontinue a very lucrative trade, and alio liable to have their warehoafes fearched by the Company's oflicers, upon the pretence ofnon-fub- niifiion. Anndft the general ferment the principles of the American Revolution were ealiiy to be difcovered, the generous cry of Liberty! refounded everywhere, bat the ideas conveyed by it were as different as the immerous fituations of the perfons by whom it was (;choed. France contained a vafl number of en- lightened iiatefmen, yet an immenfe mafs of the population was as ignorant as fuperfrition and po*. verty could make them. Inftead, therefore, of Graving a fublime fyftem, that fhould ameliorate the condition of «//, without operating oppreflively upon any, the generality of Frenchmen underftood no- thing more by liberty than the removal of fonie par- ticular burden,, by which each was more immediately affcifted. Every one, however, complained of fome fort of grievance ; and though the gratification Of one, would have been an affliction to another, yet, us neither precil'ely knev/ his neigh.bour's definition of the term Liberty, it became a common watch-word for thcn\ all. In this feafon of fordid infatuation the King was obiii^ed to contract for a trifling loan, the demands for which had been of theraoft honourable and legi- timate kind. The explanation of the ■SFuiifrer, was that feveral difputes had ariien in fome cf the neigh- D 3 ^~ THE LIf £ OF bouring fiates, in confequcnce of which large ar- mies had alTemblcd on the French frontier, tiiul it had been thought ncceflkry to take all the precau- tions that fuch an occafion required ; a large fum had alfo been expended upon the fortification of Cherbourg. No candid mind can confider this an improper expenditure of the public treafure, and the nioft clamorous of the Patriots would have cenfured the King moft bitterly had he not taken thofe precauti- tions : yet the Parliament of Paris remonftrated with the King on this occafion, and gave a legal form to thole murmui-s which had hitherto evapora- ted in unmeaning fpeculation. The Parliaments of France were not exa<5tly like thofe of England, although they did not differ fo much as hsis been imagined. I'hey were not chofen by the people as their legiflative rcprerentati\es, but their fanftion was neverthelcl's necefiary to give au- thority to the laws, and efperially thofe for railing money. In England, tlie government of France was always confidere^d a defpolifm, yet the Miniitry, in the King's name, was obliged to go to Parliament for the fupplies, and the people were not obliged to to fubmit to any ordinance that the Parliaments refifted Thofe Parliaments confifted moOly of lawyers, and in general weie obfeijuious enough to the King's will; but feveral inltances had liapijcned in which they had facriticed their j) )litenefsto their jiairiulifm, and particularly at the conclulion of the late reign, ■when the Parliament of Paris determined to refill feme intolerant a>eafurcs of the Catholic clergy, and NAPOLEON BUONAPARTK. 4o incurred the difpleafure of Louis the XVth in confe- quence. So finnly '^vhs this body determined to maintain its prerogatives, that they alfo rcfuled to regifter the cdids which the King ili'ued to raise new taxes, and were joined in the ia:ne determination by the Parliments of Britany, Grenoble, and others all of whom were fent into exile, and continued there till they were recalled by Louis XVL at his afcenfion to the throne. leaving cHfplayed fo much firmnefs at a time when the light of philofophy had fcarcely risen above the political horizon, a greater degree of i'ubmifiion was not to be expected from them at a time when that ferment had extended itself far enough lo ouellion the propriety of every exiftiug eftabiifhment. Re- form was now called for i:y eveiy body, but nobody could iee exactly how it ought to be begun ; and in their apprehcnfiou that they (hould mifs their object, a difpofition to fufpeft and quibble arofe amongft all ranks. This rendered the attainment of their object more difiticult, by inviting a contentious tlruggle of the paflTions to attend at a deliberation which ought only to have been entered upon by the mod cool and temperate reafoner. A jealouiy of this kind alone could have induced the Parliment of Paris to have remonfirated with the King* for contracting the loan above alluded to. The amount was only tliree millions three hundred and thirty thoufand pounds, and it was not pretndrd that any part of it had been iraproperiy appropriated. When the deputation waited on the King to an- nounce the querilous complaint, he atfumt^d a de- gree of hauteur not common in his manner, af- '^4- THK LIFE OF I'uring the afieinbly that he would bo obeyed, and onii'ied tijciu to legiiter his edict without further tiihiy. Tiic Parliament complied, bat, ihey pafl'td a itlolutioii, " That public ceconcniy was the only gf'iiuiiHj fource of abundent revenue, the only means of providing for the nocefTities of the State, and re- ftor'.i'.g the credit, which borrowing had reduced to tlu; brink of ruin." '] he King ought to have been fatibfied with the fni.'iiiinion tiiat granted him all he afked, and to have i^ifilred the fpirit of the Parliment to have d'llipated itl'elf in a written bravado ; but, on the contrary, he was imprudent enough to fend for the deputation, and commanded the iifolution to be erafed from their records, and, as a ftronginark of his difpleafure, difmifled one of their oilicers, v.iio had been mofi active in promoting the refolution. At the fame time he obferved, " That though it was his pleafure that the Parliment fliduld communicate by its refpedful reprefentations whatever miglit concern tlie good of the public, yet he never would allov; them fo far to abufe his clemency, as to erect themfelves into the cenfors of his government. " The violence of this doctrine taught the Patriots that they mutt not hazard any further refiftance \intil they could ftrengthcn tiiemfelves, and the l\Ii- nifter was fo well aware of the incorrigible refrafto- rinefs of their difpotion, that he made no attempt at conciliation. In this fituation, to impofe new taxes was impraciih'.e; to coritinue borrowing would halten deUruv/iion ; to rely upon ceconomicai refcums would be found v,h<dly "nadequate, and he declared that it wouid be impoffible to place the N AV 01.;ON BUONAPARTE. 45 finauces on a folid bafis but by a general reform ef all that was vicious in the ftate. It was adilertima_ of no common kind, and the iiiUrui5li(jns of KiX- tory wore iieceifary to guide him through, the tliffi- culty. 7 lie .'lucicnt and Irgitimate aiTt-inbly of the nation was callt'd the States-General, biit ti)ey hti,d not met fuice the time of Louis the Xlillb, and the fuperci- lious arrogance of tlie court would not be very likely to aflent to a convocati(<a that could not fail to demand fome coucertions in favour of the people. Under thofe circutnftances M. Calonne recom- mended the convention of another affembly, which had occafioually been fubftitutcd for the States-Ge- neral. This was diliinguiflied by the title of Tlie hSotables, becaufe they confifted of pcrfons of the greateft notoriety, who were felettcd l)y the King, and fummoned to attend him as a fort of extra Council. Writs were iifued for calling this aflembly, -and tiiey were to meet on the S^th of January 1/87, to the number of one hundred and forty. When they arrived at Paris the Minifter was not prepared to lay his plans before them, and the meet.ing did not take place till the '22d of February. Amongft ih'Ar number w(ire feven prinees of the blood, with the principal njbility, eccleliaUics, miiilary men, niid la'.vyerP. i\I. Calonne explained tlje ftate of the kingdom to the allen.bly, and accounted for the deficiency of the revenue to the time of his entering upon ttie adminiftration, which he prcpofed to provide for by a territorial impoll, in the nature, of the land- 46 'lilE LIF-E OF tux in En^'laud, and various allerations in the mode of managing the internal taxation already elta- blifhed. The fpirit of the meafures that he rocommended were, that no rank or order of nuni were to be exempted, and to inftitute an enquiry into the pof- fefilons of th« Clergy, in order that they might be alTefl'ed with an equitable proportion of the public burdens. Such a propolition, to fuch an alTenibiy, was like uiL.ing roboers for Juftice, and rn5)idity_f()r a generous fpirit. - Not only did llie Notables relufe to fane'tion ihc-fe taxes, but they denied tlie n<'ee!liiy of any inereai'e of tlie revenue wbatcvcr. .M. de Brieniie, Archbirtiop of Thouloul'e, was ftjremolt in oppofmg thel'e meafures, and he was very v.armly ieeonded by "!M. de Mirabeau, v,h<j' alfo received confiderable aid tVam the. tal eats and influence of M. dcJa Ftiyetfi, ■ An opp«iition fo unpriucipled may be dsaruilier- ized as 'a very dejiterausmo.die of tormenting aMi'* nifier, but there are.' few p-eople who wilieoniitief it, even in anpearanee, a firuggle for liberty. -Jt w',is an ojipofition of a nK.'ft factious and Ibidid kind, and no ftronger proof ol' the barbarous ftupidity of the Freiic'vi ean bo necfliary, than that they could confound it with the Ciiuli; of freedom. Miraijeuu, La i-';iy(,'Ue, and the Archbilliop, wei'f called ujhjh to adojil a plan (,■! cijual taxation, the intention o( whici) was t<> vchevc tin; jieople iVom o])nrcillon , in op)>oling thi; meamre they avowed thead'clvi-:; the champions of delpotil'ai, and yet they contrived to perfuade their infuriated counlrvmen that tlsf) were the only true heioci oi' the Ivights of Man ' NAfOLEON BUONAPARTE. 47 The dcfigu of the Miiiifter to equalize the public burdens, and, by rendering the taxes general, caufing the loud to bear eafier upon the lower and moft ul'eful dalles of the people, was undoubtedly jufl and patriotic ; but it united the Nobility, Clergy, and Magiftracy agaiuft him, and the event was fuch as might be expelled: the intrigues of thcie three bodies raifed fo numerous and fo loud an oppofition to him, that, Ending it impofiible to ftem the torrent, he not only refigned, but retired to England, from the ftorms of perfecution. ^ 4« Tur. MI); 9f CIlAPTEll 111. CAUSES AND PIIOGXESS Or THE FRENCH REVO- LUTION CONTINUED. T/ic Attentionof the Parties in France dire Bed to E-vents in England, Holland, Belgium, and Germany ...Oppo/ition to the Govemment... Notables.. .Adminijlration of the Arck- bi/hoh of Thouloufe...Edids regijlered in a Bed of Jufiice. ...The Parliament declares them 'Void...Repfefeataiives exiled. . . Murmurs of the People . . . The Parliament recalled. . . Embarrajfment of the Finances... The King requires the Re- gijiry of Tzuo EdiBs... The Parliament debate for Nine Hours in his Prefence . . . He commands their R egiflry . . . The Duke of Orleans oppofes it. ..The Parliament' s Hofiiliiy ...Banijh-' 7!ient of the Duke of Orleans. ..Arrefl of tiie Albe Sabatierre and M. Freteau...The I'arliament remonjirate -with the King, but regijhr One of the Edifls...The Tnvo Members releafed... Intrigues of the Faiiious...The Duke of Orleans recalled... The Parliament declare againf} Lettres de Cachet, . . ..17. de Efpremenil and M. Monfambert feized in the Par- liament .. .liifincerity of both Parties.. .Cour Ple'niere...The Parliament refufe to regifter the EdiCl for it... Their Cham- ber furrounded by Troops, and, at length, fhut up... Depu- tations againj} the Cour Pleniere from Grenoble, Tlioidoufe, fefr. and the Deputies fent to the Baflille... Means takfn to excite the Peoplt to renjolt. ^ lOLENT as the conflifts of opinion were in France at ifiis ptriod, iLe attention of the parties were, in a certain degree, diverted from their own alVuir;:, by itic events that were patling in other eouniriis. The- peojile of England had refifted an obnoxious iniiioft upon rt tail iiiop}- eepers which the Minifter NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 4p had feemingly refolved to maintain in the face of all oppofition. The tax feemed indirecctly to fanftion the unjull principle of exemption, anditwascen- fnred with fo much feverity tbaC it was abandoned, after a ftruggle of about two years. In Holland a contention of another kind agitated the public mintl. The government was nominally vefted in the Prince of Orange, as Stadtholder, or head of the States, but was really lodged in the power of the States-Gensral, or Congrefs, confilling of . reprefentatives from the Seven Provinces. All af- fairs of general government were directed by this bodv, while thofe of internal adminiilration were entirely under the direction of the Burgo-mafters. Tiie perfons of both thofe clafles had, by a frequent return to power, and by an artful combination, tranf- forined themfelves into an hereditary ariducracy, for they could manage to prevent the reprefeutatioii going out of their own families, and nothing was wanting to convert them into an hereditary govern- ment but the removal of the Stadtholder. To this JNIiniUer (for he was nothing ell'e) tliey allowed juft power enough to leave him open to blame, in cai'e of misfortune, but not fufficient to entitle him to praife in cafe of fuccefs. 'J'he leading fineire by which tliey were to effeft their purpofe was, to en- large upon every accident, as ari'ng out of the mal- adminiflration of the Stadtholder, and by this chi- canery to perfaade the people to depofit their liberties in their hands. Wealth, power, and iufolence, were the adorable trinity,of thefe cowardly and contemp- tible wretches ; and becaufe England had refufed to gratify their cupidity by fan(5lioning the illegal trade , VOT,. I. — \0. IT E ^0 THE 1,1 Kl. Ol that Uiey carried on wiih ijtr onemics during llie American war, under the coijur of neutrality, they nccelfarily became the enemies oi England, and re- venge as naturally threw iheni into the arms oi FrancG- It was then that tlie two parties were formed in Holland, which have fmce been diftinguiflied as the French and Englilh parties. A long and favourite objed of the French court had been to eftablifli a fupreme and permanent controul in the affairs of Holland, and the Patriots, as thofe fortune-hunters, {geluc- zoekers in Holand) ftyled themfelves, might, in their prefent infuriated ftate of mind, be bought at a moderate price. Louis had, therefore, encou- raged their fadious oppofitiou, and the Stadlholder, as a meafure of neceflity, allied himfelf to the Englifli. It is almolt unneceflarv to fay, that by the fpirited condu(fl of tiie Princefs v,i Orange, and afmall army difpatched by her brothei- the King of Pruiha, thefe demagogues were fent back to their fliops and their barns. They had determined to maintain their objeft by force of arms, and ordered their General, the Rhingrave of Salm, to defend the country againft the PrufTians and Englifli ; but, when he told them that it would require money, it appeared that all their patriotifm had been left at home, for they expefted their fupplies to be fent by the King of France, and, accordingly, when the Pruflians arrived at Utrecht, there were neither cannon, ainmwnition, provifioiis,foldiers, nor even workmen, to repair tlie fortificatiens. As to the mighty men themfelves, *he r»hingrave fays, that infteud of being at Ai.- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 51 PHEM, the point at which they were all to rally, for the purpoi'e of being ready when called for, every one imagined, or at leaft alhgned a iilaufible reaibii to prove that his prelence was indilpeniably nectlFary at his own houfe. How llurdily the attack upon the Stadtholdcr might have beea niainlained, it the ct)ffers of France had been richly hipplied, it is inipollible to judge, but as the King was incapable of paying the ex- penfes, the Dutch patriots were contented to grumble in filence, and crowds of French otliccrs, who had been fent iato Holland to be ready as oc call on might be offered for their fervices, returned home, laden with the Ipirit of fadion, to impro.e the Itock of their countrymen. Whilft tliefe operations were going on, a fceneof another kind was preparing in lielgium. The Em- •peror Jofeph, amonj; the meafurc« !ie adopted for the beneiit of his people, dii'clainied all fubmiifion to the auiiiority of the Pope in fecular concerns, at the fame time fuppreffing many monalteries, and regulating others. The Clergy confulered this ftep as a fatal blow to all their impofitions, and prevailed upon the Pope to undertake a journey to Vienna, for "the purpofe of altering the Emperor's defigns ; but, though he wascourteoufly received, and pompoufly entertained, Jofeph adhered to his edicl, and de- clared his determination to divert the attention of his people from the follies of luperftition to the purfuits of commerce and agriculture. The people of Belgium were then, as they ftill continue to be, the moll ftupid bigots upon the con- tinent, and as that was the ftrong hold of the priell- .52 THE Llf E OE hood, the good Emperor began his reforms there firll. He declared Oftend a free port, aud ruiied it to great importance in a Ihort time. The Scheldt he could not navigate, becaufe it had been blockaded by the treaty of Weftphalia, and feveral powers threatened hin» with a war, if he attempted to ufe his own river contrary to their iniquitous pretentions. It was, however, his intention to have opened a canal from Antwerp, through Bruges and Oltend, to the fea, ipacious enough for the navigation of large Ihips, but before his plan was arranged, the Clergy fo far perverted the minds of their befotled followers, tiiat they rallied around thein in rebellion againft that Monarch, who was hourly expofing himfelf to the aiTairination and intrigues of the court and clergy of Rome, for the fake of his people. The blind and bigotted Belgians, headed by tlieir infatuated priefts, armed themfelves in defence of the antiquated corruptions, which had exhaufted all their refources, and fpread defolation and mifery over their whole country. Thus they rejeded all the liherul efforts of their benefactor, and diflurbed his government by their ungrateful treafons, till the priefts had contrived to pcnfon him, and fecured the wages of their treachery by the vileft of crimes. In all thefe ftruggles the government of France was wholly uiitoncerned, except by that intermed- dlir.g fpirit which has ahvays induced it to fpeculate upon the diforders in other nations; yet tliefe conten- tions produced a eouiiderableeffecl upon the people ai large, they were direded to very different ob- jects, but nppofitioij to government was to be traced NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 53 in them all ; and the beft intentioned of the French patriots were hardly fufficiently enlightened to avoid what has been emphatically called,* " the very ex- tremity of fadion, and the laft degree of political wickednefs." Oppofition to government was now preparing, like a new faQiion, and if ihe.King had voluntary offered them every thing that they wanted they would have quarrelled with him for difappoint- ing their projeds; hence, every thing that tended to countenance oppofition ferved to encourage and hallen their attacks upon him. The aflembly of the Notables afforded the parties an opportunity of trying their ftrength, and the refuit was unfavourable to the Court. Belide the difcuf- fions that took place upon the revenue, the State Prifons and Lett res de Cachet were made fubje h of animadverfion. They declared themfclves incapable of granting any new taxes whatever, and recom- mended the affembling of the States General, as the only real reprefentatives of the nation. The Archbifliop of Thouloufe had made himfelf very popular by bis reliftance of M. Calonne's plans, and the King, in the hopes of being intruded u tl e caoft fatisfactory meafures, appointed this prelate to the miniftry ; but, inftead of adopting a new fyftem, after the Notables were difmifiiid, he perfued nearly the fame fteps as thofe he had complained of, and the States General were very loudly called for by the whole nation. A ftrong averfjon to convening an affembly of xeprefentalives, feems to have determined the King * By Mr. Horne Tooke. E 3 54 THE IIFE OF to ftretch his authority to its utmoft, in order to convert the Parliaments into the moft abjeft tools of fubmiffion. Edicts were prefented to them, as if the lubjecft had undergone no difcuffion, and they were required to grant the new taxes. The Parliament refufed ii> the moft pofitive terms; and Louis, as the lafl refource of his abfolute authority, held a Bed of Ji/ftice, and compelled them to enrol the impoft. Thtfe Beds of Juftice were feldom reforted to in the moll, defpolic times, and in this cafe it was like the laft folemn appeal to the King's authority, lie was feated on his throne in the Parliament, and the enrolment took place by his order, as the fupreme head of the refradtory alTembly. The Parliament, though then defeated, was not fubdued, and, on the following day, the Members entered a formal proteft againft the j)rocecdings, de- claring, " That the edicts were enrolled, contrary to their refolutions, by the King's exprefs command, that they neither ought to have, nor fliould have, any force, and that the firft perfon who ihould pre- fume to carry them into execution, fliould be ad- judged a traitor, and coiidemned to the gallies." This fpirited declaration left the King no other al- ternative, than either proceeding to extremities in fupport of his authority, or relinquifliing it for ever. Smce the commencement of the general difcon- tent the capital had been filled with confiderable bodies of troops, and. about a week after tlie Parlia- ment had entered the protest, an olTicer of the guards was fent, at break of day, with a parly of foldiers, to ihe houfe oi each Member, to jignify to him the XAPOLEON BUOXATARTE. 55 King's command, that he (hould immediately pro- ceed to Troyes, a city of Champagne, about leventy miles from Paris, without fpeaking or writing to any perfon out of his own lioufe before his d<^parture. ' Thefe orders were all obfervcd at the fame inltant, and, before the citizens of Paris were acquainted with the tranfadion, their rcprei'entatives were already on the road to the place of their banifli- nient. The declarations which the Parllment had made jn favour of tht national council, or States-General was conndtrcd by the people as highly hunourable; the diflblution of their own body being a natural confequence to be expedted from fuch a convention. The confidence of the nation, therefore, rofe in pro- portion to this inftance of difuitereftcdnefs, and murmurs were openly exprefibd in the llreets of the capital, Vrhich were greatly iucreaff.d by the inter- ruption that all public bufinefs fullered by the exile of tlie Parliament. The temper of the people was greatly irritated againft the Royal Family, in confe- quence of fome imprudent remarks, that one of the King's brothers had made, when the Parliament af- figned its reafon for not regiftering the edid : " if I were fovereign," faid he, " the Members fliould be forced to comply.'' " If you, were Sovereign," faid the Prefident, " I fhould repeat what I have, now aflerted. — My heart is the people's, my underftanding is my own, and my head is th.e KingV Banilhment produced no other effect upon the Parliament than to confirm the Members in their refolution; but feveral of the other fParliaments evinced a degree ©f fpirit that confounded the Court, 5u THE LIfZ OK and paralyfed all its ineafures. The Parliament of Grenoble immediately alVailed the muft powerful en- gine the government pofleiTed for enforcing 'obe- dience to its mandates, by folemnly declaring it to be a capital crime foK any pwrfon to attempt to exe- cute Lcttres (le Cachet within its jurifdiction. The only ftep that was thsn neceflary to commence a civil war in the country was, to pal's a decree of outlawry againft thofe who had been inftrumental in the exile of the Parliament of Paris. The King was unwilling to provoke fuch a meafure, and ht therefore recalled the Parliament. Several oeconomical regulations had taken plac< in the royal houfehold, but the puplic expenditun ftill far exceeded the revenue; but it was evidently impolTible for the government to proceed withou foine very extraordinary refources being opened fo its fupply. The ftate was reduced to extreme dil trefs, and every man's heart palpitated with hopt and fear, when the King took the novel and extra' ordinary refolution to attend the Parliament himfelf, and to demand their approbation of an edid for a new loan, and another for the re-ellabli(liment of the .Proteftauts in all their ancient rights. ■ It was about the middle of November, ITS?, in a full meeting of the Parliament, that the King entered tbeaflenibly, attended by all the Princes, and a great aiainber of the Peers of France, and he addrefled them in a fpeech of uncommon length, filled with pfofeiilioas of regard for the people, but, at the farlie time, (Irviuglyexpreflive of the obedience heex- peded to his command for regiftering the edicts. Louis probably thought that the dread of the Iw VAVOLKON BUONAPARTE. 57 niiliment, from which the Members had been lb lately recalled, would have enfured the acqaii-lctnce of the aflTembly ; but no fooner had the Members received permillion to deliver their fentimeuts, than he was convinced that their fpirits were wholly un- fubdued. An animated debate took place, which was continued for nine hours, when the King, wea- ried by perpetual oppofition, and chagrined at the freedoms ufed in the debates, fuddenly rofe, and commanded the edidt to be regifleied without fur- ther delay. This meafure was nioft unexpectedly oppofed by the Duke of Orleans, who, coniidering it as an infringement of the rights of Parliament, protefted againft the w.hole proceedings of the day, as being thereby null and void. Though the King could not conceal his aftonifhmcnt and difpleafure at this bold and decifive ftep, he contented himfelf with repeating his orders, and immediately afterwards quitting the adembly, departed for Verfailles. Im- mediately on the departure of his Majeft) , the Par- liament confirmed the proteft of the Duke of Or- leans, and declared, that Ub llieii deliberations had been interrupted, they cunfidered the whole bufinefs of the day as of no effect The agitation of the King's mind was excefiive, he could not fuller luch an attack upon his pov,er with impunity, although he might regret the impe- tuoiity which had induced him to provoke it. Ac- cordingly, a letter was on the next day delivered to the DuUe of Orleans, commanding him to retire to one of his country-feats, and to receive no company there except his own family. At the fame time the Abbe Sabbatiere and M. Freteau, both Members of 58 Tlin LIFE OF the Parliament, who had dininguiftied tliemfelves \n the dtbate, vvcie feized, under the authority of Lcf- trfs de Cachet, and fcnt to diftant prifons. Thefe defpotic meafures did not fail to e.xcite the indignation of the public. On the following day the Parliament waited on the King, and expreffed their afionifhnient and concern that a prince of the blood had been exiled, and two of their Members imprifoned, for having declared in his prefencc wliat their duty and confcierxes dictated, and at a time when his Majefty had declared that Ire came to take the fenfe of tl)e afTrmhly, by a plurality of voices.. The anfuer of the King was referred, forbidding, and unfatisfai^torv, and ferved to increafe the r^^'fent- ment of the Parliament; yet the Members teem to iiaTB acted \Tith more moderation upon this than 4ipon any oth^ oceafion, for they afferabled aird ro- ^ifterod the edk't for the loan, which had been the ca.»re of the unkrrtuna»e diflentiori. Though the difputes between the King and the Parliaments were not ranch more important than the trifling quarrels that hourly happen among children, they would not have been produftive of more mif- cliievous confequences, but for the machinations of cf-rtain rneddliug intriguers, who, from the malig- nancy of their hearts, were conftantly endeavouring to raii'e the flames of difcord. The King was fo f<x)thed with the unexpetted generofity of the Par- liament tliat he immediately ordered the two Mem- bers to be rfelcafed from prifon, and to be confined to their own country feats. The intriguers were now afraid that a reconciliation might take place, .".nd therefore began to calumniate the Parliament, NAPOLEOV HUO^'AFaUTE. 59 fis if they haddtfeiUu! the principles they had avowed, and t!iey were urged to declare their adherence to the reiblutions that they had formerly exprelTtd. In a petition, therefore, conceived with freedom, and couched in the nioft animating langaage,they boldly reprobated the late afts of arbitrary violence, and demanded the entire liberationof the perfonsagainfc whom they had been exerted. Louis, who as often as he was left to purfue hisown inclinations, adopted conciliatory nieafures,did not long hefitate. In the begining of the year 1788 he recalled the Duke of Orleans to court, who foon after obtained leave to ;:etire to England, and he permitted the two exiled Members to return to the capital. Tlie Parliament, however, had not confined their deliberations to tlie breach of their privileges, they confidered the defpotic ufe made of the Ijtttrcs de Ca- chet, as wholly; incompatible with the freedom of debate, and they followed the example of their com- patriots of Gi enoble, in declaring againft the legality of thefe inftruments, and Louis was «nce again in- liigated to meafures of fe verity. MeiTrs. d'Efpre- nienil and Monfambert, whofe bold and pointed harangues had preiTed moft clofelyon the royal dig- nity, were doomed to experience its inmiediate rt^ fentment. A body of armed troops furrounded the hotel in which the Parliament were convened, while Colonel Degout entered the affembly, fccure<l the perfons of the obnoxious Members, and conducted them to different prifons. This new exertion of arbitrary power occafioned a remonftrance from the Parliament, which in boldnefs far exceeded all the reprefentations of thatuilembly. 60 THE LIFE Of They declared that they were now more Urongly confirmed by every proceeding, of tlie entire innova- tion which was uiiiied at the Conftitiition. " But, Sire," added they, " the French nation will never adopl the deCpotic meafures to which you are ad- vifed, and whofe effeds alarm the moll faithful of ycur magiilrates. — We fliall not repeat all the un- fortunate circumftances that aftlict us, we fliall only reprefent to you, with refpedful firmnefs, that the fundamental laws of the kingdom mujl not be tram- pled upon, and that your aiithorifij can only be ejleem' cd,fo long as it is tempered uith ju/tice. There is much reafon to doubt whether the pro- ceedings of either party were tempered with the fmalleft fincefity after this moment. It is the greatclt folly to hope for refpecl, or even juftice, from thoie who no longer preferve the forms of de- cency, and neither the King nor the Parliament fcemed now to regard appearances in their conduct to each other, any further than might be neceffary to conceal their real defigns. The Parliament clamoured loudlv for the States- General to be affembled ; but it is acknowledged by Mr. Thomas Puine, who was an aclive manager in all the underplots of the day, that the real defign was to form a republican alTembly, who fliould mix with the Nobles and the Clergy for the mere pur- pofe of robbing them of their privileges, without compenfation. This abominable deceit and trea- chery was adopted by tlie Patriots, to comiteraL^t, as they fay, the duplicity of the Court, v.-hich oc- cafionally held out conciliatory u\eafur«'s, merely to lull the uiitif^it into a falfe fecurity, while it was pre- NAPOLEON BUG^fAPAUTE. t, ^t ■ paring mean? to deftroy every remnant of liberty. It was extremely (-iiffieult to judge truly at the time and upon the i'})ot, but it is certain, that the Court had no more confidence in the honour of the Pa- triots than the Patriots had in the profeliions of the Court. Every elVort was exerted to avoid aflem- bling the States General, as if the King had known tiie ultimate object of the Patriots, but could not prove it by fatisfactory evidence. If the miniltry were not among the bed of men, they were certainly not the molt contemptible.-^ I'hey knew how to appreciate the precife condition of the kingdom, and they contrived, as a kind of dernier refort, a council, that was the nioft fuitable to the then fituation of the country that could have been deviled. It was founded upon better principles, and was to adminifier a new and nuicli better fyftem ofjurifprudcnce than the kingdom had hitherto been governed by, and at the fame time that it would have avoided tlie mifchiefs of the States General. M. Lanioignon, keeper of the U:als, was the author of this arrangenx.'nt, which was to be called the Cour Plenierc, and was to be coivipofed of jirinces, peers, magillrates, and military men, and U) include fome of the bcft charaders of the nation. Such was the gi neral nuxturc of characlers, that the iuilaence of the crov.n iiiuft have futfered a coii ■ iiderui)le reduction by the apponitnient of this council, and have dimiiii'hed gradually, as the people became fufficiently enlig'niened t<j knov/ the uiv. of liberty ; but the mad furv, that liad gotten loofe among all orders, bliudi'J them to their real intercft, and they law nothing but euenucs in their dearc'.t vol.. l,~NO. II. Jr ^2 THELIFEOF friends. The Dukos de la Hocliffoucault, L^lx^m- l*ourg, De Noailles, and many otliers, diiduin fully nrfuied to accept the nomination, and ftrenuoufly oj)pofed the whole plan. The Parliament of Paris receivd the edidl for eftabliHiing this new court with an averfion ftill more cxpreffive than the Notables ; they protefted againlt the appointment, and declared their refolution never to aflill at any deliberation in fuch an alFembly. The ronteft between the Parliament and the Court was now ia violent, that, while the former was litiing, a regi- ment of foldiers was ordered to furrouud the houfe. The members feat out for beds and provifions with apparent indifference, and it was thought necefiary to proceed to greater feverities to bring them to fubmif- fion. An officer was ordered to feize fome of the mod ipirited, and fliut them up in the different prifons, \vhich order was executed; but a folemn proteft being entered againft thefe proceedings, his Majefty was advifed to ihut up the plac»i of their deliberations, and to fufpend all the Parliaments throughout the kingdom. About the fame tinif deputations arrived from the Parliiiments of Grtii.)ble, Thouloufe, &c. with re- monftrauces againu Uie Coiir PUniere ; thefe were fent to tht Baftile wiihout ceremony, which occa- fioned partial iniurrections in feveral parts of the country, and convinced the Court that an implicit reliance was not to be placed on the troops : numbers of the pcc)})le were killed in thel'e (kirmifties, but, in the genera], they maintained their ground, and tlie Parliaments exprefled their indignation and rcfent- ment in the moll glowmg languat^e. The neceffity of NAFOLEON BVONAr.iKTE (JS aflembling the States General was urged from all parts of the khigcioni; and Louis now faw that no other means were left him of faving the country from the calamities of a civil war. In the mean time the po- pular party hjft no time in ftrengthening itfelf : ia- nammatory writings were diftributed among the peo - pie, and placards were polled upon the t:ate3 and public buildings, charging tire people with cowardice and fervility for fubmiting to the arbitrary mcafures of tlie Government. The vilefl cenfures, and the moft copious torrents of pcrfonal abufe, were poured upon the royal family, efpecially upon the Q.ueen, who was charged with ftimulating every violent pro ceeding ; and enigmatici\l I'entenccs, fome written and others printed, exciting the people to revolt, watt. Uu«raUv diiiribntwrl aud teadwith uvlcUtv,. ^ 64. TiiE 1,1 JE or CHAPTER IV. CAXJSES A^n PROGRESS OF THE IRENCII Jll! VO- LUTION CONTINUED. Rfca/o/M. ]>fecler...FoTmatiofi of the CUibi...SelfiJhnefs ef Ihe l^otabUs... Dreadful Stortu dfjiroys all Vegetation... Bene-oolence of the King, ^c... Tumults of the People... Meeting of the States General... The Commons refufe to continue afeparate Body . . . The National AJftmbly. . . Haugh - tincfs of the Clergy and Ncbilily...The National AJft.mbly txpilUd from their Chamber and meet in a Tennis-court... Proceedings in the Clubs... The laji royal SeJTton...The King's imbecile Conduit. ..Criminal Negligence of the Na-- iional AJfembly. . . Infincerety of both Parties, and their mu- juul ^ubrutffion to the Mob. ..Marquis Faladi... Outrages of the Mob.. .The Complacence of the Affembly... Approach of the Troops tciuards Paris... Mcfagr.'; to the King, and his ei-aji've -1::f-ve>i thereon. /AT this time the coiiflias afTumeJ a new appearance t^vers' day, an*.', a week in France produced as n)any events as an ngc elfewhere. The King determined to gratify the wJHi of the nation by fummoning the States Ctcneial ; a change of miniftry tooiv phice, by which th(^ favourite, M. Xceker, was recalled to ofhcejand yet the hnver orders of the people, who had been al- ways devotc-d to tlie;rSovereign,not only treated thefe conciliatory iiieafures with indifi'erence, but became fercciouily infolenttollie authority and jicrfon of their King. Out of the convulHons of the moment a new powei* infenlibjv arofo at this time, the natural tendencv ot NAPOLEON EUONAPABTE. 65 which was to produce a paramount influence in the ilate. The jseceffity of ading in unifon had induced feme of the members of the parliament to nif^etocca- fionally,to concert the meafures that woulJ be proper to purfue on certain events arifing ; and their friends who had been in America, and who were fuppofed to be better informed upon thefe fubjeds, as alfo a few of the Notablcs,were,occarionally,vifitors at thefe meet- ings. As the ftruggle advanced the number of per- fous ready to give advice in this manner greatly in-^ creafed and clubs became eftablifiied, from whence the faclious in all parts of the kingdom could lea,rn what were the points to which their efforts could be moft advantageoufly directed. Such aflbciations pof- fefs a power of overturning any government at any time, provided they indifcriminatcly admit all ranks ; for they gradually become invefted with all the power that government can have occafion for, and filently direct the views of all the members to the fame objed. An arret was iffued by the King, in Auguft, 1788, for aflemblmg the States General in the fpringof the following year, and the interval was employed by tlie clubs in ripening the plans, and preparing them fgi; execution,. By every thinking perfon the affembling of the States General was regarded as the moft importaiji; 3era in the hiftory of France ; it was, therefore, in- cumbent upon all that were couoerjiied to attend firictly even to the forms of the meeting, for tlie fljghteft deviation in forms might be prod.uftive of the moft meterial refults. The firft quettion related t.3 €6 THE LIFE OF to the number of '..hicli it (liould confift, and this M. Neckcr was loo politic to determine of himfolf, he therefore, once niore.fummoned the Notables, and applied lo thcui for advice; but this mercenary bodv, who neitlicr cared for the King or tlie people, fup- pofing they could preferve* their own privileges, only increafed the (Ufllcnlties by a frivolous adherence to precedents that were no longer applicable to the circumftance. The i\ibje6l was, at laft, fettled, by declaring that the number fliould be twelve hundred, and that the Commons, or tins ctdt, as they were called, (liould be equal to the other two eftatcs toge- ther. This arrangement gave equal fatisfaaion to tlie King and the people, but it was far from agreeable to the fordid difpofition of the ariftocracy or the clergy : their pride and infolence were roufed to the highcft, to learn, that one hundred thoufand nobles, and eighty thoufand prielts, were not conlidercd of more confequcnce than twenty-five million of ple- beians! and if the priviledged orders thought thcm- felves already degraded, the clubs were bufily prepar- ing to increafe their mortification. The caufe of liberty would have been little bene- fited by the third eftate fending a large number of members, if the meafures [lafTed by the Contmons were liable to be rejected by the clergy or the peers, and therefore tlie patriots had taken care to urge the neceliity of the three eftates meeting in one body. Care was taken lo imprefs this principle upon the f;let51ors ; and thr people were taught to regard it as a fundamental principle, that was to be maintained at any facrifiee. During tiie period of the flections the fpirit of NAPOLEOM BUONAPAUTF.. 67 difcofttont and tumult, ^vhicll prevailed all over France, was greatly augmented by a fcantiiit fs of the necefiaries of life, little fliort of a famine, which was occafioued In* a violent* Ihirm ; and, like tiie great I'lcvoluli in lliat was tluMi ])rrj>a;irig, this cv( nt was the ni'ill tn'nu'udous of the kiufl that had ever hap- pened in Europe. On the morning of Sunday, the 13th of July, 17SS, mou of the extenQve kingdom of France was involved in folemn darknefs, which was fucceeded by adreadtul commixture of hail, rain, thunder, light- ning and wind, uniting their fury to deftroy every ap- pearance of corn, vintage, and vegetation. Difmay and horror diilufed themfelves Ihroughout the land, as if the confurnmation of all things was fall ap- prciacjiing ; and the people, on their way to church, were lb beaten by tlio tempell, that they fell proftrate on the earth, now converted into a quagmire, by the ccncunionof the elements. The damages oceafioned by the hurricane were fuppofed to amount to four Tnillions fcerliug, and the niifery it inflicted upon the people of the moft diftrefiing kind. To alleviate the diftrefies of the unhappy fufferers the King ordered the profits of a lottery, amounting to twelve hundred thoufand livres, to be divided amongll them, and forgave them all the taxes for the fpace of a year, from the time of their calamity : the benevolence of the Duke of Orleans upon the occafion was alio very extenfive. Not only did this deiblating event promote the Revolution by the dillrefs it oceafioned, but it afforded the people op- portunitit;s of forming tumultuous afiemblies, that the government could not rcftrain : what cruel mea- , CS THE LIFE OF fures of police could cenfure the people for endea- vouring to get bread? Their bufinefs called them to the bakers fliops, and murmers upon a particular fubjeft eafily received a more general application; f« that every ftreet became a public forum, where men, women, and children, indifcriminately mixed together to anaign the condiift of the Court. At If.ngth the much defired period arrived, that was fondly expeded, by the great mafs of the people, to terminate all the diforders and tumults of the kingdom. His Majefty met the States General on the -l-th of INIay 17^9, in one afiembly, and left them, without noticing .the contention that was in embryo, relative to voting in feparate chambers. The ariltocratical, royal, and ecclefiaftical in- triguers were now as bufy as the patriotic intriguers had been before ; and they fo far fucceeded, that, on the following morning, three different rooms were prepared for them. Amongft the nobles and the clergy there.were many, who, either from laudable or difgraceful motives, were difpofed to join the Com- mons, and they exerted therafelves to unite all in one afiembly : thefe continued to join the Third Eftate, who occupied the hall in which the King had met thero, where thty atfefted to know nothing of the other ciiambers, and ta proceed as the complete body of national repreftntatives. At laft the Abbe Sieyes prevailed upon the Commons to alter tlieir ftyle and put an end to the difpute, for t!ie general fatisfaction of ihe people. His motion was,"That they fhould declare tbemlelves the Rcprefentativesof the Nation, and that the two orders could be confidered ia no other light than as clepulies of cosporations. NAPOLEON BVOXAPARTE. C^Q who could otily have a deliberate voice when they .ilFembled in a national character with the national rej^reientativos." This meafure was adoptfd ununi- moudy ; and the chcira<5ter of States General was loft in that of "The National AOenibly," which inltantly became the uncontroUable fovereign of the country. Every pretention to diflincl legiflative power was annihilated by this decree, and all fubl'equent oppo- fition to it was regarded as a fort of rebellion : all the moderate men, therefore, of the two orders, join- 'fd the National Aflembly. The arrogant and imperious, however, refolved not to fubmit to what they thought an irrecoverable degradation, and, from the mere love of I'elf, were, for the firft time, willing to a^ with the King. Like the ariftocracy of all countries, fo long as the dif- pute remained between the King and the people they were contented to let it take its own courfe: but now that they feemed more likely to lofe than to gain by it, they were defirous of making a tool of the King In piomote tlicir bufc and fordid purpofes. A regular royal, noble, and clerical combination was then formed, with a view to overthrow the National Aflembly; but all their proceedings were fo peurile and contemptible, that they ought rather to have been ridiculed for their folly than puniflied for their wickednefs. Arrangements were made for collecting a large number of ti'oops round the metropolis, and it was intended to ftation a confiderable body of them between Paris and Verfaillcs, v.herc the Afiembly met ; but, inftead of fullering the fittings to continue till the troops had arrived, their fellion was clofed by a party of foldiers taking poffKfllcn of thtir chamber, To THE LIFE OF This impolinc Hep ffrved to prepare both the Affem- bly and the ckizeiiS tor the attack that was about to be made upon iheir rifing lil>erlies, although it pro- duced none of the advantages that the combination expecL'd from it ; ior the anemi)ly met immediately, ill a lenis-fourt, and there fwore to tach other, *' Never to feperate till they hud fomied a ntw Con- ftilution !" The courage and the patriot! fm diiplayed in tl.ls fublune Refolution, pafled at a nioincni when all the vindivtive and cruel fcour4i;e8 that uinbition aud re- venge could contrive 'vere colleiluig, with tieiibeiale malic( ; for the piinilhmtnt of all who had made themfelves obnoxious, could not faii to raife the Anbuibly to the higiicft polniilp jyitch of i;ioty. The ttJuU ii)lfeij(ibh» aud induTercut now took u lively iii- tereftinthefateand proceedings of the reprefeutative bod), and its fuccefs became identified with thai of the nation. The princes, the nobles, and the clergy, may appeal to the rectitude of theii mtcntion, and COniplaiii thai they were fuij^eded uf preparing fcve- ritics which they never intended; but if tlit>ir views wert- fo iiarnilefs, how can they excule thrmleUcs for the inyflerious and equivocal ccndiirt v.hich f I ey adopted, and for their ineffedlual irritation!-? which gave ihe people ground to apprehend that the very word of evils would be the confequence of tb^jir fuccefs. Preparations were now made by the patriotic clubs fo! training their friends in different parts of the kingdom in the ufe of arms, and a little time would have fumiflierl a body fufficiently powerful to have imde a diveifiuu in favour of the Aliembly in cafe any attempt liad been made to artell them. NAPOLEON BUONArAUTK. tl Such a precaution was unneceiTary, for the members were again permited to take qiii.'t pofleirion of their own chamber, and the government Teemed to poflbfs no other fundion than that of fiirnilhing means to the Adembly to fecure its triumrh. The King was perfiiaded to hold a Royal Seffion, and the three orders were fummoned to attend him, as if no difpute had happened. They all met in the great hall, as on the firll day of the convocaiion ; the two privileged orders entered at the great gates, the lame as his Majeily, and wi-re feated at their eufe in the chief places, which were afTigned o them, while the reprefentatives of the people were obliged to fqueeze in at a back door, and were detained feveral hours in the rain, till " their lordlhips" and "their reverences*' were feated ! A Ipe'cl^ was debveredby the King upon the occafioujfuited onlv to the darkcft ages of political fervility, and altogether incompati- ble with the opinions that were adopted by the whole people. He began by lamenting the difputes •that had taken place about the form of the meeting, and inlifted upon the orders being kept feparaie, for which purpofe he commanded the Commons to an- nul the famous decree by which they had con li it n ted tUe National Aflembly, sl fpecies of fubmiflfion that it was a great folly to expeft ; for if they found that no other power could dilTolve them, it v. us not likely that they would commit fuicide upon themfelves, efpecially as they continued to be gradually joined by deferters from the other two orders. Louis did not fail toaiVure them of his co-operation to improve the laws and.the comiition of the people, but he promifed nothing Ipecitic ; and he abfoluttly refufed life alfent 7 2 THE Lirr. OF to foine of the nioli hivouiire projects. His rrinci- pal objecl feemcid to be to iiuprel's tlie Alfenibly with a C?v.i'ii of his own grealnofri, and that whatever good might bo done, they wouKl owe it to his entire cou- decvnTion. 'I'ht Couiinons hiteiied to him with lihjut itidig'.iation, wliich he ritiiculouilv raiied Lo its bi^h.iit degree, by cDnunandiiig the DeMLilies te bie.iK up iiiUiU!(Hately ui;oii iiib d( uarturr, and to n^jair, oa the foHowiug day, to tlieir refpective chambers. His Majelty'b command was inftautly obeyed by the refractory Nobles and Clergy, but the Comniona remained niotionlels, although the workmen were employed in takmg down the throne and oilier deco- ralions. Aniidlt the awt'ul lilence that t.'nfued, M. de Breze, Grand Maftcr ofthe C'erenionies, approached, and fignirted that the Kiug had ordered them to re- tire: but he. as well as the workmen, was ftruck with reverential awe upon receiving a fevere r(>buke from the Count de Mirabeau,whohad greatly diflinguilhed himfelf Ijy the vigor of his mind and the power of his eloquence, " We know, for we have heard," faid Mirabeau, •' what they have fuggeited to the King: but who made you the organ between him and the States Gent-ral r you ! who have neither feat, nor voice, uor right to open \ ur lips here; liow dapc you to bring his difcourfe to our recollection! How- ever, to avoid every fpecies of ecjuivocation and de- lay, if you are charged lo expel us from this place, you will do wttll to get orders ior the employment of a fuitable force, fur we will only cpiit it at the pc4.ni of the ijayonet." The fitualion of the Afleaibly dictated two refo- lutitu-;«, which were innneduitely palled uuaniuiouny, KAPOLtlON' BVOXAPARTE. 7,> \h. "■' that they perfifted in tlieir former declara- tions, and " that the perlbns of the Deputies were I'acred and inviolable." This fpirited conduct iii- .duced the Duke of Orleans and a great number of the nobles to join the AlTembl)' on the foUowing day; and on tlie 27tk of June, jufc four days after the Royal Seffion, the King cxpre-fsly recommended tlic remuinmg nuniVjer of the two orders to unite wiih the iVlTenibly, Although the contradiction of forl^idding and re- commending a union in fo (liort a period was fo evi- dent, the peojjle did not fecm to doubt the fmcerity of the proceeding: the news fpread with the rapid- ity of lightning; and the inhabitants of Verfailles, confiderJng that the King had finally accompliOied tlie falvation and hapj«nefs of the nation, ran to the palace, and faluted the royal family with reiterated acclamations of heartfelt gratitude, M. Necker alfo, who was fuppof(;d to have advifed his Miijcny to adopt that conciliatory meafnre, was hailed as the warmeft friend of the country, atid the ■joyful day ■\vas concluded by a general illumination. It being no longer polliblo to oppofe any legal objeftion to the proceedings of the National Af- fembly, the public began to look with anxious ex- pe6lation to its labours; in the interim all authority wiLS, ill a great degree, fufpendod ; their endeavours v.'ore principally directed to the formation of a new couftitution, and the gt-neral perfuafion that tlie exifting laws v^cre to be aboUOied in ^>/o taught the rude and unthinking to delpife- them : the udminif- tration and the police doubted whether they could ».onfcientioufly enforce what was generally declared VOL. I. — XO. III. r. 74- THE LIFE OF to Ije vicious, and the uncontrolled pafilons of the felf-'.villed leemed to have found a jiibille, in which all their eccentricities might expand without fub- mitting to any reftraints. The experience of civilized life has found it nc- cefiliry to prevent the rude inclinations of one being deftroying the juft rights of another; and the liril; Itep that any revolutionary body ought to take in all cales is, to declare the public authorities refponfible for the ftrid adminiftration of the exifting laws, till they may be fairly fuperfsded by new ones. The National AfTcmbly took no fuch precaution, and the lower orders of the people in moft parts of France, burll iuddcnly from the ftate of abjeft fervility to which they had been long degraded, without any other feeling than a fenfe of the opprcffion they had fullered, and with no other guide than the defire to be revenged on all thofe by whom they were, or thought they had been injured. Tlie moft unfortunate circumftance of this crifis v,as, that neither ofthe parties were fincere with each other; a great part of the AlTembly intended to con- vert tluj nionan hy into a republic, but they could not have avoweci liieir dcfign in tlie outlet, becaufe the people would have rejefted fo defperate and un- jnfh ameal'ure in a manner that mufl have precluded the poffibility of Uie cverture being repeated, and therefore the deterraiuation of thofe members was to pufli the King to extremities, in order that, by de- grees, he- might become odious to the people. At the fame time the Court never defigned to grant the Afieiubly all the liberty that was prOmifed to it, and tic a^)parfiU compliance with its ^wifhes was only a NAPOLEO:?r BUOXAPARTE^ 75 Aratagem to allay the difquietude of the populace, and put the AlTembly off its guard till a force might be coUefted fuflicient to crufli them.altogether. Neither party in this ftate of things could ofiend a turbulent and numerous rabble. The Aflembly faw no other power on which it could effedually rely, in cafe of being attacked by the king's troop's, for the quiet and regular citizens would hardly find the power of reafon fufficiently ftrong to fuftain the rudenefs of the fhock, and the Court, though it placed no' reliance upon this aid, was not willing to drive it to the fupport of the Aflcnil^ly by any kind of provocation. In fa(51, both panics were willing to adminifter to the bafepaffions of the mob, and the confequence was, that diforder and tumult were, for a great length of time, the principal chara^^leriilics of the country. Among the exuberant imaginations, that took their flight upon this occafion, was that of the Marquis de Valadi, an officer who had ferved in the French guards, and learned, among the favages of Ame- rica, that his own manner of life was fo much better than what any one elfe conld difplay, that he had no cbje^lion to cut the throats of one half of mankind if by that means he could force his fyftem upon the other. This gentleman became a paffionateadmirei of the new caufe of liberty, becaufe it freed him from the painful neceflity of confulting the comforts and conveniences of others ; and, having become onrj of a cabal, that now met at the Palais-royal, the reh- dence of the Duke of Orleans, a near rtla'ion to the King, he invited as many of his comrades to the en- Lo'tainment as could be prevailed upon to attend. 76 Tilt Lllh bt The reception that thcfe truant foldicrs iiiet\\ith w.;- of the molt cordial and flattering kind, and great numbers were encouraged to follow the example : the charms of liherty w*;re thus founded in the ears of the foldiers, and they were patiietically implored not to afiilt in fliedding the blood of their fcllo*r citizens. From thofe feafls the heroic vifitors were conduced, in procellion, through the city ; and all the fcdu('tion of female charms and good cheer which the imraenfe revenues of the Palais-roval could pro- vide, were profufely diitrihuted, to allure them into an apnrubation of tbc meafurcs of the AlTembly. A circumftance happened, Ihortly after the Af- ftmbly had united, which ftrongly marked the cba- rafter likely to be aflumed by the Revolution. Some foWiers of the French guards had been imprifoned i-n the abbey of St. Garmain, who, upon learning the diforder that prevailed in different corps, wrote to the Palais-royal, and, with the confident gaiety natural to the French, defcribed themfelves as fuffer- ers in the c aufe of liberty, who had been arrefled for iheir attachment tc the people. The letter was read by one of the perfons ftyied orators, of whom many were cow conftantiy feen leduring to crowds in all the public walks; and, in the moment of intoxica- tion, the whole multitude refolved upon haftening to the prifon, and liberating their fellow citizens : the patriotic fclditrs, the bludgeon, the pickaxe, and the crow, were everywhere put in requifition, and a mot- ley multitude proceeded to diltribute juftice with- out preferving even the forms of trial! Of fuch a tribunal the ccnfequences ought to have been apparent to every fober man in France ; it could NAPOLEON EUO>irAPAllTE. 77 as caffly inflift punifhment as proclaim liberty, and the danger into which fuch a ftate of things thrufl every individual, ought to have united every honeft maa againfl thofe irregular proceedings. No effectual refinance vf as made at the prifon,and a party of dragoons, that was ordered out upon the occafion, arrived juft time enough to fee the releafed foldiers borne in triumph as the heroes of the day, and the generofity of a mob government burft upon them with fuch irrefiftible charms, that they could not refill the temptation of joining iii the cavalcade, and the fuccefs of this attempt encouraged the fran- tic malcontents to inflidbthe fevereft penalties in th« fame defpotic manner. Accounts of thefe proceedings were laid before the Affembly, who, in the cafe alluded to, endc; - voured to preierve as much refpect for the public authority as they could without provoking the hafty difapprobation of the rabble. The foldiers had not been imprifoned for their politics but for diflerent crimes, yet it would have been dangerous to have contradicted the vociferations of the mob; it liad ijOw become a powerful defpot, anci, like the nioil imperial tyrant, would not alluv/ itfelf to be mil- taken: the AfTembly, therefore, fulitiiiHivcly recom- mended, as the moft convenient coniproraife be- tween order and diforder, that the rioters ihould keep the prifoners under their own care till the King could be prevailed upon to fend a pardon for them. By this farce the iliadow of authority v,as preferved though the fubftance had departed. The Court made no objection to this propofal, for the forces that had been ordered to march to the ca- G 2 78 THE iiFi; OF pital were now approaching fo faf>, tliata few days, it was thought, would transfer the public authority from the miffile weapons of the difcontented and the diforderly to the point of the bayonet. Moft of the foreign troops in the King's pay were upon their march, and the frequent difturbances afforded a pre- tence for eftablifliing a camp in the neighbourhood of Paris. Several meflages were fent to the King upoa this fubjeft by the Affembly, but he affured them that his only object was to reftore the public tranquillity. The uneafinefs of the members increafed, and the King anfwered their complaints in a way that only ferved to multiply their fufpicions. " The troops," Said he, " are indifpenfibly necessary at Paris, but you may remove your fittings to Noyon or SoifTons, in which cafe I will repair to Compeigne." Such a, propofal could not poflibly be accepted, for it would have placed the AfTembly between the princes in Paris and ihofe on the frontiers, while it would have cut oflF all affiflance from their friends in the Ca- pital. 5^ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 7g CHAPTER V. CAUSES AND PROGUESS OF THE FRENCH REVO- LUTION CONTINUED. Vengeance of the Court generally expefied— Bifmijfal and Exile of M. J^ecier — Public Regret and Tumults on the Occajion. — The Prince of Lambefc Jirikes an old Man, — The People fly to Arms and repulfe his Regiment — Treachery of the Mayor of Paris. — Prompt Decijion of tht Multitude. — They feixe the Arms in the Hofpital of the Invalids.— TH^ REVOLUTION.— T/i^r 14//4 of July 1789. — The Baflile fummoned. — The Go'venor demands a Parley ^ -which is refufed. — The Baflile taken by Storm. — Refle£iions. l^UTUAL jealoufies and explanations, frequent paroxyfms of tumultuous frenzy, and various at- tempts to form a new Conftitution, brouglit the pro- ceedings of the National Affembly down to the ele- venth of July, when all the elements of reftlefs dif- trartion began to lour throughout the vail expanfe of political combination with fuch a threatning af- pe(51, that the iraagmation became bewildered by the catalogue of woes that were announced, and the mind feemed to ftagger beneatk the weight of its own con- jeftures. The Count de Mirabeau had exprefled himfelf fo energetically, upon the fymptoms of a dan- gerous confpiracy oa the part of the Court againft the deliberations and exiftence of the Affembly, that the popular party looked up to him as a leader and deliverer, and the Court evidently began to haften its preparations for fome defperate explofion. 30 THE riFE OP Upon one point only had the confidence of the Affenibly and the people repofed for fome days, M. Nc'cker was confidered the fincere friend cf liberty, and it Avas thought impofTible that anv hoftile mea- fures could be attempted, fo long as he remained in the miniftry; the Court rather endured than em- ployed him, and his difmi^Tal from office was re- folved upon the moment that the forces was thought fufficient to triumph over the public voice. " The IMiniftry is difmifled, and Necker is fent into exile !" was echoed by every voice throughout Verfailles, and the moft unfeigned grief was depicted on evei:y countenance. A new adminiftration was appomted, confifting of the moft violent enemies of liberty, and every one expeded that the foreign troops would re- ceive orders to feize upon the National Afiembly without delay. Intellligence of fuch importance, would, upon or- dinary occafions, have been circulated throughout Paris in a few hours, but all the high roads and di- reft ways had become fo barricadoed that no foot paflTeoger, nor even the poft could pafs to carry the news. It arrived eircuitoufly and by flow degrees, and, when it was at firft related^ it was treated as a report, wickedly invented to excite confufion : at lafl it reached the Palais- royal, -in a ftiape that would no longer admit of a doubt. The MinWtrr vvas gone ", no one linfeW whltbcr-and the rejwefeiitatives of th«' pe^letnight be alreddy incarcerated ttHhe dcngeoifg^ of the ftate. "No langongecan tlefcfbe the agitation flial irt^antaneoufly roi^vulfed the vaft population of PftYJe* ft ■was a mixture of grief and indignation. impetuo'H'Tfy-irir^t'ied eh bj'uH 'the aiBcieties fjf idoubt.' VArOLF.OX BfON'ArAUTE. 81 rir.ifure no 1oi!l:ci pofiefred the charm of pleafui;^, arnl'tlie Icalt iii(iication of joy-would have been con- fidered as a rririie. All the theatres were iimncdi- atclv flmt, Ijv order of the people. Bulls of Necker and the Duke of Orleans were procured, and carried about the Itreets, covered with crape, and the air refountled with the names of their favoarito. It was even fuggefted, that the King ought to be dct-hroned, and the Duke of Orleans ap- T'ointed his fiiccefTor, as a certain mean of effecting the return of the Minifter. 'i'he bells of all the churches w(,'re tolled, and the people v»'ere collected »;i crowds upon tht bridges, anrl in all the opeu places of the citv, were the most fanciful and talk- ative endeavoured to inflame their indignation with all fhe anticipations of military vengeance and exe- cutions, that the late tumults had exposed them to. The difpofuion, of the foreign corps were contrafled with thofe of the French guards, and pains were taken to fhew, that the French foldiers and the French people, ought to unite all their efforts to fave their country from being given up to the pillage and punifhmcnt of hired hordes. In the midft of thefe ledures the Prince of Lambefc appeared at the head of a German regiment, to clear the ftreets, and to difperfe the multitude. No circumftaace could have occurred more calculated to increafe the fury of the people, and the most infignificant ledurer found himself capable of leading large bodies to any enter- prize that he might fuggeft, by the mere art of ex- citing their indignation agamfl any palling event.— A mere accident formed an immediate hot bed, by which Frangfe was inftantly fupplied with legifl-i- S2 THE LIFE OF tors and commanders in chief, ready to refift tlte mod powerful efforts of the beft eftabliftied govern- ments. The Palais-royal became the central refort for thofe congregations, and was the moft convenient fpot for rallying ail the forces of the city, as well on account of being fituated nearly in the middle of Paris, as. of the ready access that it afforded to all defcriptions of people. Here Gorfus, an obfcnre fchoolmafter, with Ciceronian eloquence,, was fti- niulating his audience, and there Caiuille Defmoti- lins, an advocate ofconfiderabletaienis, was irritatiiiii; the padions of tiie multitude by every fpccies of ihea- trical flourish that hisfertjleinjaginationcouldfuggeft. With a piftol ifi, eacb wliaud Camiile was vehemently haranguing, to prove, that no man was certain of his life and liberty for a fiiigle hour; when a report was circulated, that tlie Prince of Lambefc, in his inarch, had ftruck an old man with his fword. No pains were, ta,ken to examine whether the report were true or falfe or whether, if true, the Prince had been fliraujated by anger, or a humane deiire of faving the aged perfon from being trampled under his horfe's feet; a fliirraifh had enfued between the Parifians 9.nd the troops, and a general cry of "To arms! to arms !'' impelled every creature to the field of aftion. The rallying Citizens found the Prince at the head of his cavalry, near to a fpot where preparations were nmking to buiid a new bridge. Scarcely had they reached the ground, when, by a kind of in- ftinctive movement, they feized upon the (tones, and, iuipeluoufly ryfliin^ upon the foldiers, broke their ^'A^OLEON BUONAPAHTE. 83 ranks, and threw them uito the utmoft coufufion. The found of mufketry alarmed the rrench guards, who rufhed from their quarters, and putting them- felves under the command of the Marquis de Valadi, iiew to the fuccour of their countrymen. Tlie foreign regiment was difcomliled, and withdrew; whilft the citizens werefiufhed with vidory, and becoming con- fident in their numbers,' were encouraged to under- take the nioft defperate enterprifcs. It was late on the 12th of July, that the cavalry Avere driven out of Paris, and it was hourly expeded that the ^larlhal Broglio, who held the command of all the corps in the neighbourhood, and who was attached to the moft defpotic principles, would at- tempt to reduce the city. The approhenfion was terrible, repofe was baniflied from every breaft, and fleep refufed to grant a momentary refpite from dif- quietude ! The hearts of mothers palpitated with the moft dreadful alarms for the fafety of their infants, whilft the fears of the rich were increafed by a fenfe of the 77wrc than common dangers to which they were expofed, in a moment when all the barriers were thrown down between temptation and gratifi- cation. Tiie filent hours of night were chafed away by the clangour of alarums, and the different rude weapons that an irregular multitude could purloin from the various domeftic and manufaduring purpofcs to which they were ufually applied, every houfe be- came a fortrefs, and every citizen a foldier.— "Morn- ing arrived, but no enemy made his appearance!— All was fufpence, but the myfterious delay had no ■tendency to reftore the public tranquility. No mo- S-i THE LlVh or, live could rciard the inleii'erciice of govcnimeiit, but a defire to mature its plans, and us the dangers %\ ould increalc by the length of lime lliat was re» quired to ftrenglbeti tljcm, no time was to be loll in preparing to meet tlicin. All the fliops were fliut, and all bufmefs was at an end. The Elevators of Paris were fpontaneoilfly formed into a provillonary government, and the final iliLie of the contefl was expecled with the greatefc inipatience. Whilft Paris was thus preparing tlie means of de- fence the lituation of the National AUlinbly was fuppofed to be moft perilous, the communication with \^erfailles was in a great meafure cut off by the intermediate bodies of troops, and, in cafe of attack, the inhabitants of \'erfailles could afford no redft- ance to the armed force. But the Affembly be- trayed no fymptoms of fear, the members feemed convinced that they had more jufticc on their fide than could poUibly be afferted on that of the Court, and their whole reliance was placed in the reftitude of their caufe, and the zeal of their fellow citizens. On the night of the 13th, means of correfpon- dence were found between the Allcmbly and the Provifionary Municipality of Paris-, and it was dif- coVered that I\I. de riefleles, the Mayor of Pans, who profeflcd to be in the intereft of the C^itiijens, was taking mcafures to betray them into tlic power of Broglio. The intercepted correfpondenne ])roved, that the jNIarflial intended to enter into tlie city on the following evening, when the people Ihould bo fubdued by excellive fatigue, aud be too weary to rc- fift the allurements of llecp. lioftilitias were fure to tfAPOLEON" BUOVAPARTE. 85 ■(boinmence within a few hours, and, by draining the plans of the enemy, his defeat might be fecured. The Baftilie was at once the fortreJs and the pri- fon that was to be feared. — It was there that all the fatellites ofdofpotifin would fix their head-quarters: it was there that both the deputies and their confti- tuents would be flowed away in caverns and in cells. There it was that their lives would continue to wafte away by the ruffian arm of relentlefs tyranny, and the only way to diveft the monfl:er of his power, was to fpoil him of his refuge and his home. — " To tlie Bailille! to the Baftille 1" was echoed throughout the city on the morning of the memorable Fourteenth of July, 17^9, and an army of forty thoufand defpe- radoes whimfically armed with otfenfi ve inftruments^of all forts, intermingled with a few hundred of loldiers, fet out on their march. -When their leaders had put them in motion, it was necetlary to accullom them tti forae order, and, accordingly, they were wheeled about to attack the liolpital of the Invalids, where a large magazine of arms was kept. No great refin- ance was attempted, the magazine was ftripped, and the glittering aj'uis ferved to convert thofe raw recruits into the moll confident of soldiers. From the Invalids to the Baftille the whole length of the city was to be traverfed,and the multitude greatly iucreafed by thu way. On arriving at the fortrefs, a deputation from the Provifionary Municipality demanded admiilion, in the name of the people, De Launay, the ^juvernor, •was in a fituation the moft awful that any individual could have to fultain.-^IIis duty to his Sovereign forbade him to yield to any other power, and his duty VOL, 1. — NO. Ill, H S6 Tiir, LIFE or to his countrymen forbade him to flied blood in any avoidable caie. He might even be in the Iccret of the Court, and with to hold out till a reinforcement might entirely difperfr the afiailants ; but, whetlier this v.vm fo or not, it was no unreaiouuble demand, tluit he iiioiild be alloM,«.'(l fonie time before he could decide upon the proper courfe to take. — lie demanded a parley, " Deliver the keys!" was the anfwcr of the multitude, lie could not refolve. A fiiower of ftones and fire of mufketry might hafren his decifion ! The experiment was tried, and the Governor refolved to ftand a fiege. All the attemp.ts toeflecla breach fail- t;d of fuccefs, and many of the people were killed. At laft a private folfiier got over the guard houfe, and forced the firli draw-bridge, by means of a hatchet, \vhile others broke open the outer gate, and entered the court. Thefewere foon repelled by the garrifon, and the grourid regained. The conflict became def- perate, and the iflue doubtful. The bodies of the wounded lav icattered on the ground, and the fury of the people was increaled even to madnefs. At this critical moment arrived two detachments of foldiers, headed by two non-commillioned offi- cers, and ihefe were followed bv a numerous train of volunteers, headed by a citizen Hulin, who had prevailed upon a number of the French guards alfo to join the people. An acceffion of new courage invigorated the whole body ! They fet fire to fome waggons of ftraw, and, by their means, burnt and deftroyed the out-works. Several pieces of cannon were now brought to play upon the building, and the cafrle vas at length taken by ttorm, after a few hours refillauce. What a glorious triumph ! how NAPOLEON BUONAPAniE. 8? big with event. When (hall we Ite an end of the fcleilings which it promil'es to uiankind. Will ihey be of no longer duration than other atcliievemenis of man? Or Ihall we ever have to lay, that the coijqiierers of tl>e liattiUe have ipilled their blood i» vain? Liberty is a fpecies of divinity that we contem- plate with reverence, and worlhijj afar otT!— Shall we now approach her familiarly, and behold her be- nign influence cunftaiitly befurcus^ — Let us,at]eaft,- indulge the delufive hope as Imig as we can. The Baflille is dt-Urovid ! — The vi(f^ors, aie numnaiiius tiie tell; ! Sec: the pooi' emaciated- wretches, tliut have been for years entyaibed- in its infernal dungeons, ihiU out froui every cbsering^ ray of hoj-.e, ami doomed to Fpeud the lingering loat! of life in one eternal blai'vk! — Behold the inrtruments of torture ; till this free hour, mofl fcrupuloufly hidden from public view ? Thefe are the tools by which a cruel tyrant works bis fecret vengeance — fcrews out his wrath araongft his victim's blood, and, through the body, linds away to melt the greatell foul to mere fer>- vility. The caves are opened and the prifoners fly ! Hail ! dear aifertors of your country's rights ! No human mind can look upon your Gonqueft with in- diflference, and he muft grofsly be perverted by mif- taken theories whofe heart does not rejoce at your fuccefs. Toe power is now in your own hands; if you will become the fupportcrs of freedom, you muft become the minifters of juftice, and you cannot trench upon the freedom, of another, even by miftake, without endangering your own. tW the life of CHAPTER VI. . • "Joyofihe Parisians en the taking of the Baflille — Can- tradiBory Accounts of t/iai E'veut Alarming Sta/r of the Isaticnal AJfembly Their precautionary Rcfoiutions.... Their Emotions on being informed of the Events at Paris, . . . Their Deputations to the King, ...Patriotic ConduH of the Due de Liancourt on his Interview ivith the Krig — The J^mg's Vifit tD the Affembly, and their Coudufi thereon.... Rejoicings of the Popidace on the Reconciliation of the King 4ind the AJft rf:bly. .. .Deputation from the National Affembly to the Cop:!,:l....M. Bai/lv appointed Mayor.. ..M. Necker recalled, and again Mmifler The King 'vifits Paris, to jhe great J , ef the Parijiuns.. ..State of the Public Mind.,.. Commenctp!ent of the REiGti of r\:AK....F£nality of th» TaSiiur.s,.. Odious Power of the Rtvolutionifli. JL HE attention of all Europe had been dire«^cd towards the Capital of France, and many illufrrious itrangers had aflembled upon tlie fpol., leaft the linifler repreiientations of others (houid deprive ihem of any incident of the important drama tliat was expefted wi;h fo rniicii anxiety. How mucli ftronger were the feelings of the people of France, The news of the taking the Baftille darted through Paris as rapidly as the rays of the fun, and one unbroken fhout declared the ra})turous joys of the people. Ills one of the greateft misfortunes attendant upon a feafou of public agitation, that falfehoo • obtains as .eafy a circulation as truth.— The calumnies dictated by revenge, an'l the fables invented by the lovers of ihe marvellous, are fo mingled with every occurrence, NAPOLEOIf BUONAPAUTE. 89- that an acute and patient inveftigation is abfolutely nccelTary to determine in all fuch cafes how much of any narration fhould be believed. But the patient voice of reafon is not to be heard in the tumult of commotion, and' the temptation to evil ailions are fo numerous, that it is principally good ones which excite furprife. 'llie people of Paris arc, therefore, not to be wholly condemned, becaufe the firft hour ttiat ihey became poflefled of authority, they made a more tyrannical ufe of it than had ever' been attempted by the defpotifm which they had' overthrown. Immediately aft^r the taking of the Baftille, every fpeclator, as well as every afl'uilant, began iiis own relation of the tranfaftion, and it was reported, that M. de Launay, the governor, had decoyed a number of the people within the gateSj under the pretence yf fupplying thent with arms, and that, when he had them in his power, he cruelly put' them to death. Of a man already hated, on occount of the fituation lie held, no ftronger pretence was afked foru;aking him a fignal example of emancipated vengeance. — There is no reafon to believe that the repovtwas true, for if it had, the befiegers would' not' have fufT-jii-d him to have breathed a (ingle moment after they had furroundcd him with ilieir pikes, they however not only confideied hitti as a prifoner,.fa.r]y wiihiu the laws of war, but they were proceeding with him to the Hotel dc Ville, to give him up to the .Ma- giftrates, when the intoxicating fpirit of unreftraiued power found that human victims were neceflary to its tuiitinuation ; and the mjierial mob, in the true charac- 11 3 90 THE LIFE OF ter of a rude and ferocious tyrant, fell inftantly upon their prifoner, and hacke<i him to pieces. M. do Loime, an inferior officer, and M. de Flefl'elles, the Mayor, (hared the fame fate ; and, having no enfigns of pillaged cities, no plunder of depopulated towns, no fuch trophies of their renown as high and poliihed conquerors ufually difplay, thefe uncultivated retail- dealers inhuman blood, mounted the bleeding heads of the INlayor and Governor upon their long pikes, and here them in favage procelTion, as emblems of their giddy vanity. Cruel and wicked as thefe tranfadions were, they were lefs culpable in the perfons who committed them, than is the conduct of thofe perfons, whether in France or any other country, who can attempt their juftificatiou. The mob was in a fituation wholly novel, the very nature of which precluded refledion. It was furrounded by many real dangers, and more imaginary ones, and it was operated upon by falfe rumours; but perfons, who, after having had leifure to reflect, can apologize for fuch atrocious conduct, whatever their profeffions about liberty may be, would, if they had the opportunity, fupport the mod odious and deteflable tyranny that can be imagined. During this fevere conflidt, the National AfTcmbly were not in a condition to f-ffift or difcourage auy meafures of the Parifians. Various alarming reports of the intentions of the court were circulated, fome didated by trinidity and fome by defign. At one moment the members were all to be feized, and, after being condemned as rebels, were to be tortured NAPOLEON BUO-VATARTE, pi to death ; at another, the foldiers were inarching, \vith a hundred pieces ef cannon, to batter their hall to ruins, and bury the members in the nibbifli ! Different members exerted their eloquence to uifpire forlitucic and unanimity in tiie Alibmbty; and a re- nioiUtrance was lent to the King, on t-he general llate of affairs, in confequcnce of the change in the mi- niftry. The King anfwt'red in too arrogant and in- different a ftyle, and the Affembly paffed a llring of declaratory refolutions, tending to Ihew that no con- fidence whatever could be repofed in the new nii- niftry : it was alfo relolved, not to adjourn, even daring the niglit. The Affembly was confiantly crowded with fpec- lators, who fclf all the different emotions that agi- tated the members. Such, indeed, was the peculi- arity of the crifis, that every harangue; which was de- livered infufed an excefs of enthufiafm into the au- dience, which recoiled upon the orators, and infpired them with double courage. The imminent danger which hung over all their labours induced the Affembly to turn their attention to the completion of the new Conftitulion; a com- mittee was, therefore, appointed, on the l4.th of July, to report upon it without delay : infinitely important as this obje6t was confidered at the rifing of this day's fun, a few hours chafed it from the recolleflion! Vifcount de Noailles, unexpectedly, appcai-ed in the hall; he had cfcaped, he faid, from Paris, and, with great difficulty, had contrived to pafs the palroles. ^Vhenlle quitted Paris the whole city liad armed it- felf from the Hofpital of the Invalids, and the Baf- tille was bcfieged. He had not waited for the ifluc ; 92 •the life of and only knew, that the troops deftined for the Champ de ISIais were expected every moment to relieve the' fortrefs, which could nut be cffefled without deluii- iiif; the erty in blood. Tlie whole AfTenibiy was ajipalled at the dreadful intelligence. " Let iss fly lo ihe relief of our fellow citizens!" cried many of the members: " Ix-t us rather burfl into the prefenee of the King," faid many others, " and call upon him to behold the fruits of his councils: it is now time that he fliould decide whether he will be tlie king or the murderer of his people!" To defcribe the general etJed pnjduced" by the various feelings ofjoy, grief, and terror, which, by turns, agitated every perfon, would be iutpoflJble j all were peculiar to the circumftanc-.^s of the mo- ment; and none but tbofe who were prefcnt can poi- fibly comprehend the fublimity of the fcene. A dijputation had been fen t to the King, but it had not returned, although the hall of the Ailcmbly was not four hundred yards from the palace. Ih the interval a deputation arrived, from the elcdors (now the magiftrates)of Paris, to the Aircmbly j their report was fomething more prccife than the Vif- count's but the victory had not been decided w-hea they came away. The King's anfwer arrived ; it was vague and unimportant, fuch as it might have been if he had not had a fenfe of the calamities of the rountfy. In fine, a third meiTcnger reached the Af- fcmbly from Paris, and a third deputation was lent' to the King. What could be the King's motive for confiding his povernmeirt to the new minifti rs at fuch a critical moment, and what (A^-i]<] be the piiiKiphs upon /. /. /_ /,■, /' ' / ' /„'■ '/. /.,;, -rf. VAPOLEON SrONAPARTK. 93 which thofe minifters aded during the three days that they were in office, are, perhaps, queftions that are involved in fo many of the concealments and mifreprefeutations of political intrigue, that pollcrity will never be able to learn the trutli : bt;t certainly thofe principles and that infatualionmuft have been very extraordinary which could have ihut up the Sovereign as a prifoner in his palace, nr\d have ftu- diuufly concealed from him the calamities of his kingdom, at a moment when they ought to h;ive known that he was in danger of loiir.g it, and alfo every fragment of the mun;ircby, even to the name of King. If the faft were not aathtntlcated upon the heft authority, it could not oe believed, that tiie King remained- ignoraut of th<-; ft;'.te of his capital till he was no longer in accn■!iti^n to diCpiuy cither his power or his moderation! Miniuers hitd bl''>4ly adhered to the projefti Oi ambition, even when the ineans of their accomphfhment were fleeting from them; and it was not till the Due de Liancourt in* lifted upon being admitted into the royal palace that they could decide upon the line of conduct that was proper to purfue. liis Majefty was retired to reft, but moments were now too precious to be wafted in ufclefs ceremony. The Duke ingenuoufly related the alarming afped of affairs to the King, and, in a candid and friendly manner, explained to him the perfonal danger to which he was expofed. His Majeliy foon faw that the municipality of Paris, with a hundred thoufand men in arms, would be able to fend an army to Verfailles fufficient to take him prifoner in his own palace. No more lime was to Ije loft in temporizing. " What a terrible revolt s" ^ THE LIF'E O? exclaimed the King. " No, Sire !" obferved the Duke, "it IS no revolt, but a great Revolution} tlie nation demands only the inviolability of its re- prefentatives: when your Majefty's troops ihall have left the National Aifeniblv to the freedom of its dil- cuffions there will not be found a difcontcnttd fub- ject in the land." One of the King's brothers (Count d'Artois) hud in- curred the fevereft cenluros of the people, on at- count of the hauteur of Ins manncra ; he was ftill' adverfe to con<:iliatory nieafures. **A.s for you, Sir," faid the Duke. " a price is fet u|.'on your head? I' have myfelf feen the art of profcription polkd iq) \n the f; reels." Such awful intcUiiieuce G.>uld ik>* I'tiil to fprrad- tlie greateft difinay uud tonueraation lhrou:^Ii tiie ■whole courf. The prince faw tl^.at his only leeurity was in a precipitate flight, and the minifters followed his example with fo much rapidity, that they efcaped before the accounts of the Revolution could enco- rage the provincial patriots to fhut the barrier.? of the towns through whivh they pafled. The Due de Liancourt obtained the King's af- fu ranee that he would attend the Aflenibly, and he communicated the intelligence (bortly before his Ma- jefty was ready to proceed. The Aflenibly relblved that the King ought to be reeeis^ed with filenre. The vilit was wholly unpremeditated oh both lides, no preparation were made for it. Without a body- guard, or any of the attendants of royally, the So- vereign of the fii ft empire in the world, who only a few d;iv before, had been attended to the fame hall by the proudeft race of nobles, and 9. long tram of X.iPOLF.OX EtroK A1>ARTE. '£)5 the maft ma^'nificent atlendaiits that. couUi poffibly aggrandize hunmn fijlendour, now entered the Af- fembly, uncovered, and uufnluted by the (Jightcdt ceremonial, to implore protection againft a lawlcfs rabble ! 'J'he many gloomy countenances tliat the King be- lield were not calculated to infpire him with much confidence ■, yet Louis addrefled the AlVembly without any apparent embarrafl'ment. He exhorted them to ufe their utiiiort endeavours to re-eftablilh the trati- quillity of the capital and alfured the AlTemhly tliat lie relied upon them in this important crifis with the litmoft confidence. At thelo words many dcmon- ftratiouA" of joy buft forth from the ftats occupied by the nobles and the clcrgv ; molt of the commons fat lilent and unmoved : they could not Le contented with being reri/ good, but they nuift emulate a very foolilli, though a very common dehre, to be too good; it wub not enough that they had humbled the King, they inuft alfo degrade him, and their very laudable efforts to furmount the defpotifm of the monarchy becAme converted into a defire toexercife a defpotic power over the monarch himfelf. " I know,"' cou- tinu<>d the King, " that unjuft prejudices have been conceived: I know that falle reports have been pro- pagated, but is uot my known charatler a fufhcient anfwer to thofe malignant calumnies? I come,"ad(led he, " to declare to you, that I and my people are the fame: my whole truft is in you; affift me to fecure the falvation of the ftate. I have con:manded the 1 1 oops to retire; and I exhort you to allure the ca- pital of the fincerity of my intentions. " At the clofcof this fpeech the hall refoundtd with '^6 THE MFK or reiterated burfts of applaufe ; and, after the prefident had afiured his majefty that the Afieirbly would take tlie nioft eifedual meafurcs for rettoring the public peace, the members all arofe, and conduced the King to Ills palace. Crowds were waiting without with rlie moft earncft expedation; and wlien the Kitig appeared, accom- panied by the Airembiy, the air was rent by fliouts of joy, and bleflings were poured upon his head, as if he were regarded as the deliverer of his people. The whole manner of the King feemed to be changed and now that he had, as it were, efcaped from the reltraints and from the referve of defpotic pomp, he was eager to anfwer every one that prefled about him, and he hoard with the moft open affability the details which they wete anxious to give of what had happened. According to appearances, both the King and the people had U come free, and were both happy in confequence. The National AiTLnibly now poflcfled the 'fove- reign power in all it plenitude, and nothing was necelfary but a firm adherence, as well as a dignified ufe of its authority, (o have fecured the liberty of France for a long feries of ages. Unfortunately, the majoiity of the AiTembly was compofed of the fame kind of men as thole who had prefided over the affairs of that country for a confiderabie time. It was in vain that a few clear-fighlcd and intrepid members urged the neccliity of guarding their rifjng liberties ffom daily violaion, by a brutal and licen- tious rabble ; the majority ap.peared as if they had onlv diipla\td an unulual fic^ieee of courage in their behaviour to the King that they nn^ht referve the NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^f %\hole flock of their cowardice Lo trallic witii in theit commerce with the people. A deputation, of eighty members, was fent from the Aflembly to the capital, and M. Bailly, who had been their prefident, was appointed Mayor of Paris. The Marquis de la Fayette, who had alfo been pre- fident of the Aflembly, was appointed Commander of the national guards, aad M. Necker, being recalled by the Aflembly, refumed his fituation as Minifter. The fame promplitvide and prudence that induced the King to vifit the National Aflembly induced him to vifit the capital aifo, and his journey was attended with the fame fuccefs. On his approach to Paris he was met by INI. de la Fayette, at the head of the na- tional guards ; a mixed multitude of the citizens of Paris, irregularly armed with diiTercnt weapons, and, the furly iliouts of, " Long live the Nation !" indi- cated no difpofition to treat him very refpe£tfully. When his Majetly arrived at the Hotel dc Villc he was required to put on a cockade, that the people had aflumed, as the enfign of the triumph; and, as, he evinced no obje6lion, the mob became fomewhat reconciled to him. He was, at one time, indeed, very near overthrowing all the effeds of his goodna- ture; for one of the eleftors addreffed him in a ftyle of republican freedom that puzzled him how to an- fwer it; but the INIayor adroitly ftepped forward and faved the King from the dilemma, by anfwering 11 his name. The conduft of the King upon this, as upon moH Pther occafions, evinced a high degree of benevo- lence and goodnefs of heart; he feemed to indulge VOL. 1. — NO. III. I S8 THE LIFE OF all the wifhes of the people, and his conciiiatory manners produced fuch an effedl upon the multitude, that, when he appeared at one of the windows, a general acclamation of " Long live the King!" re- founded from all quarters, in fpite of the malignant efforts of a number of unprincipled men, who mixed amongft the crowd, with a determination to excite hatred againft him, at all events. The feries of events, which terminated in this ex- traordinary manner, was charafterized in France as an emancipation from flavery ! in the other countries of Europe it was hailed by thoufands as a moll glo» rious Revolution! Unfortunately, the people of Eu- "rope faw nothing that pafled in France but what ap- peared in the public prints of that country; and the powerful party (as powerful parties always will do) took care that nothing (liould be printed which would have operated againft their own purfuits. Un- fortunately alfo, the people of France were too much agitated to find leifure for a very nice definition of terms, to which tb.ey had been long unaccuftomed. Without, therefore, taking the trouble to afcertaia the precife ideas exj:)reflcd by the words Liberty and Slavery, they were as contented (as, unhappily, many pcrfons are, in all ftatcs, who have not fuch good reafons) to echo the found, without regarding the fenfe. Inftead of liberty, there is not an honeft man in the univerfc, acquainted with the circumftances, who does not fee that France had, by a power nearly magical, converted her own defpotifn* into the mbll hateful and mifchievous tyranny of which any kind of human policy is capable. Not a noble passion XAPOLEON BUOXA PARTE, ^9 nor a generous fentimeiit was allowed to difplay itfelf in France after the 15th of July; but every ai^ion, as well of the conquerors as of the fubdued, was, from that nnoment, rendered fubfervient to FEAR? This fpecies of violent tyranny was equally aided by the crafty and the ignorant, who were guided by different impulfes, to fway a weapon, which, of all others, every clafs in every nation ought moft ho- nourably to prohibit, as the moft mifchievous — the . propagation of fa^fehood; and the various alarms, excited by falfe reports, gave the triumphant party an opportunity of creating fo much government, that they had places and offices to beftow upon the moft infignificant of their retainers, and fcarcely a flreet was to be found in Paris but what had its governor appointed, to tell the people when they might be permitted to go abroad and when they fliould be obliged to flay at home ! This mifchicf was, how- ever, greatly increafed by the circumftancc of the government h-i'mg fo divided, that what was law at one part of the city was not law at another; and the charafters and fortunes of the citizens might be expofed to either, more or lefs capricious, according as they were in this or that feftion : before any one of thefe free Freachmeu could go abroad it was ne- cefiary that he ihould be furniflied with a card of ci- vifm from the municipality of his feftion; but a man might be an objeft of calumny in one ditlricl who was known to be wholly innocent in another 1 and, as a perfon was never certain that his paiTport would not beguile him to a Ipot wliere ignprant ofljciouf- JOO THE LIFE OP nel's might be waiting to place him within th^ fangs- of fufpicion, the mod quiet and peaceable of the people faw i.o fafet}'^ but in fliutting themfelves up in fecretj and guarding their geAures and looks from being conftrutd into fj'mptoms of treafon againft the vicious inclinations ef the mob. 3^ .r;r vr.- >rArOLEON EUONAIARTE. 101 CHAPTER VI T. Immigration. — Parties in the nczv Cn,v, crats — Jacobins. —Diforders thruv.ghmt France. — iLa.ed of the Clergy.— SelJIJJm^fi of the Naii-jnal AJfcmbly.—h:- /lances of f'Opular Tyranny.— Decree of Kmancip-ition from unequal Taxation. — Abolition of Feudality^ Tythes, (sfr. — l^eaknefs of the National Jijfemblf. — Their financial la- capacity — Failure of Public Credit. — Patriotic Offerings. — Jnconfiflent ConduSi of the National AJfemhlv, hv decree- ing an opl>re.ffive Tax on Tncome. — Ihe Urlcau: Fuiliov.... Mirabeaus Deceit. — PariJIan Tumult;. JLIIE meafures adopted in Pan.-; *\.vv copied i;> moft of the provinces and chief cities uf Kiii'xc, anti ll'>e jealoulies of the people wtre roufcd upon fuch trifling occalious, that perfons of fiec and c;ir( lefs nninners were conftantly es])ufcd to thi; ytoalL-.u (iai;- jiers, and great numLers of indivivluals, (<; everv rlaii^j found their only fafety in emigrating from their cjiiu- try. The new order of things gave rife to fo inanv of-' ficos and iituations of public autlioritv, to \\f!if:h no one had any fuperior claim upon the ground of pr^'- vious qualifications, that the moft defperiitc .iiid boi'- terous among the difconteuted of all eialie?, forced tharij'elves, as it were, into the rilin;- fj'Ovt:;rniiienl bv dint of mere noife and clamour; and, us thefe perfon',? v.ere now determined to divide the kingdom amon^ft thenifelves, they formed affociations, into v.hu ]i t!}ey admitted no perfon u'ho did not i'j^plicitjv a!](.:it lo all their dogmas, and by means ofwJ}ich tiiCir v>ho]e body throughout the country was euu'Jcd to cor- 1 3 102 rilE LIFE OP refpond and to co-operate with each other, whenever it was necefiary to the promotion of their views. " Liberty !" was the fafcinating cry, by which numbers of cunning and defigning adventurers, in every pro- vince rendered themselves popular amongst the busy and unthinking multitude, and by the artful applica- tion of the term Ariftocrat, which the people under- Itood no better than the former, they contrived to catl a general odium upon all the officers, whofe places . they were anxious to occupy. The principal of thefe afTociations was that which received the appellation of " The JocobiriS," (from the circumftance of their meeting in a hall which had belonged to a religious order called by that name) the members of which chose to defcribe ariftocracy as the effence of every- thing that was iniquitous and difgraceful; and, hav- ing implanted this idea in the public mind, they found no difficulty in hunting down .every person whom they were defirous of difplacing, by branding him with the title of Ariftocrat. Accounts arrived every day of the moft horrid crimes being committed in all parts of the kingdom, which were fufte red to continue for fome time with- out reftraint from cither the Court or the Aflembly, both being inlUienced by the fame bafe motive, a de- fire to attr.ch all the odium to the other. At tliis trifib the Clergy could not fail to fee the incfficacy of their fyftem, of directing the attention of the people to the ceremonies of religion, inftead of its precepts; for no fooner were these people reieafed fiom tliC fliacklcs of defpotic reftraint than ihey ap- peared to be fvidently without any moral intluence whatever. Torjcd letters, iu the iKime of the Na V AVOLT.OS BUONAPARTE. 10.3 tlonal Afiembl',', and forged odifls, in the name of tljc King, were IraDftnilted to diftcrcnt parts, calling upon the people to withhold the tythes, to dettroy the palaces, and to burn the caftles of their land- lords and their priells : fuch incitements were hardly wanting, for the infipid ceremonies of the church of Rome had abandoned the morals of the French to the guardianfiiip of the bayonet, which being now no longer apprehended, all the eft'eds of the evil pafijons animofity and revenge began to appear, whilft ruin and defolation fpread throughout the kingdom ; but particularly in Dauphiny, Burgundy, Britanv, and Franche Comptc, where the fineft build- ings were reduced to uflies.. Tiluch as the royal family has been blamed by the partifans of liberty, and the ]ieople by tlie partifans of the royal family, for the ill elTeds of the Revolu- tion, they are principally to be attributed to the jea- loufy of the Nationl Affenibly, which, with an ego- tifm, not unirequent in legiilative bodies, would not fufl'er any other pov\er to do the leaft good, for fear it lliould not be fo well done as if accomplished by its own authority, as they pretended ; but, in fa6t, for fear the people thould difcover any other object of praife : this is evident, from their condufl towards the eledors, or new municipality of Paris, who evinced fome dehre to exercife what power they had acquired, for the purpofe of repreiTing the fanguinary dilpohtion of the mob. Btfide the viflims already facrificcd the blood of JM. Benzeval was loudly called for; and the Parifian lavages delighted in the hope of dragging his man- gled corpfe, as they had done thofc of Foulon and 104 THE LIFE OF Berlljier, in their bai'barous proc( filons. Tliis gcn- tlcinan had cominanded the Swifs troops, and it was prt-tL-nded, that he had written to ]M. de Launay, to defend the Bauille to the laO, though no fuch letter was ever authenticated. M. Neclier, who was greatly attached to this officer, wiflied to ufe tlie popuhirity he had acquired among the people to ibften that re- feutment! and, upon paying his firlt vifit to Paris, after his recal, he took occafion to implore the Mu- nicipality, above all tilings, to let their proceednigs be guided by " goduels, mildnefs, and juitice/' and to pafs a general amncfty, by which the rrrcrs of M. Benzeval, and every other mifguided perlun, might be forgiven; that a hnal end nught be put to thofe difgraceful fcenes, a repetition of which, lie declared, would render him incapable of longer ferv- ing the public, ""w The eloquence and argumentation of the JMlnifier's addrefb produced fuch an efi'ed on the magiitrat* ;■, that they acceded to his requeft, with a generi.i.iy that, perhaps, might border a little upon iuipolie;. ; for, without recoUtdling that their autliority was, as yet no better defined than that of the King and the National AiTembly, they dif[)atched orders to'N'.l- lenaux, where jM. Beu/'xnal was confined, to fet liim at liberty. IS'ecker, proud of the tiiunq)!! v.hicii his virtuous endeavours had gained over the faftiout- dif- turbers of the public peace, hafieiied to hear tlie joy- ful tidings to the King; but he had fcarcely arrived at Verfailles before /n-ery thing that had been done was counteraded ! The crowd adembled at the Hotel dc ViiU i.afi loudly applauded the Minilier's fentinients, ami ar-- KAPOLEOX BUONAPAUTE. 105 proved the a6l of oblivion by the mofl enthufiaftic I'liouts; bat the fpirit of quibbling, which had taken pofleifion of all defcriptions of people, lliortly difco- vered, that the electors had not been appointed to the magiftracy by any wrktcn laxv; and, therefore, that they had no authority to prevent the fliedding of blood ! The legions of tLimultuous rabble, at whofe call the Municipality had been formed, and ^vho had hailed them as the guardians of liberty, fo long as they were regarded us accomplices in the murders that were committed, now began to treat them as ufiirpers tiud cQufpirators, ^Yhoi'e arrogance and pre- fumption deferved the mod fummary puwiflmient. They were treated as rebels who had put themfelves in oppofition to the national reprefentativesj alarm bells were rung, to call all the people together, and preparations were made for befieging tliem in the towniioufe: much lefs terrific means whould have induced them to have repealed their decrees; and, accordingly, frefli couriers were difpatched to con- tinue the arreft of M. Benzeval. The National Aflembly affefted to receive this a6l offubmiffion very gracioufly; yet, lilce their fatel- lites amongft the mob, they could not forgive ISI. Necker, for occafioning this inftance of prefump- tion; though their own proceedings proved how much they were convinced that fuch a meafure was neceflary. From the 14 of July the attention of the Na- tional Aflembly was principally directed to the for- mation of a new conftitutional Code, until the 4-tIi of Auguft; when the alarming accounts, that ar- rived, from all parts of the country, obliged it to ICO THE Lllli OF confider of the moft effedual means of reftoi ina trail' quillity to the kingdom. A more important filling never was held by any body of Icgiflators than that "Which occupied the AlTembly lield on the evening of that day. The outrages which had been com- raitted, in almoft every village, were such as afiVftcd the interefts and threatened the dcflruction of the \vhoIe body; and all the feelings of fclfifl)nefs and patnotifm, of fortitude and fear, united to make the lucriiiccs neceHary to the public happiticfs. A committee, which bad been appointed to confult what was raoft proper to be done, propofed that an exhortation should be drawn up in the name of the Aflenibly and tranfmitted to all the people; but everyone f«lt the infufticiency of fuch a meafare, and feveral of the nobles and clergy ftood forward to exonerate the people from any defire to promote any other diforders than fuch as were produced by their imniediatc diftrefies. " The people," faid ihey, " labour under the double oppreflion of direcl con- tributions and feudal duties; and, though there are fcv; inftances in which they can complain of their lords, yet the ftewards, judges, gamekeepers, and agents, are moftly rigid and tyrannical. Now that the foundations of our oppreflive government," said they, *' are dcfiroyed, it is nectflary that the whole fabric fliould be overthrown. The claims of the peafaiitry muft be lutisfied, or they will naturally proceed to do that juftice to themftlves which alone can render the revolution beneficial to them." Thefe fentiments were received with tlie loudeft applaufes from the fpeiftators; and, after the moft animated debates thut ever gave an iutereft to any ^'APOLEOK BUONAPARTE. 107 public proceedings, and which continued, with fcarcc- ly any iuterminion, till the evening of the 5lh of Au-> guft, when a decree of emancipation was pafled, by which every clafs of the community received an etjual claim to public juflice, and was relieved from unequal contributions to the public burdens. To crown the whole proceedings, and to give an air of proper folemnity, the King was complimented with the flattering title of " Reftorcrof French Liberty!" and the deputation having waited upon him with the decrees, he invited the Aficmbly to accompany him to fmg Tc Deuni upon the ocrafion. The obfiacles that had oppofed thcmfelves to the new conftitution were now greatly reduced; for the decrees of the Affembly aboliihed feudal fervices and manorial jurifdiftions as well as the game laws, with theexclufive rights of chafe, of fifliing, of frce- warren, of dovehoufes, and all thofe miichiefs which the peafantry had been obliged to fuffer from the ftags, boars, and other game, belonging to their pri- vileged neighbours. The clergy were plfo forced to give up their tythes, after having, voluntarily, refign- ed their parochial fees, and refolved, in no cafe, to hold pluralities! It was, furthermore, decreed, Tiiat the nation fliould difcontinue the contributions which ithadhilhertopaidto theChurchof Rome; andevcry chartered right and fpecial privilege, which divided France into feparate provinces and corporations, was fuperfeded by the concife declaration: '' That France fliould, henceforth, only be inhabited by one people, who fliould be known by no other appellation than that of French Citizens." The practical advantages of the Revolution might lOS TJIK LITE OF now have been enjoyed by every defcription of per- fons in France, if the feveral parties could have beta \jy any miracle prevailed upon to have dealt frankly by each other; but ninnbers of the nobles and clergy only acquiefced in the relinquifhment of their privi- leges with the view of recovering them at forae con- venient feafon, and tl>e commons only profefled to be fatis'led, without any defign to limit their de- mands upon the other orders fo long as they might retain anything to be robbed of! hence, tliough feve- ral fevere decrees were jtafl'ed to j)rcveui the repeti- tion of thediforders wliich had been fo loudly com- plained of, the Aflenibly took no meafurcs for car- rying tliem into execution; and, when the proprie- tors of Ma^on armed themfelves,to refift a plundering banditti, ^vho had been laying their country wafte, tlie Afiembly interfered, in the name of liberty and humanity, to refcue the criminals from jaftice! The civility which the Alfembly had flicwn the King in the late proceeding encouraged him to ap« point a new miniftry, in which he was fo far fortu- liDte, that his mqfiers approved of his choice ! yet the government w^s in no condition to proceed, for the old malady in the finances was yet unremedied. An opportunity was again offered of faving the country, and was again deftroyed, by the little paf- fions of that foi ilifant auguft AlTembly. M, Necker prefented himielf in their hall, as minilicr of the finances, and requefted their fanction to a loan of thirty millions of livre?, as a meafure of indifpenlJble necefljty; and every motive of found policy fhould have induced the members to have given the molt unqualified aflenl to the propofal, in order to have ^■APOLEOJJ BtrOKArAUTE. lO^ fecured that confidence from the monied intereft \vhich it was willing to give, and whicU the proceed- ings of tlie Aflenibly had at that time done nothing to Hiake; but this opportmiity of humbling the Mi- nifter, as a punifhment for the ijiadequate notions that he had appeared to entertain of their authority, by aiking a favour of the Municipality of Paris, was too precious to be negleftcd, and therefore they de- clared their total want of confidence in him, by al- tering his plan, and propofing other terms upon which they would have the loan contra6ted for.— The confequence v/as, that they betrayed their entire ignorance of financial afi'airs, and the contraftors would advance no loan upon any terms whatever. Public credit being now fo far funk, that even the P.oval Family Were obliged to fend thsnr plate and trinkets to be coined into catli, to pay the current , expenfes of their houfehold; the AfTembly feemed to be lb well aware of the contempt to which their late conduct had redaced tb.em, that they ■<^.cvii anxious to adopt fume meafure that fliould rcinfiate them in the puWic favour, and they reforted to an expedient, which anfwered the end, merely becaufe it was of fo pitiful a nature, that it was exadly fuited to the make-shift patriotifm of thofe, who only think a government good, in proportion as it is cheap and grotefque. The (late vv-as to be immediately faved by a patriotic contribution, and the members bf-gan the farce in the Affembly, by fuddenly difmantling their own drefs, and prefenting all their (hoe-buckles, ear-rings, breaft-pins, and other trinkets, as a contri- bution to the national treafury. Like other novel- ties this fafldon became genei il, r.ud fuch v.'as the 7 0L. I. NO, IV, I-; 110 THE LIFE QV rage for patriotic ofTeiings, that fcarcely a pauper wfts to be found, who was not feized wiili the mania of prefentinghimfelf at the bar of the " August Af- Jhnbly" as one of the faviours of the nation. One good effed of this general donation was, that when the amount came to be caft up, it fell fo far fliort of what every one had expcded, that it infen- fibly left the imprefllon upon every one's mind, that lomething remained to be done, and paved the way for the Minifter to propofe the moft bold and haidy meafure that perhaps ever was attempted, even in the moft defpotic flates. This extraordinary pro- pofal, compared with which, all the propofitions to the ancient parliaments condenfed, would have been moderation in the extreme, was nothing lefs, than that every man fliould be called upon to pay the Jourtk of his income, by inftalments, in the courfe of three years, to the fupport of the ftate. Violent and opproflive as this proceeding evidently was, it was adopted by that very body which had been afTembled to ^:orrect the extravagance of the Court, when the King Ixad required the loan of a few millions ; but t'le patriots were now in power, and they had adopted a new doctrine, fuited to the occasion. 'I'heir Ijusinefs now was, to ftigrratize ever) one as an AnOocrat, or in other words, as an enemy to the ftate, who pofleflTed fenfibility enough to fceVany inconvenience in the facrifices, that the reprefentatives of the people might call upon him to make ; for " tiie whole was better than a part, and it was more defirable that individuals fliould be dif- trefied than that the nation ftiould perift)." Although this tax was fmoothed down, with the KAPOLEOK BUONAPARTE. Ill appellation of a patriolic gi-rt,.aiicl it was left to every pi>rfon's own honour to ftate his income, the Afllm- Lly wore by no means difpofed' to reiy upon it as their only refouree; they fetined to have taken it up us a kind of fuppkmientary aid, to help the govern- ment on till they Ihoukl have completed the confti- tution, but this- work w;is greatly retarded by the dtferent intereft that prevailed in Llic legiflative body. Btilide the Iloyalifts and Republicans, whofe views have been already fuggefted, there was a third party, IhII more bafe and hypocritical than either, becaufe it was endeavouring to make inftrunicntsof both, for purpofes too dif^raceUil to be avowed. To this fac- tion, iMirabeau, and many of the profeffed republi- cans, l>eionc;cd, and its only object was, to effect the ovei throv; of the reigning family, to place the Uukt? of Oilcans, the King's cousin, upon the throne.-~ In difcuifing the conftitution, therefore, each faction was defirous of rendering it fubfervient to his parti- cular views ; and fuch was the obftinacy with which every principle was contended, that it was not till the 3d of September, 1791> tli^t it was ready to be laid before the King. Among the fubjects that occafionfd the moft vio- lent contention, was the queilion for limiting the au- thority of the King. The Republicans and the mob were for reducing him to a cyjihcr, for the mere pur- pofes of aliording an excuie to each other for de- pofinghim as a ufelefs appendage of the government; while the Ariftocrats, and the friends of rational li- berty, were defirous of allovi-inghim a negative upon all proceedings of the legiflature, in order to correift any violent or bally meafures that might occafionally n2 THE LIi'£ OF jjdls. Such a veto being alrncft cfTential to the vefy ityle of King, the Orleaas iatuon wore ab ^licalotjs for it as the avovveci Royalifts; and it was a fiiigular artifice, -that Mirabcau adopted, to ci<nceai his real views from the mob of Paris, w-ho coiiiicercu luiu a stauucli republican, when, after delivering the moll rloquTHt orations in.tho AfTembly, in favour of the i'cfu, he withdrew before the queftion was put, ihat his name might not appear among the piint(^d vott s. The contentions upon this fubje»5t run fo liij^h, ihat the patriotic furies of Paris already imagined they faw the King re-polTefied of all his prerogatives, and uiing them only to overthrow every appearance • f liberty. Tales were circulated of fiate ]:rifons re-buii(iing, and in three days they would nev( r have another op'portunity of confulting ; in fine, the only means of faving the nation, was to march to Ver- failles, ar.d bring the Royal Family prifoners to Paris. it was upon this occafion, that the Municipality c>f Paris, at the inftigation of M. Bailly, the Mayor, paflec! a very fpiriled decree, prohibiting tumultuous affeuiblies, and ftreet lectures, which the Marcjuisla Vayette carried into execution with a degn e (if cool- iiefs and courage, that fearcely ever dui'erled him, during the trying crifis that lie commanded :lie city guard^. Seve'ral of the motion makers were c(;m- nutcd to prifon, and the mobs v/ere oirperfed; yet the National Ailemljly was fo pulilaniinous, as to full' r their debates to be interrupted by the litjot- ingb and howlings of the loueft rabble, in tiicir ouu galleiies. Tiicfe continual fcen-^s of riot ronld not fail to become matter of the moft ferioub alarm to the Kmg, < //' . '/> ///<- V//.,.; NAPOLEON BUOXAPARTE. 113 efpecialiy as the obltinacy of the mob, upon all oc- cafions, Liiumphed over the ill-fupported efforts that were exerted to fubdue them ; it was, therefore, no impolitic refolution that he adopted, of fending to the Afl'embly, to declare, that he had no wirti to have the abfolute veto, and fuggefted, that there might be no impropriety in admiring a fufpenlive veto, which (hould poftpone laws during a firft and I'econd legiflature, but which fhould be withdrawn, if a third legiflature fliould vote for ;.he law pafling. Ihis modificatien was generally approved, but it did not fecure his Majefty the leall repofe, for thofe cold-blooded calculating patriots had other purpofes to ferve, which induced them to grant him the pre- rogative, merely to betray him into their power. ^ t; 3 114 XIIE I.IfE OK CHAPTER VI IL Blohs hired btj the Facfio;is. — Fcaji at VerfaUhs. — Mirabeaii'i Jhi^e of the Qmcn. — March (^' the I'a- rif.an Mobs to VerjuiUics.—-They bri?ig the Roval Ta- riiihi to Parii, after commitiug horrid Barbarifits. — •, Danger of the l\o>/al Fa?uilij. — u^hoUtion of the Gahclk, l-:C. — Estates of the Church declared the Property ef the Stafc.-^Svppreision of Monasteries. — Issue of yiffignats. — Abolition of Jsobilitij.^ — Resaitment (f tic fritileged Orders. — DiftriffiS of the Shite. — Jourm-i if the P\.oyal Fa?ni!iito St. Qovd. tofpend the'llolidcn;.-, prevented by the Mob. — The King complains of tht Insult to the J/fi?nbly, nithovt hcJrefs.— ^Coalition of the Emigrant I'rtncJi Princes and Kobles. — TJie J^ing difclaims all Conntttion xiiih them. -i F. r.RE were yet two great objects of the Revo- lu'.icni that the demagogues had not ventured lo bring forward ; and as they were of a nature, not only to create a violent opposition throughout France, but alfo to excite tlie hc^/lile interference of foreign power?, they could not i.e atttmpted till fome pre- tence could be found for fecuring the Royal Family, in order to retain llu-m ac; h(;ftages, that miaht be cfTered up to poy alar \ eng''i.'.nce in caie of oppofition. Neither the Orlt an^ fartioji, nor the faction of le- veller^., could do wiihou* moh^.and riotous affeniblies; for, as tlu'V were finalle.-t in nu.xber, they could only be ml'dity in r.oife. The iuini«nfe property of the Duke was, therefore, partly devottd to incrcafe the fcarcitv, that the dircoiilents niiuil increaie iu lijc KATOLEON E L'ON A ?.\ KT-E, i\5 fame proportion; and, partly to feed the needy era- . tors, whoa flamed the .populace againll the King and Queen, as the authors, of the general diitrel-;. Thefe conventicles were conftantly fupplied with po- litical pamphlets and inflammatory hand-bills; and, among the falhionable fpeculalions of the day, the people were taught to hope, that the *' terra Nobility would foon be banifhed from the French language," and that, if the national debt was large, the treafures of the cliurch was great. No cafuiftry could mif- interjiret the defign of these doftrines, but no at- tempt was made to fupprefs them, for they were anonymous ; and, bcfide, they might evaporate, after having appalled the appetite of the rabble, which perpetually hungered after novelties. The royal aflfentwas about this time withheld, front a decree that had been laid before the King for his veto, and during this eventful period, the friends of the Court were unfortunate enough to afford the fac- tious kaders an opportunity of exciting a confider- able degree of agitation amongfl. their followers, by a feafl that was -given at Verfailies, to the ofiicors of a regiment newly arrived, at which, under the ex- hilarating influence of the bottle, they fliewed a ftrong diflike of the conduft of the Revolution. To this entertainment, given by their life guards, con- fifiing of the principal nobility and gentry, the King and Queen were prevailed upon to prelent the Dau- phin, and the vilit was received with fuch raptures of enthufiaflic loyalty, that it is extremely piobable fome improper " v.^ords and actions" might have been witnefTed, which the Lbyalifts themfelves would not have approvedin the moments of fobriety. No-fuch Il6 THE i.:rE OF allowar.ce could, however, be admlted by Ihe vir- tuous members of tiie Aflembly: — the nationui cockade, thei/faid, had been trodden under-foot, and Mirabeau declared, thafif the Afienibly would pro- nounce, that tlie " King's person only was faved," he would " accufe the Queen of encouraging thofc outrages.'' The whole of this proceeding mij^ht have been im- politic and imprudent; but, when it is confidered, that after the deflruction of tlie Bafiille, the Loyalifis were reduced to a condition which left them inca- pable of any meafure, the policy, or impolicy of which could be determined by any criterion, tha'.i that of its fuccefs; it is, perhaps, much to their credit, that there are notmuny'inch imprudent fteps to be laid to tlieir charge. Thofe who are greatly fallen, are generally defpifcd, if they fink under their burdens, without ufing their utmost endeavours to rife ; and if, with powerful obflacles to encounter, and few advantages for their aid, they ftill increaie their difappointments, thofe, at leaft, who would have cenfured their apathy, cannot load them with reproaches, without being guilty of the groffeft illi- berality. Be this as it may, no reafoning of the fort could be heard among the clamours of the Revolution ; my • riads of the Parifians, confifting of all the fish-wo- men, courtezans, and abandoned perfons of both fexs, marfhalled in bodies and proceeded, on the fourth day after the banquet, to the palace at Ver- failles, and in the moft tumultuous, indecent, and. }iorrid procefljon, that perhaps was ever witnelTed iu any age or country, brought the King and all his i<-^- NAfOLEOy BtrOVAPAHTE. Il7 mily prifivners to Paris. I'o enter into u dclcriptiou of this wicked-* and bloody enterpnle, would be a deviation from the defign of this work ; but poflerity may form fume idea of its cliaradcr, by being told, ttiut tiie Queen was attacked in her bed-chatnber, Vriiich was only defended by a llngle centmel, who had barely time to call out " Save tlie Queen, for I alwne am here to deioud her life againft two, thousand tigers!" when he was trampled under foot by the relenth'fs cannibals. 'I'iie fireaming heads of twp of the life guards, which the favages had cut off in their way, H'ere carried on pikes before thoir Majefties coach, in order to give them every degree of pain that barbarous ingenuity could invent, and the wan- ton cry of" Give us bread!" was the infulting (hout chofeu to aflail the ears of that Prince, whom they had been more than two years endeavouring to re- </uce to wretchednei'j. It would be unjuft to involve the friends of liberty in the guilt of thofe criminal tranfa<^lions, otherwife than for their want of judgment in not having formed an early union v.iih the Royalills, in order to fubdue the rabble, after they found that the tyranny of the people was worfe than that which they had over- thrown, but even this miftake they, in a great mea- fure, atoned for by their fubfecjuent condud and misfurtunes. ■Among the perfons who moft fcnfibly regreted the turn which allairs had now taken, were.L<t ]■ ayette, Mounier, and Laily I'olcndal ; the two latter of whom affenibled their friends and urged the inutility of any farther ftruggle, now that all the forms of juftice were v/holly overthrcvn, and the MtS THE LIFF. OF Afietnbly would be obliged to follow the King to Paris, where every man's life would be fufpended 3.S by a hair, and be held at the mercy not of beings, whom they could regard as their feilow-citizi ns, but of the fanguinarv ruffians of that difgraceful and degraded ciiy. Some very virtuous members llioi'ght that many opportunities might yet oiTer, by which they miglit contribute to the falvation of their coun- try, if they continued at their pofts ; but others adopt- ♦•dihe fentinienlsof Mounier and Lally Tolendalf-and fcllowifig their example, fecrded from the AfTemblv. The Royal Family conld no longer regafd thr in- fclves, or be looked upon in any other light thun ;;S fplendid prisoners, referved as vii!-iims ready to be facraticed whenever occafion siioiild require it; tlie Wonarchy was therefore virtually dertroyed ; and, having crofled the rubiccn, there w;is no necellity fur halting any longer. The preffing flate of the finances was such as ta allow very Hmrt intervals between one expedient and its lucceflbrs, the AlTerfibly therefore did not think proper to let the year 17S9 pafs over, without put- iiig the Minifter in a condition to wind up his ac- counts, and itpolTible to fatisfy the national creditor. 'i'he firft ftop that they took, and which was very like throwing out a tub to tlie whale, was the abt'li- tion of a tax, which Louis the XVIth. had been anxious to a.boli(h. This tax, known by the name of Cabellc, was a duty of nearly fixpence on a fingle pound ofldlt; and it was held by the people in fo much abhorrence, that no meafnre could have been more popular, except the rcmiilion of a tol^acc';' duty, which was tuktuoff at the fame time. NAPOtEOV BUONAPARTE 119 There is fomething fo wonrlerfully Ibothing in a6\s of kiiidnefs, that favage bcafts may foinctimes be tamed by their means, and the Afleiiihly knew that the pcttple fouvereign was an animal with whom lb much management was neceilary, that it was unwil- ling to approach his laft retreat until iiaving prc- vioudy tamed him by a fiiitable boon. The people of France had always been greatly attached to their religion and their King. Their King was dethroned, but it was not acknowledged, and though to him the difference was indefcribable, to the country in ge- neral it only appeared, that he was in the palace of the Thuillcrics, iuftead of the palace of Vcrfailles;— but could the church be overthrown, an-* the clergy defpoiled, without the people every where preceiving that their religion was in danger? and might not they regard this as an infult offered to the Deity, and refeut the profanation of his fanftuary? Enquiries were made, tiie difix)fition of the people was found- ed, and the Affembly learntd, tliat the Laity had no obje(J'tion to fliaix- temporal as well as fpiritual blef- iings with tlie clergy ; and that, with very few ex- ceptions, llieir faitn would be equally lively, and their pit ty quite as fjncere, if my Lord Bidiop drank common claret, as if he quaffed Lachryma CkrijU all the year round. PofTefled of this information, th'vi leading party in the Afferably furprifed all Europe-, and even great part of their own colleagues, by a - p.ropoGtion to feize upon all the lands and revenues of the church, in order to pav otf tlie national debts, and relieve the people from the burdens that prefled heavily upon them. Tlie bufinefa was brought forward on the laft of 1-0 ■ THE I.IFF, O? 0(^>ober, but though the fubjeft was of infinite iin- porlance to the .c](!rgy, as well as to all the princi- pal families, by being related to that body, the op- jiofition to the propofal was of little eflVrt, and a decree paiTed on t!ie '2d of November, three days after it luui Lm^cii moved, V)y v.lnch all the ecc!efiafti-« c;'.l proDertv in iIk! kingdom was declared to be the property of the natien, and every minifter of public wcriliip was to receive his falary out of tiie public purfe, like a clerk in an office! A meafure, confe- quent upon this was, the fuppreffion of monaftic eftabliflimencs ; but it is higlily creditable to the AOemblv, that, in fcizing thofe revenues, provilion was made that as manv of the rcfident nuns and friars as were difpofcd to continue, fliould have their ftipends allov.-ed thf ni during their liv(\s. It is h.ardly poffible to refte*^ ii|-.on this fubjeft wilhout the nioft pungent forrow, that any budv of men, fo capable of calculating the means for the end fliould not have been more temperate, than to have driven forth their immature reforms, before they had inclined the porfons intereftrd, to receive them. The i)!an of i'eizing the church lands had fo nmcli of wif.lom in its CGmnf>rit.ion, that it wiis of itfe'f fiifticicnt to fecure a rtnolution ten times more tre- mendous than wliat had been already CuvJh^d ; for it inftantlv became the trading ftock of the govern, ment—a bank tliat might be confidered inexhaufti* ble ; and to give the monied intereft a motive for fanotioning the m.eafure, a new kiiic'. c/^ paper money was iH'iiefi (jv the Al^embly upon llie cred;' of this property. Tr-.e draft •■ fo given were calh'd ailiiznufs. aiKl the r;r nertv ise'*', u-i veli a^- all kino-- NAPOLEON EUONAPAUTE. 3 21 of weallh, tliat was feized or foifeiteu to the ftate, was called national domains, 'i'iie creditois of the ftate received payment in aflignats or drafts upon the naiioual domains, fo that the enormous debts of tiie country, in a great mcafure, guaranteed an im- nieufe army for the defence of the revolution; for, by its eftablilhment, the nation would fa-id purchafers for her domains, and bo able to pay her drafts; but, if the ancient order of things were to be retlored, the public creditor would be as ill otf us he had fur- merely been. Having ventured upon this by far the nioft hazar- dous of all their nieafures, the AfJembly made no difliculty of abolifiiing the a7<o/e order of Nobility, at a fmgle fitting, by a laconic dtcrce, that hence- forth th<;re fliould be no dijlmfiion of orders in France, The enemies of the revolution now began openly ^o declare themfelves, but it was already too late, 'Jie Airembly pcjlFelTed a fund, fuliicient to bribe more emilFaiits, and to fit out more expeditions '.ijan all the princes in Europe; and good policy Jhould have induced everv I'renchman to have fub- uiited to the new ftate of things, with the beft pof- lible grace, to have endeavoured to diminiih the evils by the reftoration of order. iu'.'jth the Nobles and Clergy felt their loffes more t;', ately than they ought to have done; for, in fact, the falaries of the Clergy, as fettled by thelcgiflature, were far from illiberal; and as to the Nobles, they Should i:uve feen, that a very few years of peace w'luld have luade the demagogues themlelves emu- ''^■■is c f reluorina d.ftinclive badges, for the fake of 12'J THE LIIL OF maintaining their own rank. Rulentraent alone, however, now feemcd to fire the bofonis of thofe clafles; and as feme of the German Princes were equally oftended at the indecorous manner in which the Aflembly had difpofpd of their feudal rights in France, witliout compcnfation, although fecured hy folemn treaties, conventions were entered into be- twci'ii all thofe difcontented claffes, and every thing indicated the approach of a violent conteft. Emigrations became fo n'umerous, in confequence of the dangers which' feemed advancing, that above fix thoufand landed eflatcs were advertifed for public fale, for which no purchafers could be found ; and fo much pro])ertv had been withdrawn to foreign coun- tries, that the demand for fome of the principal ar- ticles of manufarture was fenfibly diminifhed, info- much, that fome of the trading cities were fliortly ruined, and the hxbouring people reduced to beggary. To dv/ell upon the dii'organized ftate of the army, of the colonies, or of the T^rovinces, would be tri- fling; the whole country and all its dependencies of every kind, were thrown into one general ftate of difordcr, and no occurrence that happincd from herice, until the pafflni; the conflitutional ae'>, differed inateiially from thofc already rtjated, except the flight of the Roval Family. After the King had been conveyed to Paris, the con'luc> of ih'^ Affembly towards, him had been a n)ixture of iufolence and refpetft; they had evinced a «l('termiii:i'inn, not to let him exercife his preroga- tive of the Vrto, and yet affefted to confidcr his af- fem as abfolutely necefl'ary to tlie laws ; fo that, after / NAPOLEON BVON APAUTK. 123 a variety of threats and exjjoAulations, he was forc- ed to appear, in the Afit'inbly, and profel's his dettr- iniriation to fiipport tlie new order of things. Among other idle and unuKcelTary precautions, that the cowardly fears of the Aifembly ii>duced it td take, an oath was impofed upon the Clergy, by which they were commanded to iignify their al'fent to the fpoilatioii of the church, although at variance with ti:e wiiole fyftem of their education and habits. Molb of the coid'cienlioiis men amongft the Clergy, refufed to take this iniquitous oath, and, as was perfe(5^1y natural, rnaiiy of these perfons attached thcmsiilves- to the Ku)g, as fuft'enng with them under the fa:ne wanton perfecution. CsrcutnUanced as the lloyal Family was, no mca/ures whatever, tliat it rnijzht have t'uought proper to adopt, with a view to recover its liberty, could have merited the ieafl cenfure; ana if it had formed cabals, both within and without the realm, to raife an effective force for that purpofe, it was only exercifmg a right which every prifoner has» to efcape if he can. There was no proof that the King took any such fteps, but the fimple circum- ftance of his having a right, led his unprincipled gaolers to infinuate that he did do it, and he was conftantly watched and hunted about from walk fo walk, like the chief of a confpiracy. Whether the King was difpofed to provo to the w"hole country, that he was really a priforier, or that he defigned nothing more than to afcerlain the lergth of his chain, cannot be determined; but on the lath of April, i791> he took the refolution to ride with his family to St. Cloud, a palace at a ftjort m li[E LUE OF diltance, in order to fpend the EaUcr iioliday;-. The journey was hardly couimeiiced, when the Royal Travellers were arrel'ted hy the mob. The i'olciu-rs joined in the outrage, upon the pretence, that they coniidered their country in danger and the breach oi" the law was a matter of no conloquence, when iheir fufpicions were fo Itrong. An ini'ult i)i Inch a glaring and unprovoked na- ture could not fail to rouie ll'e indignation ofthemoft : atient of futfc rer?, and tl;e Kitig repaired to the Anbinblv on the following day, to complain of his grievance. The Ali'embiy iieard ilie complaint with' apparent refped, and taciily cenfured the proceed- JniZ, bv palling a decree to autiiorize a profecution of the jcjumev, but not a word was faid about pun- ching the othciuus wrctclies who liad uihrped tlie power of the Magiftracy, for that Affemhly of con- Teinptibk* drivellers had not fuffieient confidence iii tlieuifeives to avow a iingle opinion, that was not likely to meet the approbation cf every bawling ragamuffin that patroled the dunghills of Paris. This event was fo far important, as it occurred at a period, when the Emigrant Princes were col- lefting their followers together, to attack the Revo- iutionilis, with a view to reftore the ancient dtfjct- ifm, and it led the king to think, that las own repu- tation required him to dilavow aity participation fu tliofe lioflile preparations; he therefore loft no time m notifying to all foreign courts, Ibat he had aiTenied to the new order of things, and ** that he and the National AlTembly were united together by tlie moft fucred obliiiatioui." KAPOLEOJJ BUONAPAUTE. 125 It was not very eafy to admit the fincerity of de- clarations, made under fuch evident reftraints, and the Emigrants evinced no difpofition to pay them the leafl attention ; they were quite as haughty on their fide as th€ Aflembly was on the other, and their incapacity for bufmefs led them to imagine, that they could fccure the inviolability of the King by their idle threats. ^ i 3 126 Tin. LIFE OF Cn AFTER IX. The Patriot's Jealonsji) of the Kirjg.—De-'tpcra^c Situation of the Roijal Cause.— -King and his Fawilu'- leave Paris privately .—'Alarm on his Ahsence heivg discovered. — Decrees in the National Assembly there- on — 7'kc Royal Family detained at Farciirrcs, and brought from thence to Paris — The King and Qutcn declared their Reasons. — Monsieur escapes. — 'J he King accepts the Constitution. — Decrees of' the Xaiiona! Assembly. — The Princes invited to return, bat thiV haughtily refusc.-'^Dissolution of the National Assc/nb- ly. — -The King's Popalaritii.— -Character of- the ncxj A ffenddy.'— Foolish Condiu'-i of the Emigrants produc- tive of great Injury to the King, ir, , . .- . jL'f' is a misfortune prculiar to a, feafon of piiblic commotion, that tlic perfons chiffly concerned, ar.~ dctered from e.\plainii>g their virus with a l>ccoin- iiig candour, owing to the frequent chaiges of fcn- timcnt, and various inftances of treachery that hap- pened at those periods ; and it was the peculiar hap- pinefs of Louis XVI. that no perfon, avowedly his friend, would have been fuflfered to attend him, and thofe who were fuffe-red, might, for any thing lie- knew, be. all f[)ies, placed there to watch his indif- cretions, and even to mifconfiruc them to.his dif- ad vantage. The King knew that the objed of his brothers was to reftore the monarcy, wiili its unlimited power, and he knew equally well, that tiie objeft of the patriotic factions was tofeek a fair pretenccof nverthrowingtlse lafi fragmentsof the Monarchy altogether; whiche.cr of the parlicsinight fuccetd was to him of lefs coufe- .VAl'OI-rON' BL' OX A PA RTF,. 127 vjucnce tlian any oti)er perfou ; for tluTe could be little floubt,but the commencement oftheflrugglc would be a figrjal for otfeiing liim up as its victim, lie there- fore had every iuducemcnttowiilifor tiieefrabli'liment of a ratit3nal form of government, as the be!t mode of reconciling the conteudmgparUes,and, perhaps, the only way left for the Emigrants to promote his true interests would have been to have given im[)licit cre- dit to ills declarations. His diftance from his bro- thers, who were not within reach of the enemies of the Monarchy, precluded him from afking tliem to abandon an objedl:, in which their birth-right was involved, and the increafmg frenzy of the National AirembIy,forbadc him to expefl anything like a more moderate courfe from thence. Surrounded thus by tvils on every fide, where is the reptile, where is the phiiofopher, that would not have fought a place of fafety? No people but the inconfuierate French, nor even they, if they had not been long abandoned to the moft immoral and inhuman excefles, would liavc been furprifed that the Royal Family had elcaped from Pans, much less have attributed it to the worft of all poliible motives. On the 21st of June, 1791, when the commandant of the caftle of the Thuilleries went to the King's apartment, to fee if his Majefty was ftirring, he was met by one of the houfehoid, who informed him, tlrat neither the Kuig, Queen, Dauphm, nor the Piincefs ElizabAh, were to be found; the news was generally known about nine in the morning, and Paris became in the greatest confusion. The National Affembly met early, and Ihe Prefi- dent communicated the intelligence, ypon whicli M. MoriLmonn, the MiniUer for Foreign Affairs^ was 128 THi; LI IE OF ordered under arreft, upon fufpicion of his having affifted the efcape of the family. Alarms were immediately fpread, that the King was gone to put himfelf at the head of an army, to invade his people, and preparations commenced for putthig the frontiers in a ftate of defence. Couriers were difpatched to all the departments, with orders to arreft all perfons who (hould attempt to quit the kingdom, and tofeize all property, of whatever kind, that might be found crofling the frontiers. Very fe- verc decrees were paffed againft all perfons who had afilfled in refcuing the King, and an addrefs was prepared, to affure the country at large, that the Af- fembly would maintain their posts with firmnefs and energy. Two days had been fpent in fruitlefs conjecture, without any difcovery being made as to the circum- ftances of the departure, or the road the family had taken, when a meflenger arrived at the Aflfembly, with tidings that the Royal Family had been arrefted at Varennes, and were detained in cuftody there, till the orders of the reprefentatives of the people fliould be known. The re-pofTeffion of their humbled captives was such a triumphant affair, that the reprefentatives of tho nation thought it worth while to have the chief in - ftrument of it brought before them, in full procef- fion, by a deputation of the Municipality of Paris- The witnefs began his recital by stating, that his name was Drouet, that he had formerly been a dragoon in the regiment of Conde, but was actually poftmafter of St. INlenehoud. On the 2lft of June, at half past feven in the # •NAPOLEOV KL'ON'AVA R TE. J??); fiveniiig, two carriages, and eleven borfes, ftopfX'd to bait at iiis hoiife. lie thouglit he recognized li)e Queen, and, perceiving a man at the baclc part of the carriage, his curiofity had led him to examine liim clolely, when the refernblai-ice of the countenance, with the efli^y of tlie King on an allignat of fiity livres, was io apparent, that he had no doubt. Tliefe carriages were conducted by a detachment of dragoons, which fuceeded a detachment ui huf- fars, under pretence of protecung treafuro, Tlie el'cort excited his particular fufpicion, but being alone, and therefore fearing to excite a ])reinaLU!e alarm, he fuirered the carnages to depart, and then,, hafiening to the next fiage, by a crofs road, arrived before them, and had the ualiuaal guard called out^ to flop their carriages. Three Commiiliouers were appointed to efcort the priibners to Paris, and among tlie few creditable things that the Afi'embly did, in, the courfe of their Icllion, it ought not to be forgotten, that they took every proper precaution upon this occafion to pre- vent their Majeflies being expofed to the brutal at- tacks of the cowardly Parifians. When meafurcs had been adopted for guarding the palace with greater ftridnefs, a commiilion was appointed to examine the Royal Fugitives, as to the motives of their flight, upon which the King declared, that he was very far frctn defiring to con- ceal them. " My reafons for undertaking the jjcnimey," faid the King, " arofc from the outrages to which I had my f.iuiily have been confrantly expofed, not only on die Ifeth of April, but fubfequont to that period, J30 THK I.IFK Of which led me to jitdge, that I could not wiih fafety continue in Paris, where every branch of inv houfe, but particularly the Queen, was daily infulted by the moft indecent and iisflammatory writings, the authors of whichwere wholly unpuniflied. I chofe to quit it at midtiiglit, to avoid interruption, hut I had no in- tention of pailing the frontiers. I had chofen to re- fjde a fhort time at Montnacdy, becaufe, being a for- tified place, I could have been vifiled by my family •A'ithout rnoleflation. On the day of my departure I addreCed a proteflation to the Afi'embly; befide tlie complaints therein I have made no others, and thefe are not against the principles of the Conflitution, but upon the deiiciency of that freedom which I oupht to- enjoy; and upon the adminiltrative powers bcing^ too weak. I complain that the internal adminif- tration of the departments is embarratfed by wheels which obftrue'^ the motion of the machine, and th-r fuperintendence of Minifters is reduced to nothing. Defective as I confider this Confiitution, I certainly did not conceive, v.hile I continued at Paris, tliat the public opinion could be greatly in its favour, but on the road, and during my journey, 1 became fen- fible that f was millaken, and in confequenceof my inquiries, and the elucidation refulting from them, convidion hasflaflied upon my mind, that the people approve it decidedly ; and no other motive do I re- quire, to induce me willingly to facrifice all my per- ibnal irUerelt to the welfare of my people, and to forget all the unpleafant circumftances that I have experienced to fecure the peace and happinefs of the nation." T!ie vindication of the Queen was fimple and na- NAVOI.KOV BUONAPARTE. 23l tural ; (he declared, that" as the King had determined to remove him'ielf and family, it was impoffible that ilie could admit the th()iioht of feparating from him and her children," and both added to their declara- tion, that their attendants were " ignorant of their deflination, till they received their orders to depart;" The King's return to the capital, made no altera- tion in the proceedings ofvthe Immigrant Princes, vvhofe number was now ftrengthened by the addition of Monsieur, who having quited Paris at the fame time as the King, had fortunately efcaped, by taking another road ; but, as it was reported, that troops v/ere raifing in his IVIajefty's name, he thought pro- per to difavow any participation in their projetT:, by a letter to the National Affembly. Of the fm-cerity of the King's profeflion, pofferity will not entertain the fliadow of a doubt, when, upon reviewing the train of events that have followed, it fliall appear not only that the meafures he recom- mended, were precifely thofe that were the beft cal- culated to fave the country, and refcue it from the ravages which devoured it, but that, until thofe very meafures were adopted, no fucceeding government was able to reftore the pul)lic order. When the AfTcmhly had completed the Conftitu- tioa. it was prefented to the King, for his acceptance ; and though a fmiple Aye or No would havf been a fufiicient anfwer upon the occafion, the King not only accepted it, as it ftood, but entert d into the me- rits of it as a man of bufmcfs, who did not merely put his fignature to a fcroll that he held in con- tempt, but who pointed out deficiences, becaufe he was defirous of feeing thofe parts which he approved 13- THE LIFE or jifcfjnipanied by others that fliould be worthy of tljcriu At'ter df'clarinn vnrious reafon?, that had indued him to delire a r( i'urni of abuses, whicli he had difco- vtrcd ftiortiv aftt-r the commencement of his reign, he concliuit's his addreis with the following nianlv and paternal obiervation, for the conuderation of the AlTembly. "I accept then the Conftitution ; I engage to maintain it at home, to defend it againft attacks from abroad, and to caufe it to be executed by all the means which it puts into my power, I fliould, however, conceal the truth, if I were not to lav, that I do not preceive in it all the energy necelVary to give motion, and jireferve the unit} of fo vaf: an empire; but fince opinions are divided upon thef( ' fubjeffs, I confent that the queftion ftjall be left to the teft of experience alot^e. While I shall faith- fully fuiplov all the means that are entruUed to me. no reproach ran be laid on me; and the natioix, whofe iutereft alone ought to bt; the fupreme ruje, will explain itfelf by thofe .in-.-ans v.iiijh the Cou- ffitutiun has relerved to it. " 15ut, gen;.i(.;n-r!:., for the f^curi^y of libeny, for tlie fiability of th- conultution, lor the inc'.v-.diial hr.ppinefs of all I'reu'jhmen, there are intercfr^, u, whiich an imperious uu:y prefcribei to us to. ' o-.uLiinG all cur effort-; tliefe interefts are, refpeOt !cr the laws, the re-eUabliflunent of order, and the rc-unio:. of all the ci.ti,-:e:.3. Now th;it the Cor.infution i • •Jeiinitlvcly fe'ded, iieuchi.:en living under t::c fauj;3 iiWi, ougDt to kncj-.v no enemies but thofe whc ii;fij::'.:e tl -'m.' l)u<y -.'1 ard Hni;'.:i)v, u,c'e a::' ^'jt NAPOLEON-- BUONAPAnXE. ISS <iommon enemies, I will oppofe them wiih all my power; it is neceffary that you and your lucc^ffurs lecond me wilh energy, that the law may equally proteft all tlioi'e who fubmit iheir condudt to it — that all thofe whom the fears of periVcution and trouble have driven from their country, may be allured of finding, at tlieir return, fafety and traiiquilUty. To extinguifli the an'imofilies, to foften the evil, whicii a great revolution always brings in its train, let us, from this day, confent to an oblivion of all that is . pad — let thofe accufations and prcfecutions, which originate folely from the events of the Revolution, be for ever extinguilhed by a general amnefty. I fpeak not of thofe who have been folely influenced by their attachment to me. — Can you regard theui as criminals? As to thofe, who, by perfonal inju- ries, have brought upon themfelvcs the profecution yf the laws. I Ihall prove in my conduct to them, tiiat I am ihe King o{ all the French. (Signed) "Louis. P. S. — " I was of opinion, Geritlcmen, that I • ought to pronoi.mce my fvjlemn acceptance of the Conilitutioa ia the \ery place in whicli it was formed; in confequence I iliall come hipeifon to-morrow, at noon, to tlie National AlTembly." Nothing could have been more fcafonable and appropriate than this Addrefs, and it was received by the AlTembly, as if that body had recovered a proper fenfe of the decorum neccflary to be obferved' to- v.ards the chief ]Magiftrate of a great people. '1 he reading was followed by the nioft lively and enthuii- - auic plaudits, and the fliouts of " Long live 'he Kia, , V. f m; a? general and as Icud as in ihe nioft fpleiid'.d ^ i'L. I, — NO. IV. M 134 Ti/E tlX-E Oi' tunes of the Monarchy. Scarcely had the fit of in- toxication ceafed, when the Aflembl); decreed, on the xnotion of M. la Fayette, that all perfons under ar- reft ftjould be immediately releafed — that all profe- cutions carried on againft perfons for acts commited in conft-quence of the Revolution, ftould be imme- diately fuperfeded — that paflTports ftiould be no long- er neceflary to enable Frenfch citizens to enter or go out of the kingdom, and that a deputation of fixty members fhould wait upon the King with the decree, and exprefs the happinefs which his acceptance of the Conftitution had ditfufed. As a natural confequence of thofe conciliatory fteps, the AflTembly difpatched an embafiy to the Emigrant Princes, with an invitation to return to their country, where they fliould freely enjoy all the' blefllngs of the Conftitution, and to afl'ure them, tivit they ftiould be protected from every outrage by the Legiflative Ikxly. Happy would it have been for the world, if thofe devotees of royal authorify had poffeficd loyalty enough to have obeyed the example of the auguft head of their houfe; but, unhappily, the mania of turbulence and faftioii had feized as firmly hold of them a,s it had of the moft frantic Jacobins, and therefore, in the fame fpirit, if not in the exa6t words of the cut-turoats of tlie Palais- royal, ihey refolved'to fubmit to no order, and to obey no law, but— thrir own will. It is even faid, that their hanteur was fo exceffive and unwar- rantable, tiiat they imprifoned the mefienger, M. Du- veyrier, for prefuming to approach them with the offer— an arrogant and unneceflaty abufe of power, ■-vbicb not only degraded them to a level with th^ KAPOLEO:^ BUONAPARTE 135 vindictive rabble of Paris, bul ferved to rekindle th« expiring flames of refelitraent, which afterwards burft forth with greater violence than ever. A more important period never occured in the atmals of mankind than the moment of which we are fpeaking. It was not merely a privilege— a ter- ritory — a crown, ©r a fucceflfjon, but the iubverfion of the rights, the thrones, and the moll ancient em- pires of Europe, thai depended upon the rejection or acceptance of a Jingle propofal. The labours of the Aflfembly had, in {&&., clofed, when the Conftitution was completed, and they were to be fucceded by a body of men entirely new ; for they had decreed that not one of their own members fliould be re- chofen. The character of the new Affembly might be governed by the conduft of the Princes, for if they (hould evince a fpiril of moderation, moderate men might predominate in the eledlions, but if dif* cord were likely to continue, the turbulent and boif- terous only would appear either as candidates <5i' electors. Hopes of this kind were not of long duration; it foon became known throughout all France, that the refentment of the Emigrants was inextinguishable ; and that a coalition was forming amongft the prin- cipal sovereigns of Europe, to aid them with power- ful armies, for the purpofe of punilhing all thof who were friendly to the Revolulion. Under thefe unfavourable circumftances, the elec- tions conclu^led. The old, (or as it was called, the Coiiftituent Aflfembly) diifoived itfelf upon the body of new legiflators taking poffeffion of the hall on the 30th of September, 1791: and, in giving up their records, communicated the pleafmg intelligence to 13<J THE LII n Ot ~ their fiicceifors, that they left a furplus of thirt}- five millions in the natioiiiil treafury, of which eightteii millions were, in fpecie. The King had at this time certainly gained much , popularity, a:id the public fury had greatly abated; for, upon his entering the hull, at the diffuluticn of the .'ViVeriil;ly, the members ordered that no chair ihoulJ b-- Icated by his, except that of their Prefi- dent, und they even condefcended to ftand and re- niain uncovered, wliile his Majefty delivered his fpeech, contrary to their rude practices upon former orcaiions. Nor ^vas tlie Afiembly iuigular in thcfe civilities, for their Majf uies not only ventured abroad ivithoi.t meeting with inudt, but Were greeted by rarious Icfiimonitd of returning loyally on thcfe orcafiuns. But thcfe prognoftics affirded very liule hope, vyhen the enlightened and intelligent part of the world faw what defcriplion of men the new AlTctJilly v^is compofrd of. The nunibei' of members for the eighty- three departments, into wliich Fiance was then divided, was 7'i5, and of this number oiily 4^ of them p(>fllfi'ed incomes, exceeding one hundred pounds /'c/- annum; the refpe(^lable part of the coun- t-y having avoided a fituation, in which ili^y could hardly fubdue the vindictive fpirit of one party, with- out inrilining the balance in favour oi another equal- ly revengeful. Thus the legiflative body was com- pofed of pamphleteers, lawyers, adventurers, and vagabonds, who very loon proved that thty had no ohie(ftion to make tl,( n^fclves better known, by fur- paffmg their prcdecc'.Tors in the confufion that lh»*y occalioncd. ilavinf! fmiflicd the routine ncceffarv to their fur- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 137 niatlon, a deputation of fixty members was appoint- ed to acquaint the King that they were about to proceed to bufinefs, and, upon being adraited to his Majefty, M. Ducaftel, their orator, faid " Sire, the National Affenibly is definitively conftituted, it has deputed us to inform your jNIajefty of it." Dry, iu- fipid, and difrefpedful as this laconic addrefs was the author of it did not fail to meet with a reprimand on Iris return to the Afiiembly, for uCmgfucIi fervile expreffionsas " Sire," and " Majefty." Frivolous and contemptible as poderity muft con- fiaer a legiflative body, which could wafte its time upon fuch trifles, at a moment when every frontier was menaced by legions of threatening foes, and whilft the adminiftration, the commerce, and the army of their own country, was crumbling to ruins, the conduifi: of the hoflile courts was not lefs ridicu- lous. Infiead of marching an army with that promp-^ titude, which might have enabled them to have ac- complilhed the defigns which it is now proved that they entertained, they vapoured about in drawing- rooms and affemblies, and diffipated all their ftrength by iiiuendos and declarations. In this fentimental warfare, they injudicioully hurled down a gratuitous degiee of odium upon the King, by reprefenting him is the chief object of their folicitude j when, accord- ing to every principle of found policy, Ihey ought to have given full credit to his repeated declarations, and confidered him and the Aflembly as one. An inllance of this levity, which was firft noticed by the Jacobins, was in a difpatch from Prince Kaunitz, the En^peTor's chancellor, in anfwer to a remon- Arance wiurh the French Minifler had prefented 138 THE LIIE OF againft the hofiile preparations in Germany, wherein that Court difavowed any defire tu attack France* and declared that the coalefced fovereigns had unit- ed chiefly " to fupport the lionour of crowns." A correfpondence of two years had cemented a union amongft all the clubs in France, which ren- dered it cafy tor any opinion to be propagated, and an unity of action to be effected throughout that vaft empire in a few days; and the zealous Republi- cans availed thenifelves of this opportunity to inform the whole country, that it was about to be plunged into a moft deftrudive and bloody war, of which the Royal Family, if not the fole caufe, was alone the ebjecl. Thi^ruth was irrefiftible, and no effort of malice vas reftjifite, after its admiffion, to withdraw the af- fection of every vnenlightcned Frenchmen from all the branches of the family ; for it is only the perfedly cultivated mind, endowed with the moft refined fen- fibility, that can regard the objeds of any great ca- lamity with complacence, or imagine the purely vir- tuous, to be purfued by coiiftant misfortune. :^ NAPOLEON BUONAPAKTE. J 39 CHAPTER X. Honourable Condu6i of the King and Queen. — Si ate of Parties and Opinions.-^Religion and I'hiiosoplii^.-— Outlaivry of the Princes and the other Emigrants^ to zvhich the King refuses his Veto.— Turbulence of the Fadions.-^Mobs address the j^fsembly, xoho vote them the Honours of their Sittings. — The ridiculous PrO' cefsion of Anacharfis Cluotz. — III Management of the Combined Powers. — Alacrity of the Jacobins. — French Army amount to Tzvo Million s.^^War declared againf, the Emperor of Germany as King of Bohemia. — Shainc^ ful Retreat of the French in their firji Adioiu wider General Dillon, who is murdered by his own SoldierSf and they hang the Auftrian prifoners.— Tnfulfs offered to the King by Brifsot and Condorcct.- — Diftru/i avwng the Parties. — Chara^er of the Republicans. — Infamous Decrees of the Affembly. — Brutality of the Parisians to the Royal Family, and the treacherous Condud; of the Affcmhhj.'^'A nevj Minftry, the Friends of La Fayette. — Determination of the Fusions to dejiroy the Monarchy and Liberty together. — Hypocrisy\of the Brijfotines. JL HE conduct of the King and Queen was of that virtuous and honourable kind, that every rea/ friend of liberty mull have approved, but it was the mis- fortune of France to have fallen under the govern- ment of a fet of canting hypocrites, who were any tiling, and every thing but what they profefl'ed to be, and who knew nothing more of patriotifm than the proper opportunities upon which they might ven- ture the ufurpation of its name. Thefe men chiefly confifted of determined Republicans, (for the few 140 THE LIFE OF men of honour who had covfcientiGuJlij fworn to main- tain the conftitution, were too infignificaat in point of numbers to produce any influence on pu<)lic af- fairs) and thefe perfectionifts were divided into fe- veral fefts; io that, whilft they were all intriguing to uadermine the reputation of the King, they were all engaged in an underplot to deftroy the popularity of each other. The ftrife anfl contention that now agitated al} France were indefcribable, for a population of twenty-five millions of j'Crfons were called upon to afient to a propofition, which the proponents them- felves defiaed fo differently, that no man was certain when he afiented to the abftraft principle whether he (hould not lofe his head for admiting its confe- qucnccs. The members of the National AiTembiy were nioftly members of the political clubs, and each encouraged his partizans to atteiKl the debates in tlie 1-egiflative liall, for the purpofe of giving cdat to his own particular doctrines ; but fome of them forgot that their notions were of fo abftrufe and metaphy- fical a nature, that their nice dillincfiions would be overlooked in tlie crowd, and that their tendency would only be to overthrow their own, as well as the Royal authority. Among thole who directed their attention to the eftablifliment of a Republic, one {mrty had- con- vinced itfelf by ratiocination, that "no other form of government could admit of the fmalleft degree of happinefs to a nation; but, as the folly of their pre- deceflbrs had embarrafled the Conftitution with a Monarch, the national faith was pledged to prefi^rve its loyalty, unkjs he fliould, by any mifcondud t/t hi? own,-tioIate his part of the compacl." A fecond NAPOLEON BUONAPAUTE. 141 pirty only differed Troin this^fo far, as to deny** the right of their predeccO'ors to bind them to any fuch engagements, and confequently, that they were at full liberty, whenever they pleafed to re-model the government according to their own fancies." A third party went a much (horter way to work, and, without troubling themfelves about tlie right or the wrong of the thing, fhortly determined that they would effect the change fiaiply becaufe the change would make them as great men as others; but thefe again were fplit into fubordinate fadions, by the un- lucky accident of fome ainongft them being fuch '■ blockheads," that they had not foref en, in affent- ing to this dogma, that it neceii'.irily commited them to co-operate with iheir iiiore enlig/ittned co/it-patriuts in " cuting off lixty thoufund heads." It will not be very fvirpriling that an unreftrained people fliuuld have coolly contemplated fuch ex- ecffes, when it is recollected, that both the religion and the philofophy of France at that time were of the very worft poffible kinds; the former confift'ing entirely of outward ceremonies, the obfervance of which was taken at once as the obedience of the l.Moll hypocritical and profane, and as the atonement of the inoil abominable and abandoned, whilft the lattc-r was nothing more than a co»/ummate ungod- linefa, which corififted in perfecuting every a6tion that was dictated by the conlcience, and which was us different from philofophy or atheifm, as the mockery of the priefts was from true religion. 1'he lirft fignal for plunging the country into a new feries of troubles was, a decree of outlawry againil the King's Brothers, and the btlier Emigrants. His Miji'tty had not abandoned the hope of inducing ilie 14'i THE LIFE or Princes to liften to reafon, antl he refufed his lefo to the decree, with a defign to ilVue a proclamation, which he hoped would tinCwer the purpofe in a lei's oilienfiye mani>er. Lefs notice was taken of this ex- ercife of the veto than formerly, in the cafe of the Clergy; for as the Patriots were now refolved to put the laft hand to their work, it was not worth wliile to notice particular actions, when, by a malignant conftru(Jtion of the whole together, they were in hopes of being able to make out a complete bill ot ifjdidlment, againft the entir^i Mon<^chy. The lower clalTes were not capable of fo ranch management, the prerogative of tin; Sovereign wa^ at variance with the prerogaiives and with the fove- rcignty of the mob, and all the public places became as much frequented as ever, by orators and crowds-, to whom fquibs were conftantly on delivery, to pro- mote the views of tiie feveral faftions, and many of which never fpoke of the King in any other ftyle than as Mr. Veto. It became now very common for mobs to parade tumultuoudy to the AfTembly, and interrupt tlie bu- finefs, upon pretence of offering addrefres and giving envice, and thefe tatterdemallions were invited to the honours of the fitting, by whole legions at a time! No limits leemtd to be known, at which the ex- travagant notions and prafticcs of the people ougiit to ftop ; a Prufiiari refugee, in a fit of madncfs, took it into his hea<l to attire in theatrical drefl'es a motley group, confilHng of vagabonds whom he hired for the purpofe, and of patriots, whbfe brains wx-re feething with repuhiican fury, and had the audacity to introduce them to the Allemblv, as anibuiladors N'APOtEON BUOXAPAUTE. 1 4S frcpfn the opprefied people of difterent nations, who bad appointed him their orator, and demanded the interference of the nation to aid them in throwing off the yoke of their tyrants. " Let us march," faid this enthufiall, " at the head of two millions of men, we will plant the tree of liberty everywhere, and de- liver twenty nations from the fangs of defpolifm." Kulers, Avho could be betrayed to liflea to fuch a. farrago, could onlv look upon govfirumentas a play- thing; but this Affembly thought it an "honour to have received the homage" of thefe rodomontade opinions, and accordingly invited their grotefque vi- fitors to the '* honours of the fitting." After fuch follies, it is lets furprifing that this Af- fembly accuftonTied the common people of France to a greater degree of licentioufnefs, and initiated them in the pradice of a greater number of crimes tlian ever wert prasftifed by any people, under any cir- cumftances before, than it is that they were capable of adopting any of the means by which the entire ruin of a nation is prevented. 'I'he tardinefs and ^vant of combination amongft the Combined Powers afforded an opportunity of preparing for the war, and the Jacobins exerted themfelves, to ftimulate their partifans to enter the army, in which they were fo fuccfsful, that full two millions of lighting men were ready to inarch, when- ever their leaders were difpofed to condu<ft them to the field of battle; and as confiderable bodies of troops continued to menace the frontiers, notwith- ftanding the pacific declarations of fome neighbour- ing courts, in anfwer to the remonllrances, the Af- fembly urged his Majefty to make vigorous propara- HI Tlti: LIJE OF tioiis for Avar, and large armies were colleclcd aC- cordi!ig1y. laiagiiiitig that no darii^er was to be apprehended from a fiidden attaek, the Aflembly were not fuch raw politicians as to forget l;ow much the cffefts of a well-drawn nianifefto might be fruftrated, if they fiiould cominenf:e the attack before they had in- volved the difpute in fo much doubt, as to make it a matter of controverfy who were the original aggref- fors. The preliminary negociations were therefore opened, and the neceffary charges and recrimina- tions on both fides exchanged, when each party hav" ing perfuaded itlelf that it had found a decent excufe for commencing hoftilitics, the Affembly declared war againft the Emperor, as King of Bohemia and Hungary, on the COth of April, \702. After the fpirit of in fulordination and licentiouf- nefs, which we have fecn ])ervading all ranks, and particularly llje troops, it is furpridng how any ofh'cer fould be willing to trufl himfelf in the field at the head of fuch mutinous hordes ; perha)is fome asftcd from the necefiily of either obeying onlers, or of being punifhed as dcfcrters; others, relying upon their OT\n patriolifm, and the purity of their inten- tions, mig^u bid defiance to the malice of calumny, and others might afiume commands with a view to co-opt-rate with the invading armies in reftoring the internal peace of tlieir country. Whichever of thofe motives may have infiarnced Geiieral Dillon, the firft officer who marched to at-' tack the enemy, will peihaps never be known; for having marched out of Lille oi; the 28lh of April^ at tie head of "^.Of'O nun, v.iih a defif-nto aUaik NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 145 Tuuinay, ho was oppofed by ihe Aiiftrian General, Ilappeucourt, and a body of nine hundred Auiiri- ans, who no Ibouer appeared than the inconiiderate rioters aded as if their enemies could not poflibly be prepared for them without l}aving been made acquainted with their plans, and an univerfal cry of "Treafon!" impelled the whcle body to a preci- pitate and fliajiieful retreat, in which tliey aban- doned all their artillery and baggage. The Genera], who did every thing to rally his difcomfited followers, had fcarcely re-entered Lifle, when the cowardly wretches furrounded him, and inftantly pierced his body with a thoufand bayonets; and, to aggravate their crimes, they not only hung a prieft and an officer of artillery, without provocation, but they took the whole of the Auftrian prifoners, whom they had captured, and hung them up with the fame law- lefs barbarity. Several powerful armies were Rationed on the different frontiers, the generals and officers of which were all afi'ailed as Ariflocrats, and conflantly ex- pofed to be butchered "in the fame mutinous way, while the King and his Minifters, furrounded by per- fons of the fame defcription at home, were publicly infulted by them as traitors, uho, l^ fair appearances, were betraying the country to the enemy. One of the members of the Afiembly, who took the lead aniongft the rnoft bale and infidious of ail the fac- tions, except that of the Duke of Orleans, M. Brif- fot, had the audacity to give authority to tlie accufa- lion, by accufmg the King, in a newfpaper, which he. himfelf publiflied, and his example was fufficient to encourage one of his followers, Condorcct, to wiite a VOL. I. — NO. V. N Ii6 THE LIFK OF threatenfng letter to the King, grounded upon lii= own ignorant luipicions and furmiles. It was at this moment that the jealoufics and i'uf- picions, incident to a ftate of violent contention, operated more fatally upon all the perfons who in- dulged them than all the evils together, of which ihey were apprehenfive, could poflibly have done, if they had happened to have had the courage to have faced them boldly. Should the virtuous part of mankind derive no other benefit from the French Revolution, it will cer- tainly teach them thefe very important lefTons: that cowardice and indecifion are by no means the fureft way to fafety; that a bold and decided condud is the beft way of encouraging the determined and ac- tive co-operation of friends; and that there is fo much more honour jn raifcarrying by treachery than by timidity, that a man fliould prefer an open and frank avowal of his views to a chance of failing of his end by their concealment. INIoft of the generals, minifters, and leading per- fons it) office at this time, though really friends lo the Revolution, were deeply afflii^lcd at the exceflfes into which is was daily leading the pcojde, and were equally anxious of direding their official powers to the prefcrvation of the monarchy, and the punifli- ment of thofe who were ufing every effort to under- mine the conftit'ution. But it is an extraordinary proof of the danger in which every one found hira- felf placed, that, though they were all ufing their in- dividual efforts to the fame end, thofe efforts, com- bined, led to their general defeat ; for as each regarded the other as an euemy, they counteracted each other NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, 147 with as much zeal as they did their real enemies; and, confequently, all their labours ended in mere difap- poiutment, and they helped to dedroy each other; whereas, had they been tVanlt, courageous, and ge-_ ncrous enough to have rilked a Imall fliare of confi- dence in each other, the perlous who have fiuce en- tered their public protefts againft the laftions, might, by a judicious combination of the powers they then held, have prevented the acconiplifliment of thole wicked tranfadions, which, at prefent, they ufelefsly deplore. After the commencement of the war, the poll of government was fo completely the poll of danger, that thofe only confidered thenifelves lafe who could find fome pretence of retiring; and, fuch was the un* happy fpirit of licentioufnefs that prevailed, that thofe who retired and thofe who fucceeded, were alike fubje6l to indifcriminate and unqualified abufe, as if the very aft of ferving the public conliituted a traitor, or that the quintcU'ence of all liberty con- fjfted in abufing and iufulting the government, be its conduft; what it might. In confequence of thofe repeated changes, the ad- mi nillration fell, at laft, into the hands of the dif- ferent fadions, who foon began to feel fo much of- ficial importance, that they acquired an additional tnitive for haftening towards a republic. The lead- ing principle of a Republican, by which every article of his belief, and every a6lion of his life is dictated, is felf-love, and, under the influence of this fordid im- pulfe, the ditl'erent fa6tions were conllantly diftrafted by envy and hatred of each other, according as they fucceeded to their ili-gotten power; but, as loon as 148 THE LIFE OF they attained their objecls, the gnawingsof envy were fuperfeded by the devourings of pride; for then they could nottranfad bufincfs with the Monarch without feemiiig to acknowledge a fuperior, and the principle of felf-love will not fubuiit to fuch a conccffion. Hence, as foon as thefe creatures got into the mi- niltry, they fet t\try engine at work to preach the natural equality o£ man, and to fnew that the exift- ence of the monarchy was incompatible with the enlighlcncd ftate of i\\c flli-uomen and puppet-fliow people of France, and that thofe./cr^es ought to af- furae for lhemfe]\es the title of " Sovereign People /" That no time might be loft, the Aflembly haftened to pafs fuch rafli and intemperate decrees as they knew the King could not fanction, with a view to irritate the rioters againft him for the excrcife o{ his Tttu; and, among others, their refined policy iQtt them to pafs a decree, that the King fhocld difmifs a corps of Swils guards, which did duty at the palace, for his protedion. As they foreluw, the King rc- fuffcd liis aflent; and he was immediately charged with l;eep:ng a guard to fight iigainft the liberties of the people; and thofe unprincipled beings, in the form of men, acted precifely as if the family of the Sove- reign was the only one in the kingdom that Ihould be wholly unproteded. The King had been deprived of his body-guarcls by theConttituent AU'embly ; and, after that, and the numerous facrificcs he had made to foften the en- mity of his perfecutors, foine of his friends udvifed liiin to part with thefe ftjreign troops, efpecially as a few companies of them were to do duty with the Katioaal Guard, which was to receive chaigcof the NAPOLEON BU015APARTE. 149 Palace. It is probable, that an adherence to his firft refolution, would not have been of the fmalleil advantage to his Mujefly's family; but it is certain, that his compliance with the clamour of the rebels, did not procure itafingle hour's' tranquillity, for re- ports were circulated with fuch an aftoniftiing rapi- dity, that the moil cautious and prudent were forced into the ftreets, to fwell the riotous afleniblies, by dint of njcre alarm, and the Palace was conftantly furrounded by perfons, waiting to feize fome of the houfehold, whom they took a brutal delight in duck- ing in the adjoining water. Upon one of thefe oc- cahons, the Queen happening to be at a window, to breathe the freih air, (he was particularly aft'ecfted at feeing a priefl, and an old officer, dragged along by the unfeeling monfters, for no other reafon but bccaufe they were fufpefled of being Aiiilocrats ; and her fenfibility being regarded as a libel upon the liberties of the people, a ca/taoiner of the national guard, after addrelhng her in language of the grofleft out- rage, added, " that he hoped one day tohave the jilcafure of carrying her head upon his pike." \Var had now been declared againll France by the Kmperor, the King of Pnilha, and many of the i'mall flates of Germany, and fome ikirnufhes bad taken j)lace, Hi which the French had been moftly unfuc- cefsful, fo that popular fury received new food every day. That they might derive more advantage from thefe infurreftioRs than mere clamour, the leaders had induced the fifCt Aflembly to appoint certain periods for the celebration of wliat they ftyled National Fetes, and of thefe the mod important was, the farce N 3 150 THE LIFE OF exhibited on the 14lh of July, to commemorale the deftruftion of the Baftille. A few weeks was of niueh confequei.ee to them this year, and, tlierefore, to prevent their riot being thrown too iar back in the feafon, it was lefolved, that the event of the Tennis Court fhould this year be celebrated with particular cdat, fo that th^ir revels might be perfornied on the '^Oth of June. During theie preparations, the Ja- cobin club, and the Jacobin renrefentalives, were bufily employed in railing the fame fpirit of fedi- tion in the country; and the refult was, that furrep- titious deputations arrived frem difi'ercnt places, and delivered violent harangues in the Ailembly againft traitors and tyrants, whom they tlireatened with • fummary punifiiments. Thefe preparations were fo extenfive, that they could not efcape the obfcrvation of the King's friends, and he was advifed to at-tempt to cnunteracl them, by meafures of oppnlite finelTe. The plan propofcd was, to employ a few perfons that miuht be trufted to mix among the confpirators, and to expofe their p](jts to the Magiftrates, in fuch a manner as fliould oblige the Afiembly to adopt fon;e meafures of pre- vention ; l;ut the attt nipt, however well deligned, only ferved to iriitate his eneu)ies, for th<y ])aid fo little regard to chara(^ler, that if they could but get falfehood manufartured, to anfwcr a prefent purpofe, they paid no regard to its future mifchiefs; inftead of making any of the provifions, therefore, that the fe- veral eahs called for, the Aflembly merely prevailed upon fome declaimer to get up, and accufe the King and his friends anew as traitoiri and confpirators, and without any better apology, pafi'ed to the order of the day. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1 .j 1 Another meafure of fccurity which Louis adopted, with a degree of firmnefs, that for the moment, con- founded his enemies, was difmilling the Pe]}ub!ican members of the Miniftry, of which Brillbt was ihc head, to make way for the friends of limited mo- narchy, headed by La Fayette. Tliou"h this change threatened to weaken the Re- I ... publicans, and difoppoint their plans, it only ferved to aroufe their energies, and occ<dion fie(h intrigues to be practifed againfl the Court ; and, the enmity between die friends of liberty and the llepublicans became every day more open and decifive. The fear of being fent back to their original obfcu- rity began to oper^ae fo powerfully upon each of the Republican fac'^ions, that a kind of common feeling united them all in a fixed detewnination to delboy the lall remains of liberty, and to cftabliHi a fyltem of terror in the place of the Confutation, in order that whenever they might find it convenient to prevent the oppolition of any virtuous perfun, they might filed h'is blood without his being able to flielter him- felf under the proted'.on of any law. They, there- fore, divided ihemfelves into different parties, amongft all the ignorant and defptrate marauders., who frequented the clubs, and riotous congregations, and by fpeeches and p&mphlets, compofed of artful infmuations, perfuaded the foolifli people that they fliould always continue to enjoy an idle life; for that, when the Monarchy ihould be overturned, the property of the rich fliould be Ihared amongft them, or, according to the hypocritical cant of BriOot, " the reign of liberty fliould be beneficial to Lu friends." 152 THE LliE Of By thefe, and other infamous devices, multitudes of defperadoes were co;le<5ted about the Affembly, to demand the depofilion of the King, under pre- tence of petitioning the reprefentatives of the people. At the head of one of thofe gangs appeared a fellow, named Santcrre, who ftyled himfelf commander of the citizens of -SY. Anto'ine, a fuburb of Paris, chiefly inhabited by vagrants, blackguards, and thieves; and, having demanded admiffion of the Affembly, he was fuffered to )>afs through the hall, followed by an armed mob, bearing every emblem and device that could indicate their atrocious defigns. One man carried a fcroU, which proftfled to be, " Advice to Louis XVI.;" and another, that the " People were tired of fuftering." But, that they might not be in the Icaft danger of being mifunderstood, another bore the conclufive admonition, " Tremble tyrant! thy hour is come." Amidft all thefe tumults, M. Vet ion, the Mayor of Paris, who had been chofen by the intereft of the Briflbtines, always took care to be out of the way when any of thofe tumults were to happen ; and if the friends of order complained of their being permitted, he af^edled to difbelieve them, and treated the complaints as attempts to calumniate the people, and as indicative of a confpiracy againll liberty; by this means he became extremely popular with the rabble, and could lead them wherever he pleafed. This man was a principal in the Brifibtine party, and his conduct is an infallible proof of the ccin)inal defigns of thofe men ; for if they hud had the fmall- eft regard to liberty or juftice, ihry would have ^ O/.'/ry NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 153 ufed his authority to have efi'efted their purpofe by law, infiead of tlie fanguinary violence of a mob, and tlie circumftance of their having rejected the hiw, is a fufficicnt proof 'hat the Monarch ii:id not viohilcdit, and that they had no ground fordepofing him but what their own dctcrnHna;ion to iVize the government aflbrded. "^ 151- THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XI. The '20th uf June. — Preparations for Tamult. — Rf Jiiftil of the AJfimhhj to preient it. — The ThuiUcries ujj'ailed. — The Indijferevce of Petion, the Mayor. — The King's Apartments entered by the Mob. — The Ferocity of their Leaders. — The undaunted Conduct of the King. —His generovs Concern fur his Family. — La Fayette zcriies to the Ajjemhly from the Army, and arrives in Paris. — He de)nands Redrefs of the Afembly for the late Outrages. — Their Proceedings thereon.— -Petioi fuff ended. — His Sufpenfon -co? firmed by the King.^ He is ref tared by the AJ'embly. — The Factions in the AJjfi^mhly unite in a farcical Oath of immortal Union for the Maintenance of the Conftitntion. — The King congratulates the AJ/'embly thereon. — -Their fvbfcqueiit ^ Inconfftency. — The Country declared in Danger. — The Federation. — Increafe of Wretcheclncfs and Depravity, '—The increafng Danger of the King.' — hnbecility of the Combined PoKcrs.—The Duke of Brunfmck's in' fnnous Iilanifcfto. -1 HE terrible 20lh of June at length arrived, and fome of the members of the Municipality, who were not corrqpteci, apprifed the AlTenibly, that the po- pulace were collecting with fuch evident defigns of proceeding to fome outrage of the public peace, that they thougiit nothing fliort of fome vigorous interference of the legidature could avert the moft inuninent danger. 'Hie friends of moderation moved, that a decree fliould be palled, to forbid the affem- Lling of armed bodies of people, and to prevent thole cohorts from furroundiny either the Palace or NAPOLEON EUONATARTE. l.;J (lie AfTcaibly, but this was fcouled by the mujoriu-, Uo trenching upon the ^lajejhj of the People; and San- tcrre, accompanied by Lcgendre, a butcher, led their niyrniidons through the city, and, under pretence of going to the King with a petition, colleded all the elements of crime and confufion in wne mafs, with a defign to overwhelm the unfortunate ^Monarch and Lis family in irretrievable ruin. As fume very fevere examples had been made among tiie foldiery, in confequence of what had taken place at Lifle; and, indeed, as the army in ge- neral, flirunk from the excefles of the riCpublicans, hopes were entertained that a guard might be relied upon for the protection of the palace. Accordingly, when the rabble commenced the attack, it was foine time before they gained admittance; but they were provided with four pieces of cannon, and as the foldiers were ftridly commanded not to fire upon the people, rcfiftance very foon became as mifchievous as it had been in every cufe in which the ill-fated Louis had been advifed to attempt it. The afiailants had provided themfeives with hatchets, crows, &c. by means of which they broke down the gates and doors of the Thuillerics, and proceeded to point their artillery againft the hall appropriated to the ufe of the guards, when the King, with cool and deter- mined fortitude, prefented himfelf, attended only by the Princefs Elizabeth, his filler, who refufed to quit him on any coniideration. A few of the National Guards furrounded his JNIajefty, with a determination to defend him, or perifh in the attempt. The room was inflantly crowded with a multitude of men, women, and children, uttering the ufual cries of fedilion. They infifted upon his withdrawincr i50 THE LIFE OF his veto fiom the decrees ilgainft his Brothers, and the Clergy,, avui the butcher (Legendre) advancing as their orator, in an infolent and brutal addrefs, de- manded the King's attention to what he was going to fay, •' Hear us, Sir!" faid he, " for it is your duty fo to do. — You are perfidious. — You have always de- ceived us, you deceive us ftill; but, beware of your- felf, for the people are tired of feeing themfelvcs cnade your laughing-ftock!" To which his Majefly calmly replied, that he regulated his condu6t by the . Conftitution. The firmnefs of the King, and his few faithful guards, difarmed the multitude of their ferocious de- figns, and the greater part contented themfelves with pouring out the moft atrocious execrations and abufe upon the Princefs Elizabeth, whom they fup- pofed to be the Queen. Others infilled upon the King putting on a red cap, which was one of the emblems of liberty affumed by thefe madmen. The King not only put on the cap, with much apparent gaiety and good humour, but the Queen, having now joined him, with a refolution to die by his fide, he put one alfo on the Dauphin, whom her Majefly jtrcfent^d, in the natioial cockade, to the ruffians, who had been loading her with curfes. The efie«^ was precifely fuch as might have been expected from a giddy aflemblage, who were the mere tools of a fet of artful knaves. The King and Queen difco- vered no figns of tyranny, and as the intriguing lead- ers could not, without betraying themfelves, mif- conflrue what the fpei^fators could judge of by the evidence of their feni'es, the volatile crew were wil- ling to admit that the Monarch and his family were vtry civil pr-oplo, " C'tft bkn iQiincte," was ecLoi^d NAPOLEON" BUONAPARTE, 16/ by the crowd, and, after ranging tlnough the apart- iiietits, tlie curiofity oi the greateft number was fa- tisiied. A few ferocious fellows attempted to pafh through the guards, but were unable to facceed ; and it (hould not be oniitted, that though this multi- tude amounted to forty thoufand, no inftance of rob- bery occurred ; and, except, breaking a few mirrors and glaffts, very little damage. This remark applies alfo to their feJitions in general. After the tumult Wcis nearly over, Petion, and a deputation from the Legillative Body, arrived at the Palace, juft tofave appearances ; but the King could feel no obligation to them, for it was not till after the Mayor had been twice fent for, that he thought it worth while to take the trouble of attending. It appears, by the united teftimonies of all per- fons, acquainted with this event, that his Majcfty did not evince any fyniptom of fear. A grenadier afked him the queftion. "No," he anfwered, " put your hand upon my heart, and feel if it betrays any iigns of fear." He appeared convinced that he fliould, at fonie time, fall a vicftim to the mad furv of the populace, a circumftance about which he ft tincd for himlelf in- ciitlerent; but the fate of his I'amily gave him great nneafinefs : even his en"nii( s admit, that he was both an atiectionatehufband and a teiuier father. When M. Bertrand urged him to the adoption of more vi- gorous meafures, he replied in the following terms : " Oh ! if mil wife and children xvere not uitk me, it xcould soon appear that I am 7wt so xueak as i^ imagined^ but what zvould become of them, if the meafures to ■which i;ou allude, J hould Jail ? His principal confolationp VOL. I. — NO. v. o 138 THE LIFE OF under his afflidion, was, that if bis blood were flied, it would moft likely appeale the malice of the rebels, and redeem his family from deftruftion; and he could not prevail upon himfelf to take any fteps, which, if defeated, might aggravate his enemies to punifli it for his temerity. Though the conduct of the Aifembly upon the important occafion above alluded to, would not ad- mit of a doubt that the leading members of that body were deeply concerned in it, they thought it jirudentto involve their proceedings in as much doubt as pofllble ; for the Marquis, (now General) La Fay- ette, who had been some time appointed commander in chief of the forces on the Northern frontier; and bad gained fome trifling fuccefles, had written to the Affembly, and, in his letter, dated ^Nlaubeuge, June ]6", moft bitterly reproached them for their violation of the law. " Although encamped within fight of the enemy," faid the General, my *' army will never forget that Ihey are free ; and if we are willing to flied our blood in refifting a foreign combination, xoho rcfufc to let vs make our oxen laics, it is not becaufe we will fubmit to the faAious clubs of affiliated chiefs, orga- nized like a feparate empire in its metropolis, and ufurping the powers of government for the purpofe of overthrowing the CunJJitution that xce have made. — ■ To the nation, the law, and the King, faid the Hero, we have sworn, and we will be faithful to our oath." Great difference of opinion prevailed as to the right of the General to addrefs the Affembly ; but his i)opularity was fo great, and his reputation fo well eftabliflied, as a firm friend of liberty and his coun- try, that the faiflions would not venture to insult him NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, 159 publicly, till they fhould be able to calumniate him to the nation. That it was a bold and irregular ftep for a general to di£late to the government from his camp, he had acknowledged ; but he and his army ftood in the fmgular fituation of having laboured in the formation of the Conftitution, whicli they were now fighting to defend, and it feemed rather too much to expeiSt thera to forfeit their rights of citizen- ihip the moment afterwards, merely becaufe they were the only perfons embodied in defence of those rights. All the clubs, however, feized thisdifcuffion, and tiie faftious reprcfentatives treated M. la Fayette as a traitor, who wanted to didate to the Legirtalive Body; vvhilft moderate men began to hope, that the army had at lad difcovered the necetTity of difcoun- tenancing the licentioufnefs of the people. Time had not permitted thefe machinations to take effed, when the General himfelf appeared in Paris. His letter of the l6ih had been accompanied by one to his Majefty, in which he pledged himfelf to the King, to defend him againll the turbulence of the factions ; and, upon learning what outrages had been committed upon the Sovereign on the 20th, he proved his noble foul to be Ilimulated by that high honour which becomes a freeman and a foldier, and flew to fupport, in his own perfon, the juftice which he had afierted. The King received INI. la Fayette witli open arms, and the National Guards bore him in triumph to and from the Aflembly; but it was evident, that no part of the citizens of Paris were difpofed to fecond his fpirited endeavours. In the Affembly the General was liftened to with cold refpeft, while he declared ib'O THK LIFE OF that he had concrrted fuch mcafiires with Maiflial Luckner, tliat liis abfeiicc from the army could not tt'iid to the leaft injury, and heprefented himfulf be- iore thcni in his own name, and the nan;o ol'liis in- dignant troops, xo demand juftice againfr llie crimi- nal authors of tiio difgraccful violation of tlie Palace on the 20lh. Firmnefs and refolution was apparent in evi;iy word that he fpoke, and the Jacobins knew that they were not yet in a condition to provoke liiui openly; inftead of exj^ilaining their views, thcreibre, they fuffercd him to withch'aw, drily anfvvering, by tlicir Prefideut, that they had " fworn to maint'rin liie laws, and knew hov*' to defei-ul tl'cm," Ai'u.r liis departure fome very feverc remarks w( re nia.je on his coiviuct, and a rej.ublican member (Gaudet) moved that eiiciLiiry might be mad-.: of tlie Mii.ifier of V^'ar, v.heth' r he had pern.itted M, la Fayttle to qvlt the army, 'iliis nu.tion was nyet^ed by Sj.9 agai;,ft 35-i-, theGenerai'saddrefs was then referred to e. commit lee, to repoit upon it, i.nd many iuflividuals i;; the ling- iloiii were evidently defirous of markin.. it v.idi iL ir decided ai)proljati(,ii ; for addrcli'c s to tlalellnJi were received fioui feveral parts of the country, and one of them was even i'anftioncd by twenty thouhuid figna'urt s. At this trying crilis the friends of the King and the Conuitution feem to luive acted with as little firmnefs as upon niL'Tt other occafions, yet they were not wholly inavlive. 'I'heri l.aci bf en a i'uj.erior council formed f(jr lonv.: time, in the city of Paris, ftyled the Dircckn-y of the Police, and of this body tl)e majo- rity were iT)od(')att' n,en, i<nd they had called u])on the JVIayor, as w( 11 as upon the Aflembly, to prevent the NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. l6l tliforders of the 20th, without effecl ; they therefore exerted their auihority, and fufpended him as foon as order was in fome degree r('itored. Upon tliis occafion the King did not fecond the efforls of his friends with that determined vigour whicli the audacity of his enemies demanded of him. He liad himfelf moft pointedly reproached Petion, and he fliould not have affected the leaft conipJai- fance, i)ut rather have ftrained a point in favour of his friends; inrt"j.d of which, he began a fort of co- quetry with the Aflemblv, by referring the decifion to tliein. He was yet unacquainted with !as men. They had fo long taken upthe trade of crucifying the natural affe(5>)ons, that they fcorned all the ar's of pleafing, as the contemptible amufements of the lower reptiles of the creation, whom they moil devoutly bated, for daring to treat them as mere man, when every thought and imagination of their own hearts taught each of them to believe himfelf capable of making a perfect world ; — they, tiierefore, con- tcmptuoufly rejected t!ie compliment, declaring, that they did not wi(h to do the Kin/s duty, and (nould only interfere in cafe of an appeal. Tiie King's offer was, in faJt, an appeal, for he ftated his motive to be, tliat, as he was a party, he would raUier wave ]jis right, and let the matter be decided b^ the Legif- iaturc, iu the firft inftance; out in truth, they were deterniincd to reduce l.;m to the dileinina, of either deierling his friends, or of incurring the odium of the mob, by approving the difmiflai of their Mayor. The King cliofe to confirm tlie difiniffal, and the Af- fembly inmiediately reftored t!i>: Mayo. After the general ct^nduh of the Affembly, this .> 1^2 THE LIFK OF additional violation of decency can afford little fur- prife; bat it is not fo eufy to imagine, how any number of [>' rfons could arrive at fuch a degree of highlii rtfined h^fjcril'-j, as to bo ablo, after this, to perfuadc the world that ii)ey were faithful to their oaths and to thu IMonarchy; and that, within a fe.v days of their being prepared to (ieftroy both. "A htii General ]a Favette ariivcd on the frontiers he found tlie preparati(3ns of the enen;y in great for- ■wardnefs, and a fenfe of tl'.e danger which i-nenaced tlie country nioft deeply iifliicied al! its true friends. That the evils to be dreaded from wilhin were greater than thofe from without admitted of no queUion, and a<i '.hose evils might be averted, if mi iianpy union could be effedcd amongfi: the contending par- ties. Uncier thi.-i inipreiTion a member arofe in the Affembly, on the 7tli of July, and by a powcrl'ul ap- peal to the good fenfc of the whole bod\-, conjured ti'.eai to facritice iheir own particular views, and to hceome friend?, for the fake of llieir country. " I/t all thofc," faid he, " who diicover faults in the Cun- ilitution, difpla}' a fpirU of accommodation to each ither, and let us fwear to each othei', that we will nnite lO maintain it as it is." Scarcely where the laft words pr.ua unced, wJien the two fides (RepuLdi- cans and ConftituLionahUs) arofe, threw their liats up, flioule^l aj^plauf's frcnn every quarter, and eacli ap- proachmg his opponent, the two tides embraced, and fwore innnoftal union, taking their feats jn'omifcu- cufly, as a lign of endlefs harmony ! Till' ha'pijiviefs of ihe iNIonarch was faid to be fo clofely conneiled with, this event, that the minutes wire ordered to be immediutelv ttuufnuUed tohira, XAPOLEOX r.UOXAPAKTE. TG3 and the adminiftrative bodies were d' rented to coin- nutnicate the ifTueof lliis glorious iiioau-nt to ail llie citizens. Such, indeed, was the marvelioiis couibi' nation of occurrences \Thich crowded on at this period, that INI. Canujt, who has fince been re ;::;;■, led as the nioft complete of all the Repubiicuis, ftocd up in defence of the King's authontv, bv moving, that l!ic judicial powers fliould be ei'ptciullv charcod to redouble their vigilance and autiunnv. On the return of the deputation, who had waited on the King, the Bifliop of Lyons Tcpor;.ed, iliat his INIajefty, after hearing the extracts of the minutes road, anfwcred, *' That it was impossible for him to hear news more dear to his heart, and that he yielded to his urgent defire of coming to the Afletnbly, to leftify all the joy with which this union had infpirod him." Tlic King immediately entered the hall, amidfc reiterated acclamations of " Long live the King !-^ Long live Liberty!" — and from the overflowings of Ijis heart, declared his confident hope that the refult of this union would enable France to furvive the dangers which threatened her, to which the Aflcmbly replied by a fuitable addrefs, in which it profeffed that it " already saw in the candour of his proceedings the omens of success." The plaudits of the galleries prove equally loud with thofe of the Affembly ; and, were it not for the many incredible occurrences that have aftoniflied all mankind during ttiis Revolution, it would fcarcclybe believed, that only a fingle Sab- bath had pafled over, when thefe very people af- fdiled this very king with the heaviest curfts and au- cufalions that violence and bitt.rnefs could iuvent. l64 THE LIFE OF It. is not pofilble to account for the credulity of vaU numbers of well iijtentioned people in Europe, uS well as France, in the })roferr]ons of this AlTem- biy. upon any other principle than the fublimity of their artiticts, which bade defiance to ordinary com- prchenfions. That horde of political incendiaries, the affiliated Jacobins, never ceafed in their endea- vours to blow up the flames of difcord, and to adapt their niifchivfs with true demoniac fkill upon all occa- fions, when they might prevent a breach from being clufed. A new feafon of riot was approaching, un- der the guise of a national fjte, or grand confedera- tion, to celebrate the l-ith of July. Deputies from all the departments were to perform their feveral parts in the dran)a, and the bufmefs of intriguers was, to take care that fuch of thefe vifitors, as might Wot yet be fufficient^y corrupted, ihould not return home, without bearing with them all the firebrands of ftrife that might yet be wanting to inflame the fober hamlets of the country, to make them as dif- orderly and licentious as the metropolis itfelf. 'J'he arrival of the federates was the fl^nal for Ipreading alarms of both mterual ar,d external dangers. iNIi- nifters were called upon to give an account of the proceedings of the cabinets, and as it was not poffible for any meii of character to think of laving every fecret of liit Uate before an Aflembly, open to the indifcriminate intrufion of the rabble of all natici.i, the most bitter invectives were poured forth agaUiU them, for refufing to develope to the Aflembly the means beft calculated to counteraft the defigns of the enemy. Brillot and his party required no ftronger inducement to throw ofl' the mafli, which they had XAl'OLKON BUONAPARTE. l63 ■H,ly aiTuiiied for a few days, and after a t-orrenl of licciauiatioi:, in which he declared, t'lat the danger laii in the Palace. The Aflcmbly decreed concifeiv, " Tjik couxTiiY IS i\ DANGER," and twu Ad- fhtffes, replete with alarm, were drawn up, and fent to each of the armies, and each of the depai't- iTients. All the projects of the Briffotine faction being now nearly ready for execution, they no longer cared ahout tlie difcovery of their defigns, and they pro- cured an addrefs to be prefented to tlie Affembly, by a ^'ang of ruffians, federates from INIarfeilles, pur- jorling to be ihejietitioners of the inhabitantE of that city, to declare " the equality of men, and to pray the Lcgiflature no longer to tolerate fo grol's an ab- furdity as an hereditary IMonarchy, but t'j take from the Kmg all power and authoritytiiatraiicdinm above tiie level of tlie people." 3il. INlartin, the member ior lliat city, difavowcd the whole of the doctrines, as well lor his conitituents, as for himfelf, and de- niai;clfcd vengeance upon its audacious autliors ; al- though he could not obtain a hearing till a party of fulciicrs hail been fent for, to clear the galleries of the wrctchey, who were font there to iioot him into filence. Dilavowals of thi^; iort were of no value, for thefe people never reafoned. It was to the paflions alone that t!:c factious add relied thenilelvcs, and their principal art coi-.lilted in makiug ufe of their inftru- nients at the nioment when they were in the moft i.leable order. The day of the Feu(:rauon palled over, and tlie ICiug attended to rep(.'at the oath of lidelity to the ConliUution, furruunded by the iiicen- diaries, who v, t. re p/iolting his destruction ; but whe- I6"() THE LIFE OF ther it was owing to the firmnefs of the guards, who flocked round him for his defence, or that the Re- publicans would not renew their attack till they had fucceeded iu tampering with the army, is hard to determine. Nothing was attempted that day. Diflipation and idlenefs had long fince been fo prevalent, that the number of debtors and poor wkis vaftly increafed, and many thoufands of perfons, who were not originally corrupt, became so, in the unprincipled hope of being able to deftroy their land- lords and creditors, with the overthrow of royalty. The practice of wounding the King's feelings was no'.v refortcd to in every poflible fliupe, and as the late triumph of the Mayor afforded a moft abundant opportunity, the mob took every means of infuUiug the King and his friends, with fliouts of " Long live Petion ! — Down with royalty, &c." Notwithftanding it became every day ruore and more apparent, that the federates, whom tiie in- trigues of the Republicans had brought to Paris, and kept there greatly beyond their time, upon various idle pretences, were mere afuifiins, collected from the Jacobin clubs, in different parts of the kingdom, and waiting to execute the defign of their confiitu- ents upon the peifons of the Royal Family, yet Louis could not be prevaih d upon to attempt el'caping from llic metropolis, allhougli both General la Fayette and M. Ikrtrand, two of his molt faithful friends, otlered to rouduct him fafely out of the reach of the bloodhounds by whom lie was hunted. Whatever liis hopes v.ere, it is dlilicult to divelt them of tlie ap'pearance of weaknefs ; for, at a period, when no- thing iiiort of a general mufter off his frieiids could NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. iGj iJuiVibly refill the machinations of the conspirators, he contented hiiui'clf with publidiing addrelfes, de- claratory-of his attacliinent to the Conltitution. I lis profeOlons were laughed at in the AflTembiy, every iittenipt at exercifing the royal autliority was treated with ridicule, and his orders reviled and fneered at, by the very legiilature, who would have called him traitor if he had not iiTuod tlieni. Whilft the Republicans fucceeded in bringing the lall remains of Royalty into complete contempt, they were equally fuccefsful in perfuading the country that the Court prevented the progrefs of the French arms, by its intrigues with the Emigrants, and the courts combined againft France. In this calumny, ihey were in fome meafure fanftioned by the conduft of the Combined Powers themlelves, who, inllead of marching as the}' ought to have done, with a llrong column into the heart of the country, while it was yet undefended,continued iffuing their puerile threats upon the frontiers. " It is not in the fuccefs of their arms," faid the Jacobins, " that the enemy places his hopes, it is in tiie intrigues of the Thuilleries. It is the army of couriers that pafs between Coblentz* and the Court, whom alone we have to fear, and not the foldiers of Brunfwick." No effort on the part erf the Combined Powers was neceilary to irritate the King's enemies, or to reduce the number of his friends, and yet their ill fortune, un- lefs it fliould happen to have been thei r folly, led them to adopt a meafure, which effe(fled both thefe pur- pofes, more effectually than the united efforts of all * The head-quarters of the emigrant Princes, iOS THE LIFE OF the iu[ii'';uori togctlier could have done. This ftt p v.us nolliiiij; \vii\ r ihaii grouiuiing their arms, while they got a Mai. ill. {iu circulated througli i-'raucc, figii- cd 'oy the l)ii!:e of i^wuul'wick, as gcneraliniino. — It dt^clarird itio ir.leiuiou cf the Kinperor and t';e King of Priiiiia, to put an end to the anarchy which [irc- vailed in Trance ; to releafe tlie Royal Family from cajnivitv ; to rt liore thft King to his legitimate power, and that [;•<; two courts had 1:0 other object in view than the welfare of France, without any pretence to enrich ll'.en;felvcs by making conquefis. That the Coini',in(;d Armies lliould proteiT: the places and tl;e inhiibitants, and tin ir property, who fhould iubmit to the King, and tl;at they would concur in the reltora- lion ()(\)r(ler and ricd;ce throughout France. That the National (niards lighting againft the troops of the Allied Courts, and taken wilh arms in their hands, ihould he punilhed as rebels to their King. — That the inhabitants, daring to defend theml'elves agaiuil: the troops-, Ihould be puniflied inltantly, according to the rif'orous rules of war, or tluir iioufes demolilhcd or Imrned. — I'iiat the inhabdar.ts fubmitting Tnould be orotccfe'l. — That Paris fliould Ijc called on to fiibniit indautlv to tl;e King, tuid to let him at liberty; tiled- Iinpoj-ial and lloval Majefiies having niade rerfonally refponfibie lor all events, on pain of loling thuir heads, puifuant to military trial;, without hopes of -pardon, all the members of tise National Al,>'nil)ly, of the department, of thi; diliiict, of the Municipa- litv, and of tlie iSational (Hiards of Paris, jultices of tiiC peace, and ethers wliom it might concern. It iurthei declared, vhat if tlu h'alt v.(jlcnee were of- fered to t'leP' y:d Family; iftlipy w( re n'„t inni.e- KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. iD9 diattty placed iu fafety and let at liberty, the nioft ex- emplary and ever-memorable avenging puiiilhraents would be inflifted on thofe who deferved it, by giving up the city of Paris to military execution, and expof- ing it to total deltrudion. Their Imperial and Royal ^Majelties alfo promised to employ their good offices with his moft Chriftian Majefty, to obtain for the inhabitants of Paris a pardoii for their infults and errors, and fecurity for their perfons and properties, provided they fpeedily and ftrictly conformed to thefe requifitions. They protefted before-hand againft the authenticity of all declarations to be ilTued in the name of the King, fo long as his perfon and his fa- mily fliould not be in full fafety. The Duke of Brunfuick promifed that his troo})s fhhould every- where obferve good difcipline, and that he would, treat wi;h mildnefs all well-difpofed fubjecls who fhould fubmit peaceably and quietly, and to em- ploy his force againft thofe only who refilled. He therefore called upon and expe61ed the inhabitants of the kingdom not to oppofe the troops under his comn.aiiu but rather to fuffer them to enter the king* dom freely, and to aftbrd them all the alliftancecir- cumfiances might require. His moll; Serene Highnefs, on the 27th of July, iflued an additional declaration : it recapitulated his refolve, to intlidl on the inhabitants of Paris the moft terrible punifluncnts if the leaft infult fliould be of- fered to his Chriftian Majefty. It declared, that if the King, the Queen, or any of the Royal Family, fliould be carried off, all the places and towns what- foever, which Ihould not have oppofcd tlieir palTage, and fhould not have flopped their proceeding, (liould VOL. I. — NO, v. P 170 THE LIFE or incur the fame punifhments as the inhabitants of Paris; and that the route of the Royal Family fliould be marked with a feries of exemplary puuifhments, juflly due to the authors and abettors of crimes for which there is no remiflion: and it ftated, that their Imperial and Royal Majefties would not allow any place of retreat to be the free choice of bis moll Chriflian Majefty, in cafe he fliould comply with the invitation which had been made him. unlefs that re- treat were effected under the efcort which had been offered. ^ NAl'OLEON BUONAPARTE. 171 CHAPTER XII. Effcas of the Duke of Bnmfwick's ManifeJlo.-^The King difclaims its Sentiments— Petion demands, in the Name of the Sections of Paris, that the King be depofed^ The Affemblii defer their Determination for a Week. — The TENTH OF AUGUST.— The outrageous Con- duct of the IWiffotines.—The Thaillcries attacked, and carried in Eight Hours.— The drcadjul Massacre of the S-xiss Guards, and of the Defenders of the Palace. The King and his Fainilii fly to the Assembh.—The Asscmhli) decree the King's Depofition, and that the T^.oiial Farnili/ be confined in the Temple, to which theij are conducted by Petion. — Intended Dissolution of the Assembly, to make Way for a National Convention. 1^0 circutnstance, during the whole course of the Revolution, did fo much mifchief to the virtuous and liberal part of mankind as publifhing this wretched Manifefto: for it made no diftindion whatever be- tween the fober and well-meaning friends of limited monarchy and the all-dcftroying Jacobin, who threat- ened every advantage of life, and even life itfelf, with unlimited deftruction. " Who, then, do thefe com- bined armies come to favour," faid every confiderate Frenchman, " but the ni-. nds of a worn-out defpot- ifm, which I can only recollect with abhorrence?" The conclufion was perfedly natural . " This enemy mult be repelled, and then I may indulge a hope that the friends of liberty may be able to eftablifh a free conUitution." On the 3rd of Auguft, two days after this Manifefto had been read in the Afiombly, the King wrote to 172 THE LIFE Op that body, and, rather injudicioufly, fuggcrfitd ihc po- nWlity of its not being authentic, at tlie same time clifavowing all its sentiments, and promifing every thing that could be expefted of him. His declara- tions were now at an end, his promifes ufelei's, A motion was made to })rint his Letter and fend it to the eig!)ty- three departmencs,but the previous quei- tion was inlianlly paffed, amidft the fliouts of the ralierics. Many of his fi iends now Jaw that they niuft adopt the policy of Nicodenius, and not avow their aliachment to him in the ojx'ii dav ; wliilft othos, fi'iirful that tlieir wiflies to be heard, might be attributed to a defire lor dtifeiuliug him ajiologized to the ir.ol, by faying, " ih'jy only ruf<; to declare tliat tfie K'n^'^ Let'.ei was a l;cap offalfohooods." Till riot faid, that the King had only written this I.etler becaul'e he knew that the Municipality of Paris were going Ic demand his depofilion; and in- Jtantly the hypocriiical gang of rejiublicans aj;peared at the bar, with a petition, avowing j;//? one half oi >\hat they waritcd; became iLey kne^.' liiat it they i,bliiincd t! at, they could eithly i'eize r.j.on the other half. I'etion ippeared at their liead, and pretended that he came from the forty-eight feclions of Paris, to demand that the King (hould be excluded tVoni the throne, and that the diredion of atlair? fliould be in- trulted to ref-)onfibie niiuifters, until the election of a new fiiiigi m a national convention. Petion I'upporti'd tliis petition by a review of what fie called the King's conduct fincc the Revolution, which, he faid, proved him to be on enemy to (he yeopk, to the hmsioud to rrancc. The petition created fuch a violent agitation in the AlTembly, tiiat the prefident was obliged to adjourn ihelitting; and, in tlic evening, NAPOLEON r.UONAPARTE. 173 the Afl^mbly refoivccl to determine tlie important quoltion on that day feven-uight. '1 he farce of de- liberation was no more neceiTury on this occafion than it had been at their abolition of nobility; for the fadions had already got theii defperadoes or- ganized to attack the palace, as the refidence of an outlawed criminal; but the defire of alTuming a plaulible appearuHce always induced the moft profli- gate of thefefe6ts to delay their crimes till they could find a plaufible excufc for committing them. All bufinefs, but that of treafon, ccafed in Paris, from the 3rd of Auguft; and the leaders of the Na- tional Affembly were employed in paffing fuch de- crees as iliould favour the insurgents : patroles of rebels were alfo placed, by Petion and Santerre, at the outlets of the city, to prevent the poffibility of the King's efcape. Preparations being made for car- rying ihe decree into execution, on the day before the Afl'eiubly had refolved to pafs it, the palace was attacked on the 10th of August. As many of the leading members of the AHernbly were delirous of aiding in the affault, who were at the fame time de- firous of being concealed, it was determined that the riot fliould not commence till after dark: it was, therefore, not till eleven o'clock that Danton called, " To arms! to arms!" and all the bells v/ere rung, to proclaim the city in a ttate of iafurre6tion. It is not poffible to enter upon the threflioldof this tranfadion without horror, as well on account of the miferies it has inflided as the crimes by which it was accomplifhed ; it is even a fnbjeft «f very ferious lamentation to the honourable part of mankind, that the impoltors, by whofe intrigues it was brought r 3 174 THE LIFE OF about, (liould have been fuccefsful enough to have excited doubts in the minds of many as to the ex- tent of their criminality. It will be recolledted that the Directory of the Police denounced the infurrcdion of June 20th to the Aflembly, and that Petion could not be pre- vailed upon to ftop it; the Direftory afterwards fuperfeded him. It will alfo be recollefted that his petition to depofe the King pretended to be the petition of the city of Paris: now it feems rather extraordinary that the city of Paris fliould fend a petition by him for fuch a purpofe, and yet retain the Directory, who were known to be of fcatimcnts fo oppofite : this difficulty, however increafes very much when it is difcovered, thai not only the Dirortory, but the whole Municipality of the city, were ib de- cidedly againfi him and his petition, that, the moment the infurrection commenced, the intriguers pafTed a refolution, " that as the Council and Municipality of the city might impede the deliberations of the people, they fliould no longer be obeyed." The city of Paris had very little voice or hand in the whole proceeding: the heads of the feveral par- ties reckoned upon thirteen or fourteen ihoufand of their own ruffians in the metropolis, and they brought about five thoufand more from the departments, among whom were many foldiers, who had been drummed out of their regiments for their crimes, and many galley-flaves: of thefe clafles were the famous Marfeillois, and Federates of the Weft, as tliey were called, who had been brought to Paris to affift at tlie fete on the 14th of July; and, by diftributing them- felv«b in all parts of the city, and keeping up a con* NAPOLEON EUOXArAUTE. 1/5 ftant noife, thefe people collected a vaft nunjber of idlers constaritlv round ihem, which, to a fpectator, fervcd to make them appear more numerous than they were. It was thole aflklilns whom Petion re- prefented, and he, as well as Brilibt, Condorcet, San- terre, and the whole jjarty, knew that ti^e citizens of Paris would counteraft them if they did not rob them of evoy means both of choice and a^ioii. They, there- fore, as traitors, nut to the King, for that is not worth contending now, but to their fellow citizens^ in whofe name, for whofe we]fare,xand at whofe defire they pretended to work this revolution : — as traitors to thefe citizens of Paris did they, at. twelve o'clock at night, feize the government of the city, and forge, in the character of magiftrates, fuch orders as were ne- celVary to counteraA thofe v^hicli the iMunicipality of its choice had given, for the maintenance of ijiofe laws and that conftitution which it had fworn to defend, after the moft mature confidcration ! This the Briflbtines called liberty ! The firft order that the municipality of ufurpers forged, was one to fuperfede the Commandant of the National Guard, and to appoint the chief afiaflin, Santerre, to fucceeti him. 'Jliis precaution might not, perhaps, fully have anfwered their purpofe, for the Commandant might have difputed their authority : but they took a very fliort way of preventing tluU obftacle ; for they had his head cnt off, and carried about upon a pole, to Hiew what would be the cou' fequence of oppofing their orders. The conqueft of the palace was not effected fo foon as it had been on the 20th of June ; for though, the attack commenced at oi:e in the morning, it wae 17^ THE LIFE OF lime o'clock before the outer gates were forced. There had been fome preparations made for resist- ance, but, like all the efforts of this unfortunate Prince it was rather an attempt at resolutiou than j-esolution itself. Beside part of the Swifs guard, and a few companies of the national grenadiers, who were re- folved to def( nd the conflitution, there was a confi- derable body of Royalifts, who had entered with a refolution to fubdue the traitors or perish in the attempt, the whole together amounting to near three thoufand armed men. Such a body, headed by a bold and intrepid chief, would have been more than fufficient to have fecured a vidory, if they'^had at- tacked the infurgents, inftead of remaining cooped up in the palace, and acting upon tiie defenfive. When the afiailants had forced the outer gates they were met by the King's guards, who, by a well diredled fire, drove them back, and obliged them to leave four pieces of cannon behind them. The Swifs now formed in the great court in order of battle, whilft the cannon playing upon the palace had al- ready pierced the roof; tlie bodies of tiie llain were lirewed on every side, and the folly of refiltance be- came evident every moment; for, in the multitude of advifers, no one b,ad the command. The defenders of the palace in a few minutes became a cHforderly crowd, wilh no advantage over their adverfaries, and greatly inferior to them iu number. They failed, und they fell — not for want of bravery but for want of a commander : they were overpowered by num- bers, and the triumphant barbarians enjoyed the long looked-for fport of liackiiig them to pieces and drag- ging their mangled carcafes in their horrible procef- NAPOT.EOK BUON'ArARTE. 177 fions. All theSwil's thai the mob could find ibeymoft . iiliurDanly })ul to death in cold 'ulood, and exhibited their remains at the end of their pikes ! Of both j)artics about thiee tlioutand perlbns loft their li\*es in tiiis attack ; aud the number would have been much i;rcater, Kuit tl)al a part of the guards had gone to elcort the ilcn'al l-'andly to tlie Affeinbly, ^Vilen tiie general fupiiumel's of Louis X^'I. is coiuidered, it will excite furprife that any idea fliould ha\e been at all entcrlameri of making a defence ; and It IS extiemely probable that the meafure was ratiier prcffed upon him by the folicitude of his friends than choi'en by himl'elf ; for he feems inva- riably to Iiavc had fuch an aveifion to the ihedJing of blood, that he expofed himfelf lo the moft unwar- rantable treatment, fimply becaufe the offenders cal- culated upon his forbsarance. The danger was now certainly greater and more prefling than ever, this alibis friends and all his family knew; and it is very furprifmg that he himfelf, after the length that the Afiembly liad gone, did not clearly fee, that he mull either be driven from his throne or fight in defence of it. Yet he fecms lo have had no fueh view of the luljjcct; lor, after the palace was aitackcc, ar.d he v»a3 accompanied by the Queen, and the Princcfs liis filter, in llie nralit of their brave defendei's ; ai^ter he had heard the terrible bowlings of a th.oufand tongues bellow out tlie cnes, ^ol ^' dcpojlt ion ! and (Icafh J" alter the nobles and guards had allured him of viftory, and the Queen had reiolvcd to die by his lide; he took the unaccountable and fatal refolution, of going tcl llirow lumfelf, with his faniiiy, into the arms of the National Afleiublv, leaf't he fliould be 178 THE LIFE Of charged with violating the conftitution ; and, before he quitted the palace, gave ftiift Didcrs nut to firt; vipon tlie people 1 Jt would, pcrhap'^, be vain and futile to attempt reconciling this conducl with any principle oi human action; yet, as much ceufare has been dirccled ;i^:-;ainfl this unfortunate fiep, it will be doing no more than jui'tice to recollect; what was the precif(>. iituation of the King at the moment in which he took that refolution. M. Mandat, the Commandant of the National Guarcis, was fuppofed to be one of the moft ftrePiUOus fupportcrs of the conftitntif.n ; lu; had promii'ed to t:tl;c fiich miafurcs as fho\dd greatly a-etard the operations of the infurgents, by pofting troops at different avenues of the city; hc had aiio pledged hirnfclf for the co-operation of the Munici- pality; he was alfo to take the command at the Palace, and upon Lis arrangements much was to depend : the King reckoned much upon him, but he did not apjicar at his foft. The King knew nolliing of the change of the Municipality and as little of the catuftrophe of tlic C'-mmaadaut. He knew that he had been oiten citctived i-.nd betrayed, and, very lately, by rhe v, i;ole /vfiembly : he knew that he could fn.fl \ery fen- pcrrcns to be trulted, and thole alone wd:om he (hd t! aU CAut! (.(.come traitors ; might not th.en the ireair. Cot:i:ii;uv.ierhave beendect iving him t''> l! f: liut n;o)i:',.i-,i. : antl -.vas it no' now a meafure (■1 Tioiii y ;o difr-r'siii. ]:i; v.iiole fiory, by adopting a eenfluct oi;- ^-'tly o;- polite to ihat which he had faid wr.uid ta;:e i/acL r ^■I'rh, or I'j.aie f ^ch n^.o:ivfcb', may have occafionrd the K::/:\ K terriiuation : but, if it ihould not be K A r L F. N D U N A V A U T K . ]jq arimitted that it was guided by any fucli motives, tiiere is ftill much ground to fufpeud a cenforious judgment. He had been humbled fo rapidly and fu excefiively, that his train of reafoning, niuft have been very different from that of iiis cotemporaries ; it is not every perfon who knows what he would do in ordinary circumftauccs, who is capable of judging what he would do in extraordinary cafes; and the fituation of Louis, at the moment we are fpeakin<r of, left every other extraordinary cafe fo far behind, that if a cenlure fliould not be pafled upon his con- dud till it comes from a perfon qualified to judge, it is very likely that he will not fuffer the fmallest harflinefs from the prefent generation. A combination of unexampled events had placed him now in a situation the moll diftrefiing that can be conceived. The members of the Aflembly, to which he had retreated, thought no bufinefs of fo much urgency as formally paffing the decree of De- pofition; but thefe political Pharifees could not pro- ceed to any bufinefs in the King's prefence, becaufe it was contrary to the conftitution ; this aflx>rded a pretence for forcing the Royal Family into a little difagreeable corner, where the fecretaries kept their books, which deprived them of the poor confolation of exchanging their thoughts, and fubjected them to the cruel efpionage of a prifon, while it was yet pre- tended that their perfons were inviolable. Having thus inflidted fourteen hours of mortifica- tion and pain upon their helplefs captives, the vul- gar pride of thefe little-minded republicans became fatiated and appalled with that mode of exercisinf^ their tyranny, and therefore, they decreed that the ISO THE LITE OF executive power fliould be withdrawn from the Kiirj. and that liC and his family fliould be cotifiard clofc prifcners in the Temple. To increafe their triunipli and aggravate the pain of the family, orders were given that the traitor Peiion /hould go, in the fame carriage, t(j carry ti:eni to prifon ; and he not only took occafion to infult them by his advice on tlieir journcv, but even flopped the carriage occafionally, to let theui liear the fpceches of the infamous orators who were irritating the people againlt them by their foul calumnies. The leaft rclleclion upon the conduct of the Ai'- fembly would be a wafte of time, its duplicity and baf( ncfs are evident to the molt inattentivt; reader ; and from what has been already feen, it will excite no furprife, that, al'ter they had removed the King en- tirely out of their way, they crowned their deceitful and treacherous fyftem by a long feries of cruelties, the mott refined and atrocious that deujons could have devifcd. Not only were the minifters of the King, but the clergy, the ladies of the houfehold, the penfioners of the family, and many thoul'auds of per- fons, fufpecled of being Ariftocrats, feized, upon the accufations of the hired accomplices of the members, and barbaroufly torn to pieces by marauding aflallius fet in motion by themfelves. They were too cow- ardly to call the obnoxious perfons before them, and take upon thenifelvcs the odium of palling a fentence of death upon them for mere difference of political opinion, and therefore they gave latitude to a licen- tious and brutal people, whom they knew would execute their execrable purpofe, without their being obliged to be the immediate perpetrators of the crime. '■ts^. W. ./v^, ./-y-^ KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 18l Thus the Revolution had taken a turn which af- flided the hearts and threatened to difappoint the hopes of all good men. The Aflembly was, how- ever, about to diflolve; for, in compliance with a general demand, a National Convention was to meet on the 20th of September, kiconfider the queftiou of formally conftituting a Republic, and fome con- folation remained in the confideration, that thisAf- fembly at leaft v/ould not long retain the power of doing mifchief. ^ Vol. I. — so. Yi. THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XIII. Design of ihe preceding Chapters — The difficult Task of the Hijlorian of the Revolution.— -The probable in- credulity of Foferity. — To uhom the present Sketch is interesting.'— Expedation of a lieiolution Occaftons a great influx of Strangers to Paris. — Buonaparte a- wongst the Number.— His Occupations whilst in Cor- sica. — His Attachment to the rising Parties, and for what Reason.-— Of Military Patriotism. — Buonaparte has a Command at Jjaccio, in Corsica. — His Leisure for Observation of the great military Operations be- twccn France and the Co?nbincd Armies.— La Fayette and his Staf- quit the French Army. — His hardFate.— Dumourier appointed to succeed him. — Longny and Verdun surrendered. — Death of JSL Beaurepaire.— Alarms at Paris. — Danton proposes to raise Volunteers for ihe Armies. — The 2d of September. — The dreadful 3Iassacres at the Prisons by the Parisian Mobs. — Death of Madame Lamballe. — Dumourier s 7nastcrli/ Arrangements'. — Operations of the Armies. — Final Success of the French. — Duke of Brunsicick applies for an Armistice— The Prussians, Austrians, S^c. ciacu- ' ate Fiance. — Conduct of the King of Prussia to the Emi'^ rants— The French retake their Toicns. — The Country declared no longer in Danger. JlN the preceding fketch of the origin and progrefe of the French llcvolutiou in its earlieft ftages, it has been endeavoured to mark the events of that impor- tant period, rather with a character that can be con- ceived at a fingle glance, than to prefent fuch a view of the fubjed as would require a particular and fcru- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1S3 pulous examination, before the mind could be fatis- fied of its corrednefs. Perhaps, in works of tliis na- ture, tralh would be better ferved by attempts to ge- neralize fads, than if the (atis were laboured in their defcription. The eye becomes didrclTed if its atten- tion be excited by an endlefs variety of objefts. ]f it be furprifed by fimplicity of dofign, it is not fa- tigued before it has acquired the full meaning which boldnefs of efteft is intended to convey. What hand fliall venture to commit to the page of hiftory the events of the French Revolution ; what hiftorian will collea the innumerable fads, even as annals ? There is no man in our own times the va- lue of whofe labours would be appreciated by the prefent generation, for they need no folemn record of what they have feen and heard, and the fervice .they would intend to pofterity would be received with ingratitude. There is nothing fo dreadful that has had the power to appal, nor nothing -fo fublime that could delight the human mind, that has not been equalled by the events we have witnefTed ; and it is to be feared that, if the hiitory be written, it will be read by men in after- times as a figment of the imaginati- on, and confidered only of importance, as a monu- incut of the tafte and genius of their anceftors, for horrible and romantic fidion. The occurrences are fa extraordinary and fo numerous, fo different in their nature, and ib various under fimilar circumftances, that they will be thought marvellous or incredible. The truth of thofe fads, which dilplay every contra- riety in principle or adion— the heroifm and the cow- ardice, the grandeur and the meannefs, the excellence and the cruelty— the virtues, the crimes, and the vices 184 THE LIFE OF ' of the people who mingled in the mighty ftruggle— ' their dreadful depravity, or their fuper-cxcellence in virtue; every thing will be queftioned or dilbe- lieved. The view that has been prefented of the important occurrences preceding and during the firft years of the Revolution has been rendered neceflary to a due confideration of the fubjed'of the prefent work. The important political drama which France difplays is not vet finithed, many of thofe who were at its com- mencement will not he prfeent at its conclufion ! fome are already flumbering with the dead, others will foon deep with them: and fome that have ap- peared ipectators of the latter fcenes, and who may reafonably be expeded to witnefs the cataftrophe, had not entered the thetare till after the curtain had drawn up: it is to thefe that the tketch is the moll int^refiing; it is thefe that inquire what were the caufes of thofe dillraclions in France which produced the dreadful crimes that fcourged tliat unt'orlunate country; they afk, " How have ihtfe things been, and how are thefe things f o ? It becomtill a duty to fatisfy the iirniiry; and, though the retrofpect may b'e painful, the ]i:lTon is imporiant" To what end liave liicff events tranfpire'd ? have they promoted thchappinefs by cnfuring the peace (f the v.orld? alas! who will uffirm it? Have they ob- tairicd iur l!u; unhapi)y people, with whom the ca- laniitii-s originated, the liberty which many of them ardenlly defued, which ibme of them died for, and which they all expected ? The qucftion is premature; oilier events mtift be cibfervcd before a difpafhonate man will venture to reply. The occurrences, however, that remain to be no- .VAPOLEON- BUONAPARTE. 18.5 iiccd required alfo that we fliould for a moment re- vert an early period of a revolution. About the time that the Notables met, in the year 1787, the difcontents in Paris were confiderable, and they increafed with rapidity until the year 1789, when the taking of the KaHille by the Parifians commenced the Revolution. No well-informed and thinking intlividual in France had remained regardlcfs of its aftairs, and many, who were neither natives nor inhabitants, partook, either by education, or the possession of property in tliat nation, or by accjuaintanee or rc- laiionthip with its inhabitant-, or noni other caufes,a lively concern in the misundcrrtundings iietween the government and tlie peojne ; a gnat num'oer, who were either delirous of calmly obferviiig,or facilitating or retarding the imp.ortant relults that werecxpected, hastened to the fpot, as they were refno'ctively prompted by their curiosity or their mtereft. Some of thefe people, who had eaily and eagerly crowded to the French capital, expeded to derive various advantages from an open rupture wiih the Court; among theiu was Napolecui pHionaparlL: : he had left the regiment of artillery foon after "the death of iiii^ patron, Count Warbceuf, and retired to his I-aternal home in Corfica ; he there found his mother it Widow,- ill very indigent circumitances, and with Icveral children dependent on her cx(>rtions for tlieir fupport : N'apoleon, it is probable, did not add to her incumbrances, though it is not very likely that he contributed to her relief. Neither tlie education which fits a man for a foldier, nor the manners of the • ■ii-my, are calculated to be ferviceable to him in Q 3 186 THE LIFE OF any err;ployineiit of a ruftic nature, or of any other kind that the inconfiderable ifland of Corfica could offer. Whilft Buonaparte remained with his mother he continued his application to fludy ; but though he returned to his- books with increafed ardour, it was chiefly becaufe the experience he had had in his niihtary capacity had confirmed his attachment to his profelTiqn; he did not Tabour here with that un- reniitling attention that he had done in his noviciate at the mililary fchool at Biienne, NotwiiLftanditig thecxercife and amuferaents, in uhich he afterwards took anaftivc part, his conftitution had.futiered much from long inaction during the firft years he was at fcheol : it is true that his form was calculated to refilt fatigue and poffeffed much ftrength, but he had al- ■ ways the appearance of weak and delicate health; his dtfpondency of promotion in the King's arniiy heightened the melancholy of his appearance, bultlie decifivtnefs of his cliarader imparted a fternnefs to Ids countenance that was lefs agreeable than rc- markalile in a very young man. From the principles which Buonaparte had early avowed, it was natural to bdic^ve tiiat he fliould declare againfl, the King. Always unalterable in his attachment to military glory, he did nt^t allow lo favourable an opportunity, as the popular difcontents at Paris afiorded him,of fignalizing himfelf, at lead by his decifion,in favour uffome one party. A mind like his forces itfelf into notice when placed in difficult fituations. In that moment, when the timid and the undvcic'ec! are lull by ibeir own weaknefs, a ftrong raiud frels its own force, fepai-atrs itfelf from tlie crowd; and fcands undauntedly tiie opponent and the KAPOLEOX BUONAPAIITE. 187 mark of the objed it has fingkvc! out for deftrurticn. The danger of aa early declaration, ia the beginning of the difrurbances, Buonaparte difdained to fliun: he feizcd, with the appearance of enlhuniiihi, the fenfe of that decree which acknowledged 710 diftinttion of rank, although some perfons might have then ra- tionally conjedurcd that fuch an avowal was likely to injure his future fortune. It is noteafy to believe that, with thefe fentiments, Buonaparte could confider Louis XVI. as the father of his people, and efpecially when he knew that the throne of that unhappy prince was furrounded by flatterers, who were interelU^d in fupporting the moft flagrant abufes^— that royal favour had become in France the only road which conducted to high mili- taiy preferment, and that weak and corrupt minifters and an effeminate court, oppofed an infurmountaljle barrier to genuine merit when it ventured to approach the throne; he 4iad, therefore, to exped, in common with every other fubaltern officer, who did not poflefs influence at court, or who had not fortune to purchafe influence, very little regard or diftinftion. A lon^ and faithful service was often rewarded with a crofs ' of St. Louis; a paltry and empty honour, v^hich decked indifcriminately a faithful defender of the ftate, or the parafite of a needy courtier. Buonaparte was not fingular in his attachment to ' the popular cause from thefe motives, a vafl number were excited to a determination to defert the Monarch by the fame or fimilar circuniftunces, it was not, however, thefe confideralions merely that induced others to adhere to the rifing oppofliion, and to ii> create its numbers by their example and their in- fluence. Some were aftuated by motives more h- ISS THE LIFT OF iiifter even than the disappointment of fanguine ex- ]}cctalioiis, which has been urged to extenuate their conduct. 'I'hey expected to derive particular ad- vantages if a new order of public affairs were oh- t iincd, asid they therefore willingly lent their aid to ciitc't that for their private intereUs, which they never would have attempted from motives of general good and real patriotifm. Is it to be fuppofcd that thofe of tiic French officers v.ho delerled the King for the fovereign people, had more refpecl for the people or their caufe, tiian they had for llie ]}.Ionarch or his government? ft is not without exception that we fnould fuffer our- ft'lvcs lo be guided by the rule that " men are cnlv to be judged by their actions'' It niav be true of thofe men who are eminently virtuous, or who iinneccf- i'arily expofe themfelves to the eh.arge of indiierelion ior a difclofure of the real motives by which all tiieir aftions are influenced; but we can by i^o mear.s iuc'.ge b)- this rule, men tliat may be either ftrou'ilv fiippi;fed to be perfonaliy inlerciicd in ti;c attainmc nt ol an u'jj;ct at wldeh thev aim, or v.lio l.iwc never l^een placed in a variety of iiluations, or iii iuch par- licr.lar circr.nifiar.ees :s would bccon:e the touch- ftone of till. ir ])rofenion?, and t!:at v/ould maiiifefi: the inlegrily or tiie depravity of their eonduift. The French Uibalterns, inparticuiar,had peihapsasllrong inducianents to liopc for an'! to farther a revolution as any defcription of men v.ho promoted that mta- fnrc in France; it was likely that fuch an event, or its conftquencLS, would p.rel'cjil a v.'ide field for their f xcrtions, and it is pr.jb^ibly on the bel't grounds th-at the purity of ihei'e men's motives may be quefti'^'ncd. ^.'ili'ary hcroifm is fujprnted by the arabitioii of at- NAPOLEOK BUONAPARTE. 1 89 taining military rank, and perhaps military heroifm was never more generally or aftively dilplayed than in the French armies. One faft, however, we know, that an arm^ which has deftroyed a defpotifm, or the military men that have contributed to its downfal, never eftablillied in its Head a popular government. The patriotifm of military chiel'tains is at all times queftionable, and at no period has their conduct been lefs free trom fufpicion, and, in fome inftances, more jultitiably charged with treachery to the caufe they affeded to fupport, than during the Frcncii Revolu- tion. Buonaparte remained at Paris until the year 17.90, vi'hen the difcontents of the Corficans occafioned an organization of troops in lliat iOand, and l;e was ap- pointed to the conjmand of a battalion of national guards at Ajaccio, his native town; there was little f'ervice, however, required of thefe levies, aud Buo- naparte had ample leifure to continue his military ftudies. The war which enfued between France and the combined powers opened a wide field for the ob- fervations ; the operations of the contending armies, which were fo admirably detailed at that period, af- forded him an opportunity, which his advantageous fituation enabled liim to improve, of examining, cor- recl;ing, and maturing that fyflem of warfare that has llnce, by its activity and refources, allilled in I'ubju- gating fome of the faireft provinces of Europe. I'he allies, it will be feen, by their obftinate ad- herence to the ancient fyftem of military tactics, dif- played their ignorance, of the inefficiency of the ap- plication of an old principle to a new practice, P)Uo- napartc's penetration muft have quickly remarked iPO THE LIFE OF this circumftance, and improved it to advantage. The enfuing events afforded him ample contempla- tion and ufeful lefiTons. The Aflembly had failed in an attempt to arrefl La Fayette: that general imprifoned the commifllon- ers on their arrival at Sedan; and, on the night of the ISlh of Auguft, he determined on leaving the army he commanded, and vvhich had already raani- fefted their difcontent of his condud. Before the dawn of morning hs mounted his horfe, and, with feventeen companions, quitted the French territory, without having attempted to fedace a fmgle battalion to defert. They hoped to reach fome diftant coun- try, where they might await better days, in which their virtues and their patriotifm miglit be ufeful *. ■■t- Th-v had not, however, travelied many miles before they were « refted by an Auftrian patrole, and condudted to Luxembourg; they were afterwards feparately im- prifoned at Wefel. La Fayette here fell fick with mor- tification, and his life was defpaired of. The King of Prulfia intimated to him, that his firuation would be ame- liorated if he would draw up plans agiinft France. The hero fpurned the propofal with fcorn ; his rigours were increafed: himfelf and his companions were conveyed, in a waggon, to Magdebourg, and they remained there during a whole year, in a dark and humid vault, ftrongly barri- cadoed. La Fayette, and fome others, were removed to Ncifs, to be delivered up to Auftria, and were,- foon after, immured, in feparate dungeons, at Olniutz. By the ma- nagement of two American gentlemen La Fayette cftaped, but was retaken. His captivity now became more rigorous, and his malsdy increafed with great vi.vknce. Neither himfelf, nor any of h:s fellow-priicners, had received any information du- ring their confinement refp£(5tiug their families ; Ma- NAPOLEON- BUONAPARTE. IQl This great man was abandoned by the very pcop'lc for whofe happinefs he had invariably exerted all his dame La Fayette was imprifoned at Paris, and hourly expefted to be led to the national axe. Robefpierre fell, her life was preferved, and, fome time afterwards, {i\t was -releafed. At the end of 1795 Aie had fufficiently recruited her ftrength to attempt the execution of a projeft, fhe had fecretly meditated. She arrived at Vienna, with her two daughters, and obtained an audience of the Emperor, who would only allow her to fhare the horrors of her huf- band's prifon. She entered the fortrefs of Olmutz, with her two lovely daughters, where they were treated with the greateft inhumanity. Her health became, at length, fo much injured, that fhe requefted permilfion to vifit Vienna for a week, to breathe the frefh air, and confult a phy fician ; in two months flie was informed that this permiflion was allowed her, on condition that her daughters were con- fined m an apartment by themfelves, and that fhe herfelf fliould never enter the prifon again. She inflantly wrote a nioft couragcoes refufal of this indulgence, and which (in reference to her hufb^iad's imprifonment) concludes thus : " Whatever, then, may be the ftate of my own health, and the inconveniency attending the flay of my daughters in this place, we will mofl gratefully take advantage of the goodnefs his Imperial Majefty has ex prefTed towards us, by the permiffion to fhare in all the miferies of this capti- ■vity." Never afterwards did the unhappy fufFerers com- plain, although they continued to inhale an air fo impreg- nated and infeded by a common fewer, and the privies under La Fayette's window, that the foldiers were accuf- tomed to apply their hands to their nofes on opening the door. They were not liberated until Buonaparte inter- fered ontheir behalf in 1797. In September they quitted their dungeons : La Fayette, with his family, retired to Hamburgh, and in the beginning of i8oo Buonaparte al- lowed them to return to France. IP'2 tHE LIFE Of nbilitirs : his life was only preferved from their fury by his timely retreat; and, when his lamentable exile claimed the commiferation of the whole world, he fell under the unmerited vengeance of a combination of fovereigns. The cowardly condudl of his enemies wil! long be remembered by the benevolent heart; and perhaps the figh will heave, on the recital of his misfortunes, while there exifls a man upon the "earth V, ho i? qualified to feel. As foon as the AfTembly were informed of La Fayette's efcape they nominated Domourier com- mander-in-chief. This extraordinary man had been miniller at war, and then appeared very friendly dif- pofed towards the King; but, after the defection of La Fayette, he affeded counter-revolutionary fenti- rnents, and he thus obtained the confidence of the Republicans : IMarflial Luckner alio attached himfelf to the rifiiig party, as well as Biron, Montesqieu, Kellerman, and Cufiine. Commilhoners were de- puted to afcertain the fentimentsof all the generals, and their report was as fuccefsful as the AfTembly could wirti. Tlie appointment of municipal officers, to be with the armies and in the garrifoned towns, and to affift at the councils of war, was a meafure fraught with policy, and ferved the Aflembly n)oft eflentially, when it Hood in the greateft need of accu- rate information refpecling the ftate of the troops, their operations, and the conduct of the ofiiceis who had the chief commands. The eminent talents of La Fayette had checked the progress of the whole Auftrian and Pruflian armies, although he had no more than twenty thoufund men under his command. That general being no longer '^-yj^^^^^^ ^^ V7// ■;.// •'/,^fr//r' ^ ruh.b^,3lJn,.;Au.J Ni»POLEON BUONAPARTE. IQS sppofed to the enemy, the combined armies pro- jefted to penetrate as far as pofTible into France. * They bombarded Longvvy with fuch an irrefiitible and incfeffant violence for fifteen hours as threatened to bury it in ruins, and the town then capitulated. The Allcmbly then ordered a court-martial on the magiftrates who fu? rendered the place, and they were executed. Verdun was next invefted ; the place was deftituta of every thing; the enemy kept up a fecret corref- pondence with the inhabitants; — tli<3magiftratescon- fjdered the town untenable, and even'the municipal ofTicers advifed its furrender. Although thegarrifoti confifted of no more than two battalions, Beaure- paire, tlie commander, determi[ied to hold out to the utmolt ; but finding all his efforts uselefs, and that the advice of his colleagues was to caj^itulate, he drew a piftol from his belt, in the midil of a council of war, and difcharged it agaiiift his temple. It is impoffible to defcribe the confternation at Paris, when it was known there that Longwy and Verdun had furrendered. The Afiembly and the people were equally alarmed, left the report thould be true, that in a few hours the Duke of Brunfwick would be in the vicmity of Paris. Danton, however, the Minifier of Juftice, whilfl: melancholy and defpaa- were feated on every countenance, declared tiiere were not lei's than 80,000 fiand of arms in Paris. He propofcd that their owners fliould deliver them up, and that a band of volunteers fliould be raifed and equipped with the;n. The Afieniblv df creed this, and that all who were i.ot incapacitated fiiould be in readinefs to march. Thcfe meafures e.^hilirated VOL. I, — NO. VI, R, ^*}-i TI12 LIFE OF the drooping fpnits of the Parifian?, and tljcy cnceily crowded to carry ihcm into eil'eft. It was expcclcd that the volunteers would he cn- roUefl in the rcfpective diftricls lo whicli they be- longed, but the grand promoters of the fclieme had foniclhing elfe in view. Alarm guns were fired at 2 o'clock in the morning of the 2nd of Septeml;er ; the torlln was founded ; the country was declared to i.e in danger, and the people were inviled to aiTeni- Ide in the Champ de ?.Iars, from whence, as was pre- tended, they were immediately to march againft the tommon enemy. ^Multitudes were tli'js ealilv col- lected ; and as loon as the refolutions of the Al'it m.Lly wliich had been moved by Danton, came to be i;n- derftood, the general cry was, " To arm>, citiztni ; to arms! the enemy is ;'.t hand. Every garrifon has fallen; every garrifon has betra}-ed us. We arc yet in the hands of traitors!" During this paroxyini of dcfpair, news v/as fJjricat'jd that a body of French troop?, to the number of 4000, fent as a rein- forcement to "Wrdun, had, by treaci;ery, been led into' ambufcado, and cruelly cut to pieces. 'I'bds ri;isod the fury of the populace to its utmofi height. — '•' We have no one to tiult lo, and v.e muft face the (■nemy," thev exclaimed — " We are to be butchered like flieep, and ihall v.o not turn upon our haters ? — To the Abbaye! and the two Carmes ! Let us cut the thrc^ats of every traitor!" Such were the propo- iilions in the hall of the Jacobins, and the exclama- tions of the furies that crowded the ftreets! At the convent of the Carmelities, where the refractory prielts of Paris wer*: confined, the Cardinal de llochef<Micalt, and j-bout 130 (fome fay 220) prielts were handed out of the prilbn, two by two, into the K.AFOLEON BJOXAPARTE, IQo meet 'VaugerarJ, and tlierL- cruelly put to death iu '-■.')ld blood ; lur ihe formidablepleas of innocence and cge wt'ie of no avail. They next proceeded to vn-rak ihcii- vengeance on tlie unfortunate Swifs oai- CATS who were confined in the Abbey prifon. Thef^; iuts of atrocity were accompanied with the foleniu n-iockcry of a jury, madb up of liine Italians and three I'renchmcn; but it is known that their fate was de- 't' rrnined prior to the adoption of fuch unpardonable I'luinmcry. It was jMOciainied before thsir execu- tion, I/fatit le largir, " He niuU be let at liberty" but alas! it was only to be hurried througli a dL-file cl ruihans, to be fyfteaialically cut to pieces, cr j'ierced through the body with innumerable pikes. All the S.viis officers were inhumanly murdercjj, l.jiircommander-in-chief alone excepted, M. d'Ailry, who had the good fortune to efcape, owing to a niiftakc of the mob. In the prifon of La Force were murdered the ladies of the Court, who had beenarreftcd and imprifonedon the day on which the palace was attacked. Among tliele was the princefs de Lamballe, a woman of the molt exquilite aecomplihirnents both of body and mind, V.'hen {he was fammoned to appear before this felf-conltituted tribunal, flie was indulging her- I'eif in that repofe which her melancholy htuatiou too ol'lea denied her. bhe fell a victim to the lavage rage of the populace ; for on her coming out of the priioii, and being filled with horror at the fpectacle oi liie numerous dead bodies, over which I'he hati to |)afs, a rufflar. ftruck her a violent blow with u fibre, on the hinder part of lier head, which occa- lioned a copious effuCon of blood; her bowels and her heart were lorn out, and her head placed ua a 15)6 rHE LIFE OF pike. There were other circumftances attending her death, fo dreadful, and accompanied with fach aCts of ferocious indecency', that if it were aUowable to relate them, tht y would appear as incredible as they ^arfe dreadful. After having glutted their depravity in this cruel maniicr, the mob proceeded to form a bloody caval- cade; llie lieads and bodies of thofe whom they deemed moll inimical to them were fixed on pikes, and carried tl)rou<:h theftreetbfor a confiderable time. At laft t!)ey diret^cd their courfe towards the Palais lloyal, wiicTc the proct-iuon flopped, and lliefe life- lefs vi^lims were expoied to the derifion of a fur- , rounding nitb; having previoLitly, however, Ciewn to the (^ueen the mutilated limbs of Ihe Princel's Lamundf. '1 be number of perfons who perilhod at the ciiilert-nt pnibns, in tliis inchfcriminatc and un- rclifted maiTacre, anioucted to more than five thou- fano. In the n:ean\vl.iie, M. Dumouri(n-, alarmed at the advances of the combiiK'd armic s. called a council of war al Sedan; at which it was judged Idglily impru- dent to hazard an engag(.'m''nt with numbers pro- digioufly i'u[)erior, as uo hopes of victory iMmic he rsrafbiiably entertained, biit rather inlup^p'Oi table de- feat and dil'grace. It is faid tliat the whole ttfeiflive force of the I'nnch coiaiu;uuier-iu- cluef at this period did not tqual tliat vviiich was under the immediate authority of Ge'-eral Clairfait ; but at this critical moment of fufpei.t't , the n.ilitary genius of Dumcurier ihone foitli will ui commuii fpiendor: by the aftonifliing maucEuvres and ftratagems which his prolific mind was maturing tor execution, he refolved to diminifh NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. Ip? and divide his ftrcngth. To Galbaud, ftationed at the pafs in the foreft of Argonne, \vhich Dumourier conlidercd as of incalculable importance to the fate ' of the campaign, he lent Dillion (4lh of September) .,*^ with aconiiderable reinforcements. At this moment . -, It, was deferted by Galbaud, as impolhble to be re- -^ tained ; but when he perceived the reinfoicenien:s V which had been i'ent him, he retured to the defence of it Willi renovated vigour ; anditproved, inagreut meafure, to France what 'I'hermopylos was to Greece. Dumourier, in the mean time, took the pafs at Grand Pre under his own immediate protee'tion. It was foon dii'puted with him by the enemy ; and finding lie could not retain the poffellion of it a^ainft the furious attaclv of fuch a fuperior force as he hac! to Contend with, he retreated to St. .Menehoud, a Itrong town, fituated about '26 miles \V. S, W, of Verdun. The i'Vuftrians, in dii'puting this pass, loft a eoufider- able number of men, together witii prince Charles dc Ligne. Dumourier was foon, however, in a condition to become more formidable to the allies by the rein- forcements he received from Pont fur Sambre ; Bournonville having joined him with thirteen thou- fand men, as well as Kellerman, with the army of which lie had the command, it was novv(Scptember 20) that Dumourier found himfeh in a fituatiori to put a period to the incurfions of the enemy. Keller- man, with determined bravery, at the head of fixteea thouland men, attacked and repulfed a vaftly fupe- rior divifion of the enemy, and rendered all their efforts and ttratagems utterly abortive. The Duke of Bruniwick, however, at the head of the Prulhau i98 THE LIFE OF troops, endeavoured completely to furround General Kelierman, and by this means cut off his retreat, if he fliould be vauquiflied ; but, the prying eye of Du- inourier, difconcerted all his meafures. The calm- nefs and intrepid fortitude with which Kellernian's line fuftained the attack of the enemy has received the higheft commendation. While the movements of Kelierman were thus fuccefsful, the army under Dillon, on the very fame day, experienced another attack from the enemy, but without effeft ; for the General having taken the precaution to place a long range of mufketeers under cover of the hedges, in order to annoy the enemy as they advanced, had the fatisfaftion to behold them retreat with the utmoft precipitation. It is impolFibleto calculate the advantages wiiichre- fulted to France from thefe triumphant fuccefles, or to defcribe the efteds they produced on the pub- lic mind. Initead of ftanding aglialt at tlie frightful idea, that nothing could prevent the conibinrd armies from marching to Paris, the people already anticipated the moment as at no great diftance, when their country would be placed beyond the reach of danger. The army, however, had ftill dangers to encoun- ter, and difficulties to fubdae, of which the people in general were not competent to judge. Notwith- flandingaU the reinforC'menls which Dumourier had fo lately received, his force was ftill fcarcely a third part of what the enemy could nmfter. 'i'hey were in poffeflion of Vnrennes, and their camp on the heights of La Lune was confidered as imjiregnable. '1 lie French army, of confequence, could find no re- treat in aa eafterly, wefterly, or northerly diredioc^. KAPOLEOV r.UONAPAUTF.. 1^9 and the roads toward the fouth, efpeciall) at this fea- Ibn of the year, were a fink of niire and dirt. Thcfe circumltances alfo difcouraged t1ie enemy from a vi- oorous perfeverance. The vail importance of the pafs which Dillon fo ably defended, has been already noticed. It moft effectually prevented the Duke of Brunfwick from reaching Paris in the way lie ori- ginally intended, and it aj.peared to him impoffible to make the French abandon it. In this fituation he had no other alternative than to attempt a circuitous route by the way of Varennes and Grand Pre, which would have lengthened his march at leaft fifty miles; a melancholy addition, fmce his troops were already too much difpirited. and almofl ftarving. About this time they were feizcd with a iaial dillempei^, which, in its ravages, proved more deftruclive than the mili- tary weapons of the French, and which was rendered more inveterate by the imprudent ufc of unripe grapes, as a iuccedaneum for bread, of which, it is reported, they were totally deprived for the fpaceof fotrr days. In tills melancholy fituation of affairs, the Duke of Brunfwick applied for an armiftice. It is worthy of remark how an effenti<4l change of circuraftances will induce a man to a£l inconfiftent with himfeif. Iri July the Duke publifhed his celebrated Manifefto, which afforded no vf;ry favourable fpecimen of the goodnefs of his heart ; and in September, he declar- ed ius readinefs to recognife the very conftitution againft which he profefiedly took up arms. Upon this occafion he is reported to have faid to Dumou- rier, refpedting the King; " Make him your King, " under the ftricleft limits. Do not content your- " felves with tying him up like the King of England 200 THE LIFE OF " — inakcJi'm a King cfihe ?Jiiwrat(as — make hira " ;i St;idth(j]d(r— make hjiii the prii)c;p;il tax-i^aiher- " er of the coiinliy — .live l;hri cu!y a plate — this is " ail we afk, and then we fliall have a pretext for " reliiiiig." The Prudiaii anny foon after evacuated the terri- tories of France, and their exaiiiplcs was imniediately followed by the trooj^s of Auftria and HeiTe Cafrel. On abandoning the firong encampment (ai the heights of La Lunc, the French thtire dil'covered about three hundred hnrfcs winch were half devour- ed, fo dreadl'ully deli.tute had tl:c eneniv been of ail forts of provilions. "\"e;dun was retaken 'Ov ;i:0 Frcricli, and the l-'ruliian commander, in a i;on;tr- ence with General Dillon, declared tliat the Kin;:; of I'rufha was anxious to m;iii;tain a good underftandiiij; v.i;.h Fi-ance. The i'dw.t U-nlitnents v.ere j^revioudv avowed Ia' the Dukf; (■( Brunfv.ick to M. Galbaud ; atuhi' h time he ieemi-d to rcprtdjate the iVntimenls contained in hit celebrated maniu Uo. a? bv rjonic.uis his ov.n. At the fan^e time the Kmj of Pruilia mo'c imjuftlv cenlured the conduel ohll.e French l'rincc>, ;is Will as of General Clairfait. Uedeclaiod " thf\- " had deciived h'.n; grofslv, and that he would rr- " member it to tiie < nd (jI liis cxifu net .'' For the difiinctioii n.ade t)v the King ol Piuliia between his own j.iCu and tlie Fnhgrants, in the regulations ado; t( d relpeding tiu: exchange of prifoners, no apology can be offerc<b '1 lit. !c un.iortuuate men had confided in his jnotecd ,v, Mid therefore not to ccjm- prehend th(in in thei'artel wa^ ii.fanrms; tliey v.e'c not his ful ji c"t?, but they were entitled to hi; ruar- dianfliip on every pi mci; Ic oi lionour and hoiu :iy. The Allies in jieni-iaiure to be biameu f^r acceoing NAPOLEOV BUONAPARTE. 20l to tlie principle of the French goveniaient, which condemned thofe brave men to i'ufter military exe- cution as traitors ; many thoufands were wickedly configned to judicial flanghter. Soon after the French had retaken Verdun, they followed up their conqueft by the re-capture of Longwy, (Ocloher 22) under General Valence, and the territories of France being thus evacuated by the allied armies, the country was decreed by the Affem- bly to be no longer in danger. 202 THE I.IIL Of CHAPTER XIV. Dilcrdma of the Ercciitke Council. — Roland's i/ief- fcciual Addrej's to tite Pcuplc. — The Cunrention aht-luli lloyaltij 2)1 Fyain.v. — 1 htir Vtcrcc-'i in coujequencc. — 'Hie Hatred oj the Parties, and the Dhiayion of'f/'cir Ltadcr-',. — Dreadjui State cf the French People. — Sa- xoy annexed to Prance. — ErniiirGnts ordered to qrit Prance. — Decree of Praternify to all People. — Si{^( ofThiontille. — Anecdote o;' U'unjifen. — Brace Vejenee oj tJic Bijhged, and their (u-eadful Situation, — 7V..- Auftnans raife the Si^ge. — Conquejl oj' Nice, \s^c, ^'/IJILST til'.; ;irinit.5 v.'cre 6:i'_ai;r;fi in this ini- portai.t i'liu^-^Ie on tl.e ironlitis, Ujc interior of rr;'.hL'e preltiitfcd a picture equally iiitereliing and aUractive to the friends <.,{ inunklnd. When tliC lloyal p(;\ver \vas fuTpended, the AlVemhlvhad })laeed ibc gt'Vtriurient in the hands oi feven MiniltcrS; whu ^vere cicr.oniiuated The Exlc'ctive Council, and £.uioi-;i:lt the number WL-re ineluded thofe Republican mii;iiurs of Louis, in \-.I;elb dlunifnil he had jiivc'n fi) much oiTi nee to the Affemljly and tiie clubs. — 'i'i:Li'e cc'ntlcmen fojr.d tnenil'^lves n'-nv in a very diiicrent htuatlc^n to v.Iiat they had been in l>elore : iIilv had v.-') lon^jer the p-.'.ver o4'hoiding out the Kiu^ aj a butt '..f general cenlure, and tlicy v.ould theni- ie!v(s !;t rtipoiidule for any nial-adniluiiiration, or milcui-ria^e that iiii_.!it hajipen in the aduuiiitlraticn. \\ hen tliey I'erved u.i.drr the King, they had a power ' o JVC! t urn ; at thib fiuie tiicy had a power to 1( cure ; and t;:Ough ti^cy I:ad ciuuc (:very thing to weahi n the uovc.nincnt of Lcui;, as "eli as to attribute all hi^ KAPOT.RON BUONAPARTE. 20.^ ?.uleavours for the prelervation of the public peace to a clefire of tyrannizing over the people, they no.v found that the mei'e title of Executive Council was infufficicnt to enable tii.ni to adminihor Uit- laws, unlefs fome means were taken to enforce uljCiiier.ce to them. Roland, the miniftcr of tlie lIo;ne I.);.partnK'i:.t, exerted hinifflf with particular cricrgy, and piiLHihed icveral addreffcs, couched in a itvie o;" the ivcii lu r- vous eloquence, to induce both tiie p. oj.le aiul tl:c:r legillators to obey the government with the loyalty that became t'nem as good citizens, but he and his colleagues very loon found that it was much eaiier to 2-aife a itonn than to command it, for tliC ailaiiins of the 2d and 3d of September, treated his addrefles as he had formerlv treaied tljofe of the Kii^.g ; inui, in fpite of his egotifm, they favv him only in the iig!:t of a man eager to rellrain their lawkfs paihons, and accordinglv called liim a tyrant, and marked him out for tiie guillotine, as well as his Iloval.Lt predeceh'ors. The addrelles of R.oland were generally compofed by his wife, a turbulent woman, of very great ta- k-p.l5, and tiicy were highly important, as they moftly I'poke the language of the whole of the Brihbtme party. It is curious to obferve, from a fiiigle ex- trad, how different would have been the conduct of thoi'e unprincipled men towards the King, if they had urged the fame dcftrine in fupport of his go- vernment which they now urged in favour of their own. '' If diforganization become habitual," fays Roland, '^' if men fired with zeal, but deftitute of Vi'Lidence, or kno\\ ledge, pretend to interfere daily i..! the admiftralion, and impcc'e its operations : if 20i: TliE LIFE OF by ihc fupport of feme popular favour, obtained by <zrcat ardor, and fupportcHi by loquacity, tliey dif- fcuiinate miftrull, multiply accufalions, excite tlie filry of the jM'puIate, and diclate profcriptions, the gowriimcnt is only a fliadow, a nonentity; and the Jrji'cjt /liuii jjiiiced at the hehn (;f atlairs, ought to re- li;e wlieii he can no lunger diredt it; for he is not fi.itioned tlicre to be a Itatue, but to act.'' The doctrine was remarkably found, but it came about a year too late : people who had been initiated in the " facred Tight of infurredion," could not com- prehend why fuch a valuable article fliould be kept out of ufe. Accordingly, ignorance and impertinence affumed the fame empire over the new government, and canvafled all its meafurcs as acrimonioufly as they had done ihofe of the old. Such was the ftate of things when the feafon ar- rived for the meetingof the Convention ; to which everv one looked with expectation for the reftorati- on of harmony and order. On the 21st of September, the new Reprcfentatives having verified their powers, the National AiTembly refigned its fiinctions, and configned its power to the Convention, bv a formal addrefs of renunciation, and a folemu affurance that its members would ferve as nn advanced guard of the new legiflature. As their firft acl the Convention chofe Petion their prefident, and thou;::h this circumftance was itfelf a fuf!icicnt indi- cation of a powerful bias againft Royalty, the lead- inc members were determined io leave no doubts upon the fubjedt; for, after decreeing that the ex- ifting lawsfnould be continued in force, and the ex- iting taxes be demanded, Collet d'llerbois rofe, and fu2gsftcd, that the Convention ought not to adjourn, NAPOLEO"N BUONAPARTE. 20^ 111! it had decreed the enternal abolition of Royalty in France. Neither the latenefs of the evening, nor the importance of the motion, could prevent the depu- ties from inftantly rifing to demand that the queftion^ might be immediately put. M. Bazire exclaimed^ againft the enthufiafm which had taken pofTedion of their minds, and befought the members to difcufs a queflion of fuch magnitude with the dignity that be- came the reprefentatives of a great people. His ad- vice was treated as the dull prudence of a vulgar and plodding mind, which was unworthy the pradicc of philofophersoffuperior light, and the National Con- vention briefly decreed, that *' Koijalty is aboU/fted in France.^' Loud applaufes, and exclamations of " Viie la Nation,'' following the decree ; and minutes of the fitting were ordered to be fent to the Departments, and to the armies, as well as to be proclaimed throughout Paris. In the next Sitting AI. Condorcct was elected Vicc- prefident, and the Convention decreed: I. That all public afts (liould be dated the nrll years of the French Republic. IJ. That the feal of the country fliall be changed, and have for a legend, " French Repubhc." III. That the National Seal fliall reprefent a woman fitting on a bundle of arms, ami holding a pike in b.er hand, with a cap of liberty upon it, and upon the exergue, the words, *' Archives of the French Re- public." IV. That no petitioners Ihall be admitted to the bar till t'lif. evening fitting. 'i'liofe decrees having pafled, a debate cnfued, wliich tended to guide the judgment, as t(» the cha- VoL. I. — NO. VI. S 206 THE LIFE OF rac'tcr of the proceedings likely to be adopted by tiie Convention. A motion was made, I. That ail Citizens, without diftinftion, are eligible to vacant places ; and II. That all the Members of the judiciary bodies, now in the exercife of their funftions, fiiali be changed. Upon thefe motions one member was of opinion, that the renewal of judges ought not to be made in a partial manner, and that a committee ought to be ap- ])oiuted, to examine rriinutely into the bufinefs, and to report the rcfult of tiieir obfervations to the Con- vention. Another member obferved, that judges ou"ht not to be ignorent men; but it was anfwercd, that the people certainly had the heft means of know- in" thofe among their fellow-citizens who were bcft (jualified to discharge that important office, and the Convention feemed to have been fo occupied with tl'.e d( lire of courting popularity, at any expcnfc, that thev decreed, " that all judges may be cliofen, without diftindtion, from among the citizens." The precipitancy of the Convention became fu f'\ ident within a few days of iheir fcillon, that rc- flei'liu" men began to tremble for the confcquence of ihtir raflineft, and to cpufiion, whether liberty would futTer moft from rude attacks of oppofing armies, or tvc.m the niadnefs of mifguided iViends. Thofe ap- priilienfions iticreai'fd viift'y, when it was known of ^■, iiat (leicription of peribns the Convention was compoffd ; tur, many of its members were beneath even the dregs c;f the two allcmblies, and the whole tr'^'etlicr formed a Ijodv of men fo unqualified and incapable of managing the affairs of a great nation, ihat there remained no ])o!Tiij:lity of llieir fuccecJin-r NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 207 111 any lueafure, but by means of ftilling all criti- cii'in upon their meai'ures, and enforcing implicit iubmiflion to all their foUi^-S by the mod tyrannical dei:rees. Amongft the members were feveral foreigners, of which number was Anacharfis Cloots, the mad Pruf- iian, formerly mentioned, and the ringleaders of feveral gangs of rioters; fuch as Legendre, the but- cher, who had aflilled Santerre in breaking open the Palace, and infulting the King on the "iOth of June; and Tallien, who figned the order for colle6ling all the afrallins of Paris lo ftaughter the defencelefs pri- foners on the 2d and 3d of September. The evil fpirit which had long influenced the dif- ferent parties in their coudud towards the King, now he was no longer in their way, began to difplay ii- felf in their hatred and abufe of each other. The BrilTotines, though equally treacherous with the Ro- befperians, and the Orleanites, were not equally cruel ; and, as they had the government in their own hands, they had no intereft in encouraging the fcenes of horror and bloodflied which had fo longdifgraced the country. They were, however, equally as ob- jectionable to the Robefperians, as the Royalifts had been; for, though they admitted no diftindion of rank or property, they piqued thcmfelves upon their literary acquirements, and, claimed as much diftinc- tion upon that ground as the iirft noI.)le among the Emigrants could clcum, on account of his titles. The Robefperians, on tne contrary, were moftly ig- norant men, without any more pretcnfions to lite- rature, than the fuperlicial knowledge that they had acquired by their own refearches, late in life, and ihey could fee no reafon why any diftindion Oiould be 208 THE LIFE OF granted to literature raore than to ariflocracy or royalifni. The feelings of this party approached much nearer to thofe of the vulgar, than thofeof any other, and it was not long before the felec^ parties, and delicate aflbciations of the learned governinent were pointed out, as the fureft figns of pride and arii'iocracy— or royalifm, and the j)eople were fooii taught to luok upon every man as an enemy to the country, who did not exprefs himfelf in coarfe and vulgar language, and appear dirty and negligent in hisdrefs. Oneofthemoft perfect and confiftent of this extraordinary feci, was Murat, a little ugly deformed man, poirefTing no one advantage by which he could claim rofpecl or efteem, and who faw fo much to envy, that, he was incapable of doing any mifchief by which he could be himfelf a lofer. This perfon, inhabiting a celler, wrote an intlammatory paper, which was circulated daily, in whicli he not only in- cnlc;itcd the neccITity of levelling all diftinclions of rank aiid property, but declaimed againlt all orna- ments of drtfs and furniture, and made out lifts of profcriptions, to fend vaU numbers of peribus to the guillotine, againft whom he had no other charges than, that they prided tiiemfelves <;n account of fome }eifonal accomplilliment. It was not ]j(i!]iide for anv talent or vir:ue to cfcape the cenfure of this pro- found leveller. If a man we;e bad, he would drag him forth to be puriillicd for his ci'imes; and if he were Z'jod, he would hold him forth as equally an object ot pui'.irnmt.iit for not cominiirm:! crmies : as it would bo dangerous to let any individual gain the eftetm of the people, left they ihould value hiia above '.MS fcilow-citizens. What he coaliciered vice, it WuS dithcult to determine; but, he pointed out NAPOLBON BUONAFARTE. 209 virtue as an obje£t of fufpicion, and wifdom of jea- loufv ; decency he ftigmatized as pride ; delicacy as an attachment to defpotifm ; and, the only infallible lign of a good citizen, he confidered to be a dirty face and ragged cloaths. It was perfectly natural that this man fliould owe the fame hatred to a go- vernment of learning as to a government of rank ; and, accordingly, the Republic was no fooner de* clared, than he appeared in the Jacobin club, to caution the good citizens againft traitors iu difguife, and to excite as much jealoufy againft the Govern- ment and the Convention as would be fufficient to prepare the lower claflesfor frefli infurredions. Violent contentions very foon took place between the parties, and one of the Briflbtines (Louvet,) a man as vain as the reft, but not equally contaminated with guilt, publicly pointed out ^larat, Robefpierre, and Chabot, as leaders in the late maffkcres, and confpirators againft the new government. Scarcely any doubts were entertained of the truth of the ac- cufations ; had they been noticed properly by the party in power, the difturbers of the public peace might have acquired forae refpect for the laws; but, inftead of boldly meeting the queftion, Briflbt re- forted to the cowardly and evaftve praftife of mov- ing the order of the day. Louvet complained vehe- mently of this negledt, great part of which he attri- buted to the great tenderne/s of his friend Petion, who he fays, could have ruined Robefpierre and all his accomplices, if he had but have revealed one fourth of what he knew ! ! Poor innocent man ! it was not the tcndernefs of either Petion or BriiTot, that occafioned their connivance ; it was their being them- s 3 210 THE LIFE OF felves fo deeply involved in guilt that they were ob- liged to purchafe the connivance of othervillains at the expenfe of their own confciences, or elfe their grand plot againft thc*Monarch might have been defeated. It was this general corruption of the leader's of every party that prevented the Convention, as it had done the National Aflembly, from adopting any meafure calculated to enforce obedience to the laws. The members flattered the infolence and licentiouf- nefs of the mob againft their confciences, becaufe they had not independence enough to fpeak in de- fence of juftice : and thus the whole country became the feat of vice, to an extent that rendered life in- tollerable ; or, as it was elegantly exprelTed by one of the republican members of the Convention, " an immeafureable ftiafs of crimes, unknown to the fierceft nations, burft fortli as a torrent, whofe dikes ■were broken, and, fpreading itfelf over a vaft empire, threatening to deluge the whole globe." " Behold, around us," continued he, " confuiion in all its va- rious Ihapes ; prefumptious ignorance pretending to all the advantages of celebriety ; greedy covetouf- nefs grafping at wealth ; vile debauchery thirfting for lengthened indulgences; atrocious vengeance ■preparing for afTaffination ; bafe envy defpairing of the influence of talents ; and iniatiate ambition burn- ing witk the defire of power at the expenfe of every xrime ! 'When yillains, like thefe, begin to acquire the afcendancy ; when the mob, mounting on heaps of fpoil and the ruins of property, obey their eomi- mands ; when magiftrates lead the way to plunder through feas of innocent blood; when the guillotine becomes the n£.tional altar, to which brother leads brother, and fathers their fons, under the impulfe of NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 211 political zeal, I am compelled to acknowledge that no kind of flavery is fo bad as that inrti-aed upon France in the name of Liberty. The fentimcnts which the reprefentatives deliver in their places are not their own, but thofe of the ignorant and mif- g'iided multitude, who hoot theru in their own '^al- lenes. We are governed by the rabble, and by crimes as numerous as our maUers. One betakes himfelfto robbery, another dtdights in murder; one feeks pleafure in harrafiing, imprifcning, and tor- menting his enemy; another choofes rather to re- quire his wife, and a third, difdainiug to mince his inclinations, likes belter to violate his daughter— too happy if the villain do not maffacre her afterwards ! It might even be imagined, that every one exerts himfelfto invent fome new crime, over which nature has not yet groaned ; as foon as one is found it is deified, and other villains labour with eagernefs to make fome new difcovery, that ihall hav-e equal fuc- cefs. France has thus become diilionoured by thou- fands of banditti, who make vice a profeffion ; and, amongtl crimes, feledt, prefer, and cry up what are mofl fliameful, moft difgufting, and moft horribly new." Such a Hate did France arrive at very tliortly after the aflemblingof the Convention; yet this violation of the principles of freedom did not prevent fome of its friends in other countries from prefenting it with congratulatory addrefles, and exerting themfelvcs, with unfeigned zeal, to give effed to all its meafures: a condu(!t that would feem very furpriling, but for the two following confiderations: firft, that many of the governments of Europe had been fo faft approx- imating towards defpotifm, that the people hardly 21'3 THE LIFE or faw ihfi pofllbility of preferving freedom but by fome defperate mea'.is ; and, fecondly, that Ihey were not lliemfelves witneffcsof the evils commilted in France, but merely received the reports of them through thole powers, whofe ill-founded calumnies and injultice towards La Fayette, and the real friends of liberty, rendered them wholly unworthy of credit. The eftabliflied governments, inftead of taking any nieafures to conciliate the minds of their refpedive citizens, as the crifis required, retained their ufual lautnir, and treated the well-founded complaints of the people with infolence and contempt. The'con- fequence was, that they loft the affedions of their fubjf (fls, and thofe who could obtain affiftance from France, threw themfelves into the arms of the netv tyranny, for the fake of revenging themfelves of the old. On the 26th of September the Convention was m- formed that the Duchy of Savoy had received the French troops as brothers, and had furrendered their country, in hopes of pafllng from under the govern- ment of the King of Sardinia to that of France. It had been one of the leading principles of the Revo- lution, that no wars were juftifiable but ihofe of de- fence ; and confequently, that France fliould never retain the dominions of her neighbours as conquests: but,like all their fine theories, this temptation was too strong for the patriots to refist, and in a very few days it was decreed ihat Savoyfliould form an eighty-fourth department of France, under the title oi Mont Blanc. This circumstance was important to the curious ob- ferver, as it produced an incident by which the pre- cifc value of reputation in France could be correftly afcertained. General Moiitefquleu had been accufed NAPOLECN BUONAPARTE. 213 as a traitor, and a decree of dirmffal ifl'ued, of courfe, in the hafty manner that the Convention did their bulinefs; but when his letter was read, announcing his entrance into Savoy, although it was entirely un- conneded with the charges exhibited againll him, the decree of difmifial was recalled ; by which every oflicer was inuiiediately taught, that innocence was no ^curity, unlefs attended by fuccefs; and crimi- Jiality no fault if it could be covered by a triumph •. and the doiilrine was foon puUied to the utmoit ex- tent, by reducing all the generals to the neceflity of either pillaging all the territories contiguous to France or fliedding their blood under the guillotine. The ambitious views of the Convention towards the neighbouring powers began to unfold thenifelves every day, and they were only interrupted to invent fonie new fcourge to afflid their own people. Many of the unfortunate Emigrants about this pe- riod returned to their native country, cherilhing the idea that they would procure the forgivcnefs and pro- tection of their fellow-citizens; but the Convention thought proper to iiFue a decree againft them which we cannot help conlidenng as unneceflarily feverc. It was childidi to apprehend, that a few obfcure indi- viduals, without any reiources, and only feeking ihel- ter in the place were they were born, could have influence fullicient to lubvert the conftitution of Trance; and yet, certain it is, they were ordered to quit the kingdom ('27th September) in twenty-four hours, or be inftantlv put to death, (houlu they re- fufe to comply. It is truly aftonilhing that any per- fon delirous of being ranked among the admirers of freedom fliould defend the fpirit and tendency of this decree; for if the great caufe of Republicans *.•+ TKELIFICr r.;uit ce. according to :':-.eir ow-n lo'emn ce;'.arat:oa. t;:e c.iule ot'Iv-'-mati;!:;.-, to dopa-t lb ^roiilv f-CT. tiial cauie is a d;re':ct;:.ii or" th-^ir principles. Ihis decree w^-- u;:tarulv I'licceeded bv ar^cthcr, in ihe ei.^cnng of uliich tiie Convention diicoverod the :j-:ne 'var.-i &: --an'v :;Oi'.cr. a; had governed its coii- da:: w.th regard to Sav.-v. A rcptare having taken •:.ace be-ivocu ti:e Baiiiiwick ct Darrauadt atid the DuKc o: Drux Ponc^. in uiici'e ter; itcrie; it wa? utu- ate.;, n^oi: ct" tiie peorie of ih-it diUrict. with the n:ag:dra:e>a: their i:eaj. intreated tiie rrotriti on and 'i:.\ p:rt of lite French Republic az'.l-.i: the tyracrv and • I preliioa ^r that man uiior.i thev were dt ter- ra. n::! to condder as no !on;^r ent.t.ed to their lc\- aity .- cdedience. I: '^as by no -Tieans inconipati- tde --vith the law cf na:u:ns to \:nj;cate the caufe of the i; jured. and humble tb.e pride ci theircpprefibrs ; but to pretet:d to convert foreigners into natives of France by virtue of an cmninctent decree, was aix iuvitaticn to ev:/ry civilised !bj.te to treat France as an eneniv, uhofe ex:dence kv^s at variat'ce wiLh the peace and happinti's <.: n:anki;J. This impolitic d>e::Te ■■"■.:.s conceived in th*^ ^Jlt■,^\ing terms: c: y r-'-.\-..zzv] '.r. b.-.e rii~c -.' r'".e French rib;r,tn5t drey w;'! c--ar.: :'r-;:crrr.y anc 2:7;.tince lo a., rhcfe people who v.d.h ti ':''^:~.r£ dberry ; an.: rr.ey char-iC the executive p-vver •> i.ni : rders r: tne cenerad. :o give ainftance to •i^:.-. ci'pli as r.avc i^Sc:tc, c: are r.ou- fjJennz in the d'lie deer: ." -.vas ordered to be p-inted, and tratf- l-t^ 1 into all Furcnean !an;ua~ps. M-an;in"; the arnoies C". :r.ced a decree of courage *:.. fcush': v-ntd a dezree of fu:cefs il at d.imavedi lliC oldiU militiirv co'jncils of T, .iropr. T'..c- Aiif- trians beneged Thionviile, but it rt ihxd ail iheir attempts to reduce it during the v.i:ole campaign. This iVnall, but lirongl\ fortitied ulace, \va.s coiv.- maiiced by General Wimpffn, who, on being I'um- n^oned to furrender trade this replv : '• You mav ceftroy the fortrcfg, and not leave or.e v.une upcfr. another; but you cannot burn the ramparts." Aa anecdote recorded concerning the liege of this place, deierves notice, as it is tlnallv dcfciiptive of the de- •■rrnjned refolution of its defenders. Ilavins pro- cured a quantity of forage in one cf their laliits, th.ev iabricated a wooden horfe for the ir.fpeclion cf the ene.Tiv, with a box fufptndt-d from hi; neck rilled wit ii hay, bearing tiiis renaarkable infcription: Ji'/ien t/iis horfe has eaten ///> //«'/, then the citif of ThioiixiUe ziil! jurrender. Tiicy were as good as their word. T;:e geneial not on]%- ref:ued the attacks of a force f^id to have amounted to about tv. enty-eigi;t thoufard men. but in dinVrei.t fucc£f;:ul f^ihes h.* did them incalculable mifchief. He v. as at length relieved bv the retreat of the wliole cornbined powers, wh.en he and his gallant troops received ll-.ufe tefiirwonies of gratitude and i fteem to v.ducli their meritorious con- duct jufily entitled theiii. Fcihaps themcu n:emora- ble fKi,e ov wr.ich this camLa:_n was darhuuilhed, was that of Line, a ftrong fortir.cd tov.n of French Flanders. The enemy conceived the poueliiou ci this city as of infinite in:iportance to the fuccefs of tlieir undertaking, and therefore the reduction cf it was deemed worti.y the grcattu profuUcn both of men and money, it was bef.oged about the begin- ning of September, and oa the Zovd cf that month the Affemblv received a declaration hvni its de- 2l5 THE LIFE or feiulcrs that they would be buried under the ruins of the town rather than abandon their poft/' Six days after tliis folenin declaration (29th Sep- tember), it was unnuioned to furrender by the Duke of Saxe-Ttl'chen, who received from the council- general this fpinted reply: " We have juft renewed our oalh to be faithful to the nation, and to maintain liberty and t (juality, or to die at our poft. We will nut perjure ourfelves." It was eafy to forefee the confequences of this declaration. The Auftrian batteries were inftantly opened upon it, and levelled, \vith dreadful fury, for the fpace of a week, againft that quarter of the town which was inhabited by the lower orders of the community, no doubt with a view to render them rebellious on account of their defpe- rate fuflerings, and thus obtain a capitulation when the furious populace became fupcrior to their magif- trates. The conjedure of the Duke was, it rnuft be acknowledged, ex&remcly rational; but after fuch a prodigious wafte of ammunition as an inceflant fire, continued for a whole week, must have occafioned, he had the mortification to find that the body of the people were as loyal as their magistrates. So far were they from difcovering any fymptoms of mutiny, as the Dukeexpeded, the keys of the city were by them hung up on the tree of liberty in the middle of the great fquare, accon;panied with a folenm oath, that the firft perfon who Ihould take them down, with a view to capitulate, fliould be puniflied with instant death. Such aconduft unquestionablyencouraged the ma- gistrates and military to hold out to the last extremity, as they difcovered, in the whole of their meafures a fpirit of order and regularity. They divided them- ; NAPOLEON BUO>fAPARTE. 217 felvesinto diftind companies, each of wliicTi had its peculiar duty affigned it, and even the women and. children were ufcfully employed, in preventing many of the fatal effeds which would have refulted from the enemy's bombardment. The public as well as private buildings were dreadfully demoliflied by the inftruments of death which were thrown into the city, almoft without intermiffion, till the 6th of Oc- tober ; and they chofe rather to take refuge in cel- lars, vaults, and other fubterraneous retreats, than refolve to capitulate. As if animated by one' foul, the inhabitants of fuch houfes as were reduced to' ruins, .found a fanftuary in thofe which ftiU continued habitable. At this alarming crifis it is reported that the Duke of Saxe-Tefchen's fifter was amona the befiegers, feafting her eyes, contrary to that delicacy which appears fo amiable in her fex, with the dread- ful miferies of the brave defenders, and even putting the match with her own hands to fome of the inftru- ments of death with which the city was afikiled. Finding that no circumftances, however fliocking and terrible, could induce them to furrender, the Aurtrians began (the 7th and 8th of Oclober) to raife l!io fiege, in a fit of defperation. It is faid, that the whole jofs fuftaincd by the city of Lifle did not exceed five hundred; -aud that, even of this number, nearly three-fourths were women and children. This is remarkable, fince, independeHt of their battering tram, faid to be the moft formidable ever brought into the field of battle, the Auftrians are reported to have llirown 6-,000 bombs, and 30,000 red-hot balls mto this important fortrefe. The fucceOes of the armies in tlie South were ftill vol.. l.—^o vjj^ ^ CIS THE LIFE OF more rapid. General Anfelm, formcily an ecclc^ fiaftic, crofied the Var on the 29th of September, and having the powerful co-operation of Admiral Truguet, who commanded a fleet of nine fail of the line, he took iinmediate pofTeflion of Nice, a fea-port fituated at the mouth of the Var, which was de- ferted by the garrifon of Piedmontefe as ibon as the viclorious Republicans made their appearance. This example was followed by Villa Franca, Montalban, and the whole of that territory ; but, owing to tlie rallincfs and imprudence of the. General, asid to the total want of fubordJnation which the foldiers dif- covered, the troops created univerfal difguft, and the rf jHitaticni of Frenchmen was treated with contempt. 'J'his important circumftance was fo fevcrcly felt by the National Convention, being lb contrary to the reception of General Montefquieu, that Anfelm was degraded fiom bis military rank, e^nd afterwards con- lined in priibn, where he remained levrral years. About ihe fame time the Admiral of the French fleet incieai'cd tha popular odium againft theintereft of that country, by a meafure of feverity that was ge- nerally confidcred unjuftitiable. lie had fent out a flag of truce, en his arrival m the harbour (;fOnaglia, accompanied v.ith a Proclamation to the inhabitants, that the French nation wiflied to be their friends. This wa'5 conveyed to their magiltratCfi by one of his captains. At a confiderable diltance the Admiral fol- lowed, in another boat, with no oOicer to accompany him, and gave poflilive orders to the fleet not to ap- proach the fliore, that no unneceflkry alarm might thereby bo occafioned. The people at fiift feemed to difcover no iiofiile dilpofition towards the captain, but as foou as he prepared to addrefs them on the NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 219 lubjed of his miflloi), whicli ihey confidered as au invitation to rebel againft their own government, he was inilantly faluted by a fliower of mufketry, the ellea of which was, that Marihal Lahouliei^e's aid- de camp, two midlliipmen, and four fcanien, wcie killed, and the captain, together with the adjutant- general of the land forces were wounded. Tiiis op- polition excited the indignation of the Admiral; and he would accept of no apology from the magiftratee, as it did not appear to him that fuch condud would admit of the fmalleft excufe. His own boat ha'vin"- been placed beyond the reach of danger, he inftantly gave orders to the fquadron under his command to let go their anchors, and open a tremendous can- . nonading againft the town. Atthefame time it was attacked from the land by Mardial Lahouliere, and after being plundered by the conquerers, it was in different places fet on fire. The domineering fpirit of the French now began to fhew itfelf in the condua: of the Convention to- wards Geneva. The reduftion of Savoy gave much uncafinefs and alarm to the neighbouring ftates, and the Ariftocratical party in Geneva were under consi- derable apprehenfions. They wi/lied to have a gar- rifon of one tboui'und fix Hundred men from the other Swifs cantons, while the French infifted that Geneva fliould be under the guardianfiiip and infpeftion of tlieir own Republic. It is probable that the Con- vention had an eye to the Republic of Geneva, as the Swifs garrifon appeared to give particular offence. Montefquieu, of confequence, appeared before the city, but his refolution at t'nis period was totally fub- dued, I'he Anftocrats overcame liis deternimations, and made him exceed his orders, by exhibiting the 220 THE LIFE OF olive branch of peace and amity ; the confequence of which meafure was, that the Swifs garrifon was dif- banded, and the French Commander withdrew his troops from the vicinity. By this conciliating con- du<3^, General Montei'quieu became an object of frefti calumny, and feveral cliarges were preferred againft him ; he apprehended that he (liould receive no juftice, ii' he fubmitted to a trial, and that every a<5tion of his life would be mifconftrued by hii ene- mies; he th'erefore deemed it necefiary to retire into Switzerland. ■^ NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 221 CHAPTER XV. Military Operations of CvJIine. — Spires and JVorms taken, andaljh Mentz. — Tlte Auftrians refolve to act oh the defenjive, and arc defeated at BoJJii, by Dumovrier. — The Battle ofGemappc. — Mons evacuated by the Aiif- trians.—Thc Braxery of Dumourier's F'ldet. — Dtiniou' rier enters Bn/J~cls. — Obliges the Avftrians to retreat. — The Diftrefs of Dutnonrier's Army. — Encreafng Vio- lence of the Factions at Paris. — T/icy determine to get rid of the King. — Difcoicry of the alledged Proofs of his Criminality. — He is declared Ciul-ty, and fcntenced to Death, h)^a Majority of Fiic.-^The King's part- ing from his Tamil y, and Execution. v'V Fi are next iavkcd to a contf mphuion of tlie conduct ot" Cuftinc on the Upper llhine, whofe glo- rious career has fow parallels in the hiftoiy of mili- tary tudics. \Vlien hij began his race of vitflory on the 29lh of September, tlie dreadful fituation of the roads, and the inimenfe quantity of rain which had prcvioufly fallen, rendered it extremely diflicult for him to nmfter Iiis forces at Landau. He began in? march, however, in fpite of every uppofition, and arrived at Spires on the fnr,u;eeding day. There lie found the Auibdans in a (late of military prepara- tion to give him a warm rereplion. Tiieir right was defended by an eminence, and their left Ly the thick hedges of a garden. .Thefe aUvantageons po- fitions, however, ciui not deter him from giving them battle, and compelling ihein to retire witliinthe walls of the cily. Here, they no doubt, appre- T 3 222 THE LIFE OF bended thetnfelves to be fecure, but the triumphant Cuftine foon convinced them of the contrary. Find- ing that it would be tedious, and a wafte of valuable time, to force open the gates by the thunder of his artillery, he propofed to his troops to hew them down with axes,^ which was enthufiaftically adopted, and iuftanliy accompliflied. The army foon made apaf- ■fdge for therafelves, and fuffered more feverely than they might have done, had they been lefs precipi- tate. The enemy, from the adjacent houfes where they had taken flielter, poured upon the French a ifioft tremendous fire; but the Gontral, ever co!- lefted, in the midft of the greatell danger, foon found means to diflodge them by his artillery and howit- zers, fo that in a fhorl tim€ he took entire poflefliou oi the city. Three thoufand prifoners, befides a pro- digious number of artillery and howitzers, are re- ported to have been the fruits of this conquell. A detachment from Cuftine's army, under tlie command of General Keuvigrjer, took pofTeiTion of Worms, and the reduftion of Spires almoft inftantly followed. They marched on from conqueft to con- quef}, with furh aftonifhing rapidity, that the enemy found it impofSble to fecure their ftores and ammuni- tion, immenfo quantities of which fell, of confe- quencc, into the hands of the viclors. hy autho- Tity of M. Cuftine, the Bifiiop of Sjnres, together with the whole chapter and the magiftrates, were doomed to pay large contributions for the benefit of the Republican troops. This vicftory only whetted the appetite of the General and his army for new ac- ceffions of glory. He accordingly reached Mentz, on tlie ]9th of October, and although the garrifou at this place coufifted of fix thoufand meu, the very '/'■' / ^ ',,^' NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. '223 next day he fent a fumraoiis to tbe Governor, cona- tnandiag him to furrender. One day's indulgence only was required, for the piirpofe of preparing a definitive anfwer, and yet in the interim a heavy fire was kept up from the garrifon. This conduct, of courfe, gave rife to a fecond and more peremptory mefllige from I\I. Cuftine, which had the defired ef- feft. The garrifon capitulated, and the troops were permitted to march out with the honours oi war, but under this exprefs and poOlive condition, that they fliould nevermore appear in arms agiiinfl: the French Republic, during the continuance of the war.-r- Franckfort was the next fruit of his martial career, of which he obtained poffeflion on the 23d of the fame month. A heavy contribution was exaded from the magiflrates of this city, becaufe it had been a moft active place in contributing to the protedion and af- fiftance of the Emigrants. The fum demanded is faid to have amounted to fifteen hundred thoufand florins. If the firength and importance of thefe three places, with the very Ihort time in which they were reduced, be attentively confidered, perhaps no mili- tary achievements in the annals of hiftory were ever more honourable to the talents and conduft of any General whatever. M. Cuftine's ambition was not fatiatcd with his late rapid conquefts, fplendid as they undoubtedly were, for he intended to have marched on to Cob- lentz, had he not met with an unforefeen difappoint- ment. Coblentz had been a fitik of enmity againft the French Republic, againft which it was his refo- iution to have directed his vengeance, had he re- ceived the expeded reinforcements under the com- mand of General KcUcrman, of whole tardy move- 224 THE LIFE OF merits he bitterly complained. He wifhed him to pe- netrate towards Treves and Coblentz, by the way of the rivers Sarre and iNIofelle, leaving beliind him only a fmall detachment for the purpofe of keeping a watchful eye over the motions of the Pruffians. Kel- lerman exonerated himfelf from thefe charges, by declaring that, fince he was deprived of the co-ope- ration of M. Dumourier, he and General Valence could mufterno more than twenty-nine ihoufand men between them ; a force, he well obferved, totally in- adequate to the tafk of forcing its way through an army of fifty- five thoufand Pruffians. As a farther vindication of himfelf, relative to the accufations brought againft him by Cuftiue, he deemed it both treacherous and impolitic, to leave the frontiers of France again open to the enemy. General Cuftine, thus finding it impracticable to prolecute, wiih any hope of fuccefs, his favourite ob- je&, continued in the purfuit of glory through the dominions of the Prince of Hcfft-. He was now doomed, however, to experience a reverfe of fortune. About this period, the Pruflians, Heihans, and Auf- trians effected a junction, by which means it was im- poflible for him to terminate the campaign as he com- menced it. Meanuhile Gcneial Dumourier was about to make a more fjilcudicl appearance in die field of battle than ever. He went to confult with the Conveiiiion ref- pcfting the regulations required in the armies, and to place ihem on a ref-eclable footing for the enfuing campaign. Such was the ardour of his mind in the pxiffuit of glory and vidory, ihat he ftaid only four days at Paris in tiaiifacling this important bufinL=l?, after which he took bis departure to join the army Sv\P01,E0>J BUONAPARTE. 225 under his command. His firft great object was the conqueft of that part of the Netherlands which be- longerl to the Houfe of Auftria. Ever lince the enemy were compelled to raife the fxge of Lifle, they were invariably obliged to retreat before the vic^torious arms of the Republic; but when fairly be- yond the frontiers, they refolved, if poflible, to flop their career, when within their own territories. The firft object for this purpofe was to rally tlieir whole forces, and concentrate their llrength, as they had been fcattered in alnioft every direction, while re- treating before the French. This being acconiplifhed, they refolved to ad upon the defenfive, and prevent the Republican Commander from penetrating into their territories. Dumouricr now found that the Auf- trians were feriouQy determined to put a period to his career; for at the fmall village of Boflu, where ihey had judicioufly taken a moft advantageous pofi- tion, they fhewed themfelve^ dispofed to difpute his further progrefs. An adion commenced (4ih No- vember) between the hoftile armies, and victory was not long in declaring in favour -of the French. The Auftrians at this place had between eight and ten thoufand men, of which they loft one hundred and fifty killed, and two hundreji made prifoners. The lofson the part of Dumourier was only twenty men. He acknowledges that his artillery was fuperior to the enemy, and that the impetuofity of his dragoons was not to be refifted. At this time, it is proper to obferve, that the Auf- trians had not the moft diftant conception of iuch a fudden attack from Dumourier. The officers of confequence, had prepared a moft fumptuous enter- tainment, Uke men after a vidory, or who had no- 226 THE LIFE OF thing to fear, little apprehending that it was fo foon to becorne the property of the French Commander. His llay here was of fhort continuance, having more intereftihg achievements in his eye, and therefore he left BoiTu on the morning of the next day, at an early hour. He marched on towards Mona, and fpcedily came in iight of the enemy's main force, which were pofted on the ever-memorable heights of Geniappe. Their right was defended by the village of that name, and their left by a thick and almolt impenetrable wood. This favourable fituation, ren- dered ftill more fo by the affiftance of the river Lor- neau, and aftrong fortification, containing three tier of cannon, in all about one hundred pieces of heavy artillery, feemed to bid defiance to the moft formida- ble attacks, and might have infpired a Commander with difmay, even to view it at a diftance. But Du- mourier's courage was proof againft the infinnations of fear; and neither the dreadful roar of cannon, nor the tremendous explofion of fliells, could diminiih his fortitude. It rofe fuperior to the moft formidable oppofuion ; his prefence of mind never forfook him on the moll: trying emergency, and he had the happi- nefs to command foldiers whofe courage was equal to his owfi, althougli their fkill and experience wore ucqut -ftionably iuit-rior. But the firft qualification wabali thty rt-qi.!ired,withluchageueralat ihei) head; they coufilitd pnucipaiiy of young n:( n, full of fire and fpint, whoie enlliufiaftic eagernefs to have a clofe engagement with iheeuemv it was fcarcely pof- fible to relirain. Indeed, it was neither the wiih, nor the intert.lt of the General, to check it allogetlrtr. He was inwardl , relighted to behold it, and ail the apparent reftraints he laid upon it, were only in- NAPOlEOS BUONArAKTK. 2'27 tended by him to augment its vehemence. As a ri- ver, if confined in its courfe, flows with, redoubled rapid It}'' when the oppofing barriers are burft afunder, fo the very fliadow of oppoirtion to the fervency of zeal, only makes its flames a thoufand times more violent. As tlie fituation of Dumourier was evi- dently difadvantageous^ being itatloned in a kind of valley, and the enemy on the iore-nientioned heights, he entertained no fanguiiie hopes of fuccefs from the ufe of his artillery, as it would be extremely dif- ticult, if not impoflible, in the hurry of an engage- ment, to point them with fuch accuracy as to do any material injury. The ufe of artillery in an open plain, and more cfpecially direded againft an enemy on an eminence, is at beft but a random way of fighting, and of this the General was fully convinced after a three. hours trial. Having fpent the night of the 5th November within fight of the enemy, a ge- neral engagement took place next morning, and a tremendous cannonade continued till ten. It now appeared manifeft to Dumourier, that nothing decifive againft the enemy could be efl'eded by the artillery, which he admits was equal to that of the Auftrians, on which account he determined to abandon the ufe cf them for the prefect, and difpute the matter at the point of the b,-iyonet. On reviewing the troops which compofed his line, he was glad to perceive, that the fame impatient zeal whiLh they had formerly evincedf continued unabated. To facilitate the accompliflmient of his main de- figns, he gave orders to Adjutant- General Thou venot, to attempt the reduction of the village of Carignon, which it was neceilary to gain, that he might the more fuccefbfuUy alfail Gemappe from that particular 22S THE LIF,E OF quarter, wliile he informs us himfelf that a heavy fire of artillery was kept up on the enemy's right. The number of the French did not exceed 30,000, \shile the Auftrian troops are faid to have amounted to upwards of 20,000, including 3,000 cavalry. — Other accounts fay, the French amounted to 40,000, and the Auffrians to 28,000. The vanguard, com- pofing the right wing of the army, was commanded by Generals Dampierre and Bournonville, with whole Hiiiitary talents and determined attachment to their country tlie world is well acquainted. The centre divilion was entrufted to Stetenboffe, Dcfporets, Di-ouet, and Egalilc, (iheprcfent Duke of Orleans), and of whom M. Dumourier fpoke in terms ©f the higheft commendation. This General was a man of cool valour, which is the more remarkable, as he was young, a period at which coolnefs and delibera- tion are not fo frequently evinced as fiery intrepidity. 'J'he firft redoubt, or tier of cannon, conftruded by the enemy for their defence, was an eafy conqueft, and carried with little hazard or oppofition. But by (the multiplicity of obftructions, which now prefcnted themfelves, the Comniander-in Cliief perceived that his centre divifion would ioun be in danger, as the enemy were marching ail tlieir cavalry into the plain, for the purpofe of flanking Dumourier's columns. This movement caufed him to difpalch J.icutenant- Gencral Egalite to form againll this mana'uvre of the Auftrians; and having fucceeded in this undertaking, he boldly led them on to attack the fecond tier of cannon. Fearing, that the force under the com- mand of Egalite, would not be adequate to the taflc of carrying this rcdnubt, he opportunely came to his aliiftunce himfelf, with the third r^^'giment of chaf- 1S''AP0LE0K BUOIfAPARTE. 229 feurs, and the fixth of huflars, which was not only a check to the enemy's cavalry, but a forraidatle foi^, that threatened their entire deftrucHon. In the mean time Dumourier perceived Bournon- ville's cavalry to be in a (late of confufion, when he went to vifit the riglit wing, occafioned by the Ge- ueral's abfen<:e at the head of his brave infantry ; and that now the firft and fecond redoubts were in pof- ieflion of the Frencli. The Commander in Chief foon rallied the difordered cavalry, who madea vigo- rous attack on that of the enemy, by this time ap- proached to the right flank of the Republican army. Here they had no reafon to boaft of their fuccefs, for although they ufed every effort to force the full I)at- talion of the Parifian volunteers, they were received by them with the mok determined bravery, and in- vincible fortitude, killing iixly of them at the firft dil'c barge. Much about this time the left wing had got pof- ftilion of the village of Gemappe, and the centre became mafcers of the fecond redoubt, as already mentioned. It was ftill neceflary to bring the enemy to cctionon the heights, which was lefs Ipjrited, and of fhorter continuance than thofe that pieceded it* f(r the triumphant career, the rapid and almoft un- precedented fecceircs of the Republicans in fo fliort a period, had infpired the Auftnans with confterna- uon and difmay. The Commaxider-in-Chief found it impoffible to exprefshis fatisfaftiou with the gallant conduct of his troops and their geucrals upon this memorable occallon. Although the men Lad been ftrangers to Iblid nouriflnnent for the f];ace of three days, and were incapable of making ready their foup VOL. I, — NO VII. Xf -30 THE LIFE or on the day of this dreadtal battle, tiiey 'iunUed, al« moft with a degree of irreverence, that they fliould be marched agiiinft Mpns, which they were fully de- termined to carry by Aorm. M. Duniourier was under the neceffity of promifing them that fatisfac- tion on the following day; and he was no doubt de- lighted to perceive that neither hunger nor fatigue could reprcfs their ardour and intrepiditv. His de- figu was to draw aline of circumvallatioa round the city, and attack it in different quarters at once. But his formidable preparations were foon found to be unneceflary, for the panic-ftruck Auftrians had eva- cuated Mons on the preceding night, leaving only a garrifon behind them of 400 men, who alfo retreated about nine in the evening, hjcking the gates of the city. Inftead of requiring his batteries to bombard the place, as he had originally expefted, he found the magiftrates ready to invite him, the in'.iabitants having broken down the gates which were barricaded by the Auil:ri<;ns on their departure. -General Du- mourier, whofe generofity and humanity were equal to his wifdom and military valour, on being prefented with the keys of the city, made this reply; " that the Frencli cam*; as brothers and frit nds, to engage tlitm to keen their gates conitunily iliut againft their ancient o})prer!ors, and to defend theJiberty they bad now acquired," The battle of Gcmappe was perhaps the moft me- morable ever fought, all cncunii'tances confidered, of which hiftorians have made any mention, and com- pletely decided the fate of the Netherlands. The lefs lullained by the Auftrians on tiie 6th November, has been eftimated at no Icfs than 4,000 killed and t\ounded, together with a number of prifoners, while NAPOLEON BUONAPAKTK. 231 ihe French bad no more than 90O killed, according to Dumourier's own account, although it is probable that the difproportion was not quite fo great. This day was alio diftinguilhed by fonae ads of iudividutJ valour, which will be remembered by the admirers of fortitude to the lateft pofterity. Baptise, General Dumourier's valet-de-chambre, found means to rally and lead on to the charge h\e fquadrons of cavalry^ and two battalions of n^ttional guards, beiiig the firlt hinifelf who rulhed in, fword in hand, to the entrench- ments of the enemy, and completely diflodged them. The aid-de-camp appeared at the bar of the Con- vention, with difpatches from the General-in-Chief, and, like a true Ton of iNIars, introduced hinifelf iu ihefe words : '• 1 sin only a foIJisr, and not an orator — the foldier (if a Republican army ought never to open his mouth but to bite off the end of his cartridge ; but I prefent to the juft admiration of the Convention, the brave Baptifte, Gene- ral 13umnurler's valet-de-chambre, who forced the enemy, fword in hand, to quit their entrenchments. The General having alked him what reward he wifhed for, he replied, the hcnour of wearing the national uniform." While Baptifte approached the bar, the hall re- founded with reiterated burfts of applaufe. He was three times embraced by Lieutenant-Colonel Loure, by whom he was introduced, which again occalioned the pdaudits to be renewed, and the Prefident thus addrelTed him : " Brave citizen, you have raifed yourfclf to the rank of a firfl defender of the Frtnch Republic j till you receive the reward which it owes you, enter the temple of the 23'2 THE LIKE OF Jaws, amid ft our acclamations. Tiie legifiatort- are iiappy to find among them one of the brave conquerors of Mons." Tlie Prefident then cn:ibracccl Lini, and ihe whole fcene lermiiiutcd with demoiiftrations of fatibfa<f>ioii and joy. General Dumourier determinrd to follow up llicfe brilhant vit'tories by prnetrating liili farther into tlic tnemy's tountrv ; and from Mens, lliereforc, he pro- reedtu towards Bninels. The rear of the enemy's Jorcef, to the aaioiuit of Kj 000 men, he found f ofied on the heights of Anderitcht, three miles to li:ie Wefiward of that city, under the command of the Prii-.ce of Wirtemhurg, Here he niet with con.ldt.r- arle c], pofition, which lafied for the fjjacc of fix ivGiirs The Prince, ai'ter experiencing a ecniiderable lofi in killed and wouiided, thought proper to retreat, lUid join the main body of the arriiy, while the French, Con)Uiander-in-CIiif,f entered (14th Xovember) the city in triumph. Wlien M. Uumonrier proraifed that he would hold his Cliiithnasat that city, he was viewed in the light of a vain, felf-confidenl man, by fiick as w( re valtly inferior to him in niililary talents, as;d were not, as he wa'-, pei'ftc^tly acquainted with the r.'flaal ftrtng'h of l!;e (nciny. Me, in fact, was liiOve than five sveeks fooner than his p-ror-iife. Aljout this period. M. Labourdonnaye reduced Tournay, Malines, Ghent, and Ant'.verp, whofe gates were fuccf flively oixiied to hun. General Valence tciok polilffaui of Louvain and Namur, aftt-r a feeble oppofiiion (;n the part of tlie Auftr un cominaniier, on the '2d of December, and the Gciterals Diion and ]Mii '.uiia were tqiialK' victorious.. The French fleet having laileci, entucl the port of Oluuid on the loth NAPOLEOK BUONAPARTE. 233 of the preceding mouth ; and thus, with the fingle exception of Luxemburgh, the Republicans were no\^ maftersof the Auftrian Netherlands, before the ter- mination of the year 1792. At this time Dumourier received propofais for an armiftice from the Prince of Saxe Tefchen, in behalf of General Chiirfait ; vvhicli he fent to the Executive Council, and returned a verbal meffage, that he fliould in the mean time continue the campaign. He next followed up his late rapid marches and conquefts, by purfuing the retreating enemy into the territory of Liege. lie proceeded (2111 November) with his advanced guard of 5,000 men to Tirlemont, behind which city he found the whole arnij of the enemy encamped, its advanced guard confifling of between three and four thoufand men. Having got poffefiion of Tirlemont, he proceeded the next day towards Liege, and on the 27th he again came up with the rf ar-guard of the Imperial troops, almoft at the gates of the city, amounting to twelve thoufand men, under "the coumiand of General Staray ; a defperate and bloody conteft enfued, in which the French v.ere viL%rious, forcing the enemy to abandon no lefs tliati (ix different villages and an entrenchment. The Auftrians loft in this engage- ment about fix hundred men, inciudiiig killed and wounded, together v.ith their general, a prodigious cjuantity of artillery, a number of prifoners and de- iV-rters. It cannot be faid that this able ofKcer, M. Dumourier, has been oUeu equalled for military l:no\vledge, and exeniphtry moderation in the midft c! victory ; and pcrha; s it would not be hyperbolical to affert, that the rapidity of his career during this cfv.nnc.'£a Itands wholly unparalleled in the annals • u 3 234 THE LIFE or of militarv ta(51ic=. ^Vilh all liis knowledge and amazing fticcef;, thofe who knew him bell never called him prcud; and indeed, if we may form c nr judgment'of tl.'is great man from his own Memoirs, he was extremely modeft. As if ftudious to avoid egotilm as much as pofhble, he fpeaks of himfelf in the linrd jxrfon, a hint wliich he probably borrowed from Julius Cacfar, The delign of this great general was, after his glo- rious triumph at Gemappe aiid the conqueft of Bel- gium, to add to his laurels by fnbduing Holland alfo, and then, having reinforced liis ariiiv with fixly thou- fand Dutch and Brabanters, to take the grand army of Auftria in the rear; and by commanding a peace on liie field of battle, enable Fr;mce to fettle her eonftituticn and reftore her internal tranquillity. But this patriotic dcfign was overthrown by the evil f[)iril of the ?vlaratiits, who began tO])reach up the rit- ceflity of difplacing the genera), leaft he fnould gain a greater fliare of popularity than they deemed con- liftent with tlieir new dodrine of equality. The war minifter, M. Parhe, af\ed under the influence of tliis faflioM; and piom.otcd its diabolical maciiina- lions by his crinjinal neglecl of Dumuurler's army. 'Hie bra\e troojis were dekitule of the common nc- tcifaricsot life, wh:!e iuiinenfe funis weie voicd in ti;(j Convention, for tin.- purj^ofe ot ^^ranting ti'.em re- lief; tlieir arms v.cre n>;arly ufe lefs for want ot cover- ings irom the ra:n; ihcv had no beds during tliac inelftnent feafca), on which they n)ight rej;oie; th' y Aveve deflitu''- ot (hot^s anrl c-.ats ; and nmn-.y of llien;, ildding it impofTible to nmke tiie v.ct g'wuod thtiv led, tied tlicmfclvcs to the trnnks (,•( tiec:^, ai:d flept \i\ a !iunOin<r atliU'de. lii \l.lz dihra' :';i au^^n it ^'us KAPOLEO\ EUOVAl'ARTE 23j no wonder if thoufands of them penlli-d with cold and hunger, and as many thouiaiids defertcd; nei- ther was it aftonilliing to Ijear the gei'.cial exprcfs himlelf in the following pointed terms: " T« retard and cruih my I'nccefics, the niinilter Pache, fup- ported by the criminal facHon to whom all our evils are to be ai'cribed, I'uffered the vidorioiis army to want every thing, and fuceeeded in di(])anding it by famine and nakednefs. The confequcnee was, that more than 15,000 men were in the hofp.itals, upwards of 25,000 deferted, through milery and difguft, and more than 10,000 hori'es died of luingpr." So determined was the Jacobin faction to accom- pliOi its projeds, that they openly avowed (and Marat aiTerted it in his paper) that 60,000 heads mufr be chopped oil' before the liberties of the country would be fecurcd; and tliedodrines applied to the generals were equally applicable to perfons who might be dif- tiuguilhed on any account whatever. The turbulence and zeal of this faclion created much uneafmefs to the Convf.ntion; an.d it was thought proper to have a guard to proted their deliberations from violence, and th.eir perfuns from outrage; but the fuggehion gave fuch oHence to the defperadoes, that a depu- tation of Jacobins appeared at the bar, in the charafttr of connnifiior.ers from the municipality of I'aris, and addreC^ed the Convention i^ the following inR)lent manner: " We have come to tell you incontellible proofs, and to remind you of I'acred principles ; a . propofal has been made to you to afiimilate your- ielves to tyrants, by having a guard around you. The /(ft ions oj' Paris dtclare to you, by us, that they will co?i~ ' ilder this project as audacious, and the execution of it danserous-, bccavj'c contrary to the efjincc of a republican. ■2J0 THE LIFE OF covfiitution : wait, Icgiilators, until ibe people have I'aiictioned the law, and learn fubmiiriun by their example. If you fliould pernft in this plan— confult b i ft ory." This fine fpecimen of oratory was frecjuently inter- rupted by the murmurs of the Convention, and at lalt entirely abridged, by the Prefident's declaring to the fpeaker, that the Convention were willing to receive advice — " hut not orders;" and the petition was rejected by the order of the day. The Jacobins were not to be diverted from their purpofes by a reproof; they ordered their petition to be printed, and fent to the 44,000 municipalities of Trance, and to thufe of the newly acquired territories in parti- cular; v,ith a view of prejudicing the whole country againu a government that had not been tried a fingls month. Such were the pafTions ; futh were the vindiftive rage of thofe volatile and giddy men, who pretended to be at once fuperior to the example of their anceftors, and the cor.nvil of their cotempo- raries. Upon this occafion, the BrilTotine party obtained a great majority in the Convention, for pafiing a ftrong cenfure upon the proceeding. The fituation of the factions towards each other was fimilar to that of Herod and Pilate, when their animoiity was fufpended by llie crucifixion of Jei'us Chril't. The Brilfotincs had the government, the Jacobins the paflions of the mob ; and the Or- leanites tiie n.eans of corrujiting the partisans of Ijoth by money. Their power was fo equally coun- i<;rpoifcd, that, notwithltanding their confuiu'.nate .hatred of each other, iheir rancour remained boiling in their own bofoms, and impetucufly exerting its uforts to vent itu.lf v.iihout eficc't, until its veh^- KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 237 mciicc became too powerful lor redramt; and then, by its uwn inaligiauL fymi^athy, it cfTernd a wicked union betwixt them all to renew their peri'ecution againft their feeble king, whom they had conquered and fubdued; and wljo was wliolly defencelefs v^;!i- in their junver. 'I'lie cowards commenced tUeir at- taclv by pading judgment upon, him en ti;e very ground ujion wiiicli they afTented to the motion for bringing him to trial ; which was, that " a decree of nccidation .Oiould pafs againft the principal iruitor, l,ouis X\'I;" indeed, he was generally fpoken of, in all their addrefies and debates, as Louis the traitor; and inth.is fpirit they commenced a procefsof aliaffi- nation, wiiicb they endeavoured locor^.cralby fliroud- ing it under the mock foruis of a trial. A detail of this proceeding, after the facts whreh have fi'nce been difcovered, is perfeclly unneceffary here. Pofterity cannot fail to form an accurate judgment up:)n the fubject, when it learns, that the Convention refclved to be both the accufers and the judges of the Kin^; tiiat this Convention confifted of men, the great ma- joiity of wliom were his avowed enemies and perfe- culors; and many of whom had, by their v;ritings, declared that they would never relax their endca- vouts to overth.row the monarch.y, let the conduct of the monarch be what it might. The utmoft cfiort of candour can only allow that feme of the uicmbi'rs might be Ids criminal than the reil ; but not a fingle member of the Convention coidd have been guided by a fenfe cf honour or juftice, cllierwife he would hiivs fcorned to have been a juryman" on t!je trial of a defendant againl~t whom he was hmdelf the p'.aintiiT. jNlany of the members I'.owcscr endeavoured to ;33S THE LIFE OF prefcrve the appearance of reditudc, by the fine fpeeches that they made about juftice; yet, when ]\IanneI moved that whoever might undertake the de- fence of Louis Oiould be placed under the fafoguard and^prcteciion oi the law, they only anfwered him by murmurs and hootings ; and thofe who did undur- take to defend l»im they fent to the fcaffuld. I\Iaa- nel hiniftlf, and Kcrfaint, v,ho ftigmatized the pro- ceeding as a confpiracy to commit murder, they gi'.illotiued alfo. One obvious omiifion, that cannot fail to be no- ticed by every obferver is, that amidft all the folici- lude of the Convention to fecure the good opinion of Europe, they tc-ok no pains to afiure any of the fo- reign Ambafiadors at Paris of the authenlicily of the documents, or the evidence they produced; and they even refufed to let any of the courts related to the R.oya) Family interfere in its behalf. The do- cuments upon which the trial principally proceeded, were found in an iron cheft, laid to have been con- cealed in the King's palace ; but no perfon was pre- fent at the difcoverv, vlio chd not act under the orders uf the Convention; and thole documents, unaulhenticated as they were, formed liie evidence upon which Louis was to be proved guilty ot having conljjired agamfc tlie conltitulion, by tlie very peo- pK- who, according to the declaration of the author of ihv JU'r/ttsof Man, oidv tolerated the conftitutioa until ihey could UnJ a fair pretence gl fuperfeding it by a repuolican form of government. On the llt'i of December the King was brought to the bar, and was allowed to chufe M. IM. Def ze, T»onch(:t, and Mulelherbes, to defend him. The trial laO.cd thirty-four days, and then, bein_' pcrfuaded NAPOLEOX r.UOITAPAUTE. Qjf) that they had played the farce of fuleran decency loiu' enough, tlie Convention pronounced hiin guilty. Whoever is defirous of forming a ciear opinion of thefe iniquitous proceedings, will do well to confult the trial, and particularly the defence of Defeze, every word of which proved the innocence of the accufeci, and the guilt of the accufeis. It is but juftice to fay, that the fame unanimity did iiot prevail, as to the /"entence, as with regard to the verdid. The EnfTotines being lefs fanguinary tl;an their antagonifrs, were fo fatibfied with having ob- tained his power, that they had no wilh to rob the King of his life, whilft Orleans and Robefpiere were determined to be fatisfied wiih nothing Hiort of his blood. A difpute of the moft violent nature enfued, :n which the members exchanged blows, and it was impolTible to preferve order. During the ftruggle, the mob in the galleries took part againft the Briflb- tines ; and Petion, who had condudted them through all the mazes of infurreaioual crime, now found himfelf hooted as the partizai^ of tyrants, for defiring tliem to ftop a little ivuy short of the lajl plunge into moral torpitude. The conftitution, which fhofo-impoftors pretended to fupport, had exprefsly declared the King's perfon to be inviolable, and therefore had provided no pu- niOiment for any crime, fuppofing him to have been guilty. It had even declared him incapable of com- mitting any crime, by placing all the power in the hands of his Minifters, and making them refponfible; and, confequenlly, the Convention had no more au- thority to deliberate upon punifliment, that a ban- ditti of robbers has to cut the throats of peaceable 240 THE LIFE OF travellers. But, liavir.g violated every princij^ie of e(juity, it cannot udbrd the lead furpiil'e, that ihel'e men paid no regard to law. When the proccs verbal was read, containing the ahfweis of all the members to the queftion, IVluit lAtiihJ r,in:! ^huU l^c Jhlfcr ? even tlie blood-liour.ds of the C<j;ivention v.'ere confounded with horror, when ti.'fy heard tliat Philip Kgalite, Duise of Orleans, the King's own relation, and the onlv relation whofe word i.'rid the leaft iidluence with -he people, had voted for d;'.ath ! 'I'here aj-peared on tlie roll a majority of five only for the fenlence of death. When the fatal deciliou was clearly afcertained, the Prcfident, in Ids ofiieial capacity, with a folemn tone of voice, and with his head uncovered, faid, "In conftCjuence of this, I dtclare, that the punifli- mtnt ciecrccd by tho National Convention sgainfi Louis Capet is DEATH." The couniellors were again admitted to the bar, and M, Defeze read the o*)i>y of a letter to the Con- vention, in tlie King's own haud-wriling. " I owe it to my honour, 1 owe it to my family, not to fubfcribe to a fcntciice which declares me guilty of a crime of uLich 1 cannot accufe myicif. In confi'QUCiUC, I appeal to the NuUon from the fenidicc of its Rt prefentali'vcs ; and I ionwiit, !j thf/e frefents, t'j i he fidelity of n:j defendi);, to n.ake known to the National ConvtRtioii this appeal, by al! the niL-ani, \n their power; and to demand that mention of it be made m the itmiutes of their fittings. (Signed) Locis." After prefenting this letter, i\I. Defcze exclaimed, Will) his ufual flow of tloqueuce, " Do not afflid KAPOLEON BUOKAPARTE. 241 France, by a judgment that will appear terrible to her, when five "cokes unly were prefumed fufficient to carry it." He then invoked eternal Juftice and sacred liumanity, to determine the Convention to refer their Judgment to the tribunal of the people. " You have either forgotten or deftroyed, faid the fafcinating M.Tronchet, " the lenity which the law allows to criminals, of requiring at leaft two-thirds of the voices to conftitute a definitive judgment." The last effort that could be made in favour of the fallen JMonarch, was to crave a refpite, and poftpone the execution of the fentence till a more diftant pe- riod ; but this was alfo refufcd. The members were not to argue upon this point, but to give a finiple negative or afiirniative, -Ayes or no; and at midniglit, the ISth of January, there appeared for therefpite' 310, and againft it 380 ; majority TO for immediate execution. During this dreadful fituation, Louis requefted a refpite for only three days, that he might not be hur- ried into eternity without a fuitalile preparation for ills awful change ; but with a degree of favage bar- barity,- which will probably be remembered to their difgrace, while time endures, the Convention refufed to grant his requeft. It was two o'clock in the morning of the 19th Ja- nuary before the fentence was finally determined, and the decree ordered to the Executive Council, who were commanded to notify it to Louis, and to caufe it to be executed within twenty-four hours after- wards, and to take every meafure of fafety and po- lice that Ihould appear to them necelTary duiina the execution. ° VOL. r. — NO. VII. V 24-2 THE LIFE OF 'I his'council of executioners confirtcd of Roland Claviere, IMonge, Le Ikun, Pache, and Garet, who coranianded the execrable Santerre to ietiirc 1,200 of the moft bloody ruffians of Paris, anned each with fixtcen rounds of (hot, to furround the carriat^e of the helplefs monarch, and by noon on the21tl to drag him to the fcatTuId. During the night of the 20lh, Paris was illumi- nated, and no person whatever was permitted to gu aU^oad in the ftreets. Large bodies of armed nun patrujed in ever\- part of that inimcnfe metrtjpolis; the noife of coaches ceafed, the ftreets weredek-rted, and the city was buried in an awful filence. About two o'clock in the morning of the fatal Monday the 2lft,voices were heard at intervals, through the gloom, of lamentation and diftrofs ; but whence they pro- ceeded, or what they were, no perfon has been able to dilcover. Tins ci)cun\flance, among many others, terrified the people. The unhappy Monarch paired all Sun- day in preparation for his aj'prcaching change. His calm rclijj,nation, and t)aupnce, dilplayt d great emi- nence of foul; but the meeting and parting of Lis family was a fcene too painful, loo diUreiling to the leelirigs of humanity ! 'I'he Queen hung round the lipck of her departing huft>and in delirous anguifh ; tiie Fnncx'ls Royal grafped his hand; the Dauphin embraced lus knees ; and Madame Eliiabeth bathed his feet with the torrent of her tears. The Queen wah at laft remcn'.d from him in a ftate of infenli- bility, from which flie did not revive before two o'clock on Monday afternoon. The King exhibited on this fad fpectacle, all the tcndernefs of a hu&and a father, a brother; and, iinpearing more alieaed l)y XAPOLEON BUON'APARTE. '243 T^je atiliction of perfons fo dear and fo bf Inved than by his own misfortunes, confuled thcni with the moll foothing words. Having pafled through this trying fcene, he now applied to his religious duties, and prepared lo meet his God. The converfatioi* which l\5 was permitted to hohl wir'i his Confeffor, it is faid. was pious, fenfih!.>, and anima'.fd ; and Jiis hope was full of immortality. lie prolefted his innocence, and forgclve his enemies froni his heart. The clocks of Paris, at kngth, founded eight on Monday morn- ing; and he was fummontd to his fate, lie iflViod irom his prifon, and was condut^ted to a coach be- longing to the Mayor of Pari«, in which were two foldiers of the gendarmerie. Ho was attended bv his Confeiror, and alfilled to ftep into the carriage by one or two of the fentinels, who ftood at the gate of the Temple, The place appointed for the execution was filled with an immenfe concourfe of people, and large bo- xlies of horfe and foot were drawn up to awe th« multitude. The moft awful filence prevailed, while the coach was advancing flov/ly towards the fcaffold. Louis afcended it with heroic fortitude, with a firm ftep, and undifmayed countenance. He vi-as ac- companied on- the fcah-old by his Confcfll)r, and two or three municipal officers. For a moment he looked around upon the people, with a comf)lacent counte- nance, and he was preparing to addrefs the fpecta- tors, wiien, the ruffian Santerre, cried out, " No fpeeches ! come, no fpeeches !" and fudderdy the drums beat, and trumpets founded. He fpokc ; bat all the e.xprefilons that could be diftindly heard, were tbefe: 544 THE LIFE OF " I forgive my enemies : may God forgive thtm, and not lay my innotint blood to the charge of the nation ! God blefs my people." The Confeflbr fell upon his knees, and implored the King's blefling, who guve it him wilh an afltc- tiunatc embrace. The unfortunate Monarch then laid his head upon the block with admirable fcrenity, and ceafed to live in this world ! Previous to his execution, he wrote to the National Convention, re- quefting to be buried near to his father in the cathe- dral of Sens, fituated in the department of Yonne, S2 miles South-fouth-eaft of I'aris, and 35 Wcft-foutli- wefl of Troyes, capital of the department v( Aube. T!ip Convention paffed to the order of tlie day. lie was buried in the cemetery ground of the new Mag- delaine, about 800 feet Nortli of th.e place of execu- tion, and the grave filled with hot lime. Thus perilhed a Prince, whofe reign had been inaiked with fewer inftances of oppreihon than thol'o of Sovereigns in general. Nations, who invoke tliis example as a terrible lefTon to kings, will do well to take advantage of the prai'tical inferences that it offers for their own inftru(^tion ; if it proves that kings are expofed to th.e juft vengeance of the people, it proves ( cpiaily clearly that the vengeance of the people is nut a!ti'.tii:;jn/i !" Nations have an undoubted right to punWii a tyranli, who places himfelf above the law, but no individual is capacitated to give an opinion upon fuch a fuijjert, unlefs the whole of his own •conduci is r' ;:i,l.iied iy the law. " Lcuis the XV'lth fell" fays a eotemporary writer, " in the 59t!i year of his age, and the l<)th of iiis reign ; anti v.ith liim fell the monarchy of' France, // .A VAPOLEOy r.UONAPAUTE. 245 uiiiih under lliree dynafties, had exiftod nearly fifteen centuries. So ftrong, at iLe time' of Ins acceffion, was the general fentimcnt in his favour, that he was greeted with the tltk of Louis the Defired. Nor, though afterwards branded with every term of obIiqn3% did he ever ujerit the hati-ed of his fubjci^fs. In forne meafure he rcfembled Charles the Firlt of ilni^land^ to whofe i-f'ory he paid great attention. Charles, however, maintained, with vigour and by arms, a contefl of iume years duraiion; a^Kl, when at length overcome, uniformly^ refufed to acknowledge tliC air tliority by which he was arraigned Ileioft his crown and life, oat he prciVrved inviolate the reputation of active courage and unconquerable f'nirit. Louis may, perhaps, witii more propriety, be compared to th*^ Sixfcii Henry. With greater al>ilities than Henry, he had, in forne parts of hi.-, character and fituation, a ftroRg funilarity to that inonarcii. Both were pious ; both diffi'Jcnt of ihemielvus, and therefore eahly fv.ayed by otliers; boih efpoufed princeiTes of elevated minds ; botii v.xre deprived of their thrones bv their I'ubjeas, and boiii r-crifhcd by an laitimel}' death. 'I'h'j underftunaing of Louis was much above me- diocrity; he had aviquired a vaft fund of knowledge by read.i.g; his memojy v;as reniarkably leiiacious; and his judgment in arranging, combuiing, zud ap- plying, what his me.'uory had retained was often dil]jlayed in a manner tiiat w..s higbly creditable t<» bun. On the relative llhte ajjd int«r^,fts of France and the European poweis, his infornuiticu was by no nieans inccnfiderabic. Hiftorv and geograplivwfrc tv.'o of his favourite; ftudits. To tlie former he paid :nuch nttentiv;^ , and fnch was his proricic:;icv in the .•:.lter, that tat' detailed ii.iV; ucuousto the lii fated n.i- i; 3 246 THE LIFE OF Tigator Peroufe, were drawn up by his own hand : he was, indeed, fuppofed to be the befl geographer in his kingdom. With fomc of the mechanical arts he was alfo well acquainted, and even occafionally pradifed tliem. In his moral conduft he was unimpeachable. Juft, beneficent, a good hu{band,a good father, and a lover of his people; he would, had he lived in an age lefs turbulent, when the higher talents are not required in a ruler, have done honour to a throne. The faith in which he and his anceftors had been educated, he followed with finceritv and warmth, but without any mixture of ill-diredled and uncharitable zeal. On the mercy and rroodnefs of the Deity be relied with un- feigned confidence. That reliance afforded him con- folation in the latter ftormy period of his reign, and fortitude in the hour of death. His weaknefs re- forted to it for fupport, and it enabled him to triumph over* (lander, captivity, and the grave. Louisyielded at thofe very moments when he fliould Bioll vigoroudy have enforced obedience; when he fliould fully luLV(> tJ/erted liisauthority, or abandoned life and authority together; pafhve courage he pof- fefTed, but not active. Yet even li.is bad its life in a fault, but it was a fault of fo ainiable a nature, that it can liardly be cenfiii' d without pain. Ij arofe from the extreme horror which he alwavs felt of (liedciing human blood. Looking, however, to the iituaiion in which they are placeci, and the high purpofcs for which they hold lliat fitua'ion, fovereigns ouj^b.t to confult, not tlicir ft eh I ^.s, but tlieir duties. Blind anrl indifi.-riminate mercy is, in its eft'i els, tiie worll of cruelties. Hu- manity itfclf imperioudy corriinands the punirnuK'tit NAPOLEOX BUONAPARTE. 2-1-7 of thofe who wantonly and wickedly violate the laws on which focial order is founded ; and by giving a looft'to the moft violent paflions of man, re<!uccd him to a ftate of worfe than favago nature, fmce it l}a3 all the bad qualities of lavage exiftence without any of its virtues. The monarch is the guardian of the ftate, and the fafety of the ftate is put to tlie hazard, when traitors are allowed to confpire with impunity. Nor will the king who tolerates treafon long remain a king. The unfortunate Louis fell a viftini to his ignorance of this truth. In his fall he drew down the greateft evils not only upon his own country, but alio upon a confiderable part of Europe. The clemency cou tiia lives of the braveft, t!ie wifeft, and nobleft charailers of the times in which they lived ; covered France with fcafiblJs and blood ; (hook, to their foundations fome of the oldeft eftabliflted governments; and in- volved others in total deftruftion. His fate will operate as a lelTon to all fovereigns, and happy will it be for mankind, if the caution thus infpired, does not, fooner or later, degene- rate into a gloomy and fufpicious tyranny, which, under pretence of relifiing innovation, may dif'-ou- rage all reform, and ftnke the furtft and ruoft deadly- blows at the very exifc* nee oi freedom itfL-h". Hifiory muft lament that he lived in an age, and amcng a people, when all the vigorous talents of a Henry the Fourth would not have been more than fufEcient to preferve, unimpaired, the dignity of the Sovereign,^ and, by that dignity, the peace and welfare of his fubjects. 043 THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XVI. Roland refigns.—AJ/ltjTviation of P die tier, by Paris. — Difn^rcenients bctxceen the Eiiglijh and Trench Gu- xcni/nenfs.— France declares War againjt England. — State of the tKO Countries. — Frankfort, ^c. retaken bij the FriiJ)ians.—-Dun!Ourier's Overtures rejeded by the Englyh Cabinet. — Miranda bt:Jicges Maeftricht. — Bre- da, Sj-c.fnrrendcr to Dnmourier. — The French dejeotcd in different Actions, by CAairfuir,. the Prince of Saxc- Cobourg, and th-e Archduke. — Miranda retreats from Maeftricht. kiCARCELY had they confuminated their unhal- lowed project, when the fliort-fighted Republicans difcovertd, that in defiance of all their fanguine ex- pedations, and their guilty labours, the Republic could not exift a hngle day. They liad lived jult long enough to foul their confciences, with the per- pt tralion of the blackcU crimes, and at the moment when they thought to reap the wages of their guilt, they found their peace of mind exchanged for ceafe- ]( fs chagrin and remorfe. The minifler Roland im- inediaiely got his wife to write a letter of refignation for him, which he fent to the Convention two days atier conducting tlie King to the fcaffold, and in the interim lie made up all his accounts, and declared his delerHiination never to fit in the council again, be- caufe the members were guilty of mifapiiropriating the pulilic money. This weak man had imagined, that his party could allow torrents of injuftice to roll on, juft copioufly enough Ic carry off the King, and NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 24.9 then to dam them up with a fimple command to go no further. They were not permitted to enjoy their miftake a fingle moment — if they had been makiiig machines of the Jacobins, the Jacobins had been making tools of them ; and, as it happens to all petty tranigrefFors ihe'ir Iiu If -u: ay villainy only expofed ihom to contempt and ('erifion, Initead of inquiring into the conducl of the council, the Convention accepted the relignation of Roland, and though the Minifler of War, Pache, who had embezzled the fupplies for the army, was obliged to remove, to appeafe that army, he had accomplices enough to procure him to be ap- pointed Mayor of Paris. T::e Brjtfolines, when they were convinced that their enemies had triumphed over them, and would finally trample thom to dellrudion, fell immedi.itely into all the vices that had been practifed by the par- tizans of the Princes and Defpotifru, and aii tiie fol- lies that had been praftifed by the partizar.s of La Fayette and Liberty. They were too obftinate to fa- crilice any of their own opinions for the fake of uniting with the better men, to drive out the worfe, and they were too cowardly to unite their own ;)ower?, with i determination to nuiintain their principles, or fell their lives as dear as poffible; they therefore fliulked, as it were, by various migration, from public view, with all the imbecility and weaknefs of aban- doned and hupelefs wretches, ib that they gave the ?\Iaratifts no further trouble than that offending them to the guiiloiine one after anotlier. It would be unjuft to accufe the whole of the par- ties uilh the fame fiu};id apathy; Piiris, one of the King's guards, boldly delermined, that as the tyrants ould not let hun live a day after they fliould find i^oO THE LIFE OF leiftire to pafs the fentence of death upon Ijim, it was a matter of little couG qunice whether he fliould die a tew days fooner, or u lew days later, and therefore he tf)ck the rcfolution of halleniua his own d(;ath, by taking one of tlie aira^lTins out of the world with him. Pelietier had been one of tlie nioft furious liienibers in tlie Convention, in the tumult that eii- fueti upon the King's trial, and iiad done his utnioft to ftifle the voice of juftice. Paris therefore met him, and ) awarded him for his crimes, by killing him upon the fpot. Paris fliot himfelf, and the Convention panlheonized Peliet'er. The thunderbolts of Jaco- l)iuical wrath were now )irepaiir.g to fcatter terror into every citv, village, and hovel^ that miuhtLe vlif- fatlSiied with its unjuft rule. Various reafons induced a great part of Europe to iaiagine that the power of France could not lad lcn_::;; for, in addition to the devouring troubles, by iDeans of which (lie leenied to be committing fuicide, upon heifelf, it was generally underftood that the cond)ined powers had ^ ntered into a partition tieaty, by which France was to l^e difmembered^ and great part of her territories divided aniongft the hofiile powers; and one of tlie moft powerlul ftates of Eu- rope, (England) aided by iloiUuKi, '-pain, and Na- ples, had evinced a chlpofition to join the league. The latter event was contemplated with fo much more dread tlian any other of their calamities, that the Jacobir,s nr.uie it one ol' tluir moft pointed charges againft the I'wiii'ulincs, tliat tliey had pro- voked t!:e hofti:;-..- of the F.ngliru govtrnment, by tlie decree of friiternii^ation, pali'ed on the \[)ih of November, and ihe violation of the Scheldt, con- trarv to exifiin" tiealits between En^d^nd and her XAPOLEOX BUONAPARTE. 251 allies; and the Briffotincs tlienifelves were fo unuil. ling to ftake the laii reiiuuims of their r( pulation upon the facceiis of this meaiuie, tliut tiiey would gladly have relcinded the obnoxious Rfoiutions, if the Engliih government had conducted ilfeif with any thing like temper and dii'cretiou. The ccnduft of the French government was marked by fo much injuiticc and aggrelFion, that even its own partisans would have been uQiained of de- fending it, if they had been K f t at leifure to refiecT: ; but the Engliili niiiiiftry relorted to fo many otfL-n- iive and unneceffary meafures of provocation, that it created an obftinate diliivowal of its juft complaint?, which could only be preferved by its own fooliili irritations. The adminiftralion happened, unfortu- nately, to be in the hands of a bod) of quacks, who fancied themftlves capable of playing off the talents of great war-miniUers, and they had been difap- pointed in feveral attempts to difplay their genius m this V, ay; had they, therefore, iuricred this oppor- tunity to pelfs by unimproved, the great probability WiuS, that another might not ofler ; and then, not- v.ithllanding their tY//hibilitips, '.hey might be handed down to polterity with no more fame than fome of their plodding predeceflbrs. hi vain did the Execu- tive Council give fuch a commentary upon the decree of fraterniiiation as would have defeat(.d its end j in vain did ihey offer to leave the affair of the Scheldt as a matter of negociation between the Belgians and the Dutch. The pallions of the Engliih minifters would not allow tliem to dilcover that Uiefe (liuflling conceflions were all that could be exuiCled from an underftrapping governuient; wh;ch, having no real huwour uas obliged to prefeive ihe I'emblance of :'. 252 THE LIFE OP The Pitts, the Grenvilles, the Dundafles, and the other pfcu do great men, who aded with them, were not contented with having made the Convention cbutemplible and ridiculous, in Submitting to have the whole fpirit and uitention of its decrees quibbled av.ay : nothing would luffice, but thefe ephemeral legifiators luunftrhc to degrade themfelves a little lower, by abandoning the form as well as the fub- Itance. The Englilh government had fo macli falfe greatncfs, that though it hao to do with furies, -whofc niadi'ti's could oiily be cahned by loothin<>; treat- nu.ur, It chol'e to bliifier raliitir than conciliate; and the confequcnce was, that the Conventitjn pretended that this government was determined to go to war at ail events, and therefore publilhed its own declaration of war again'fl: both England and Holland on the 2d of February, 1795- To fay nothing in favour of the Trench govern- ment, wliofo coiiduc't admits of no extenuation, it niuft be admitted that the conduct of the Englifli miniftry v.us fuch as every enlightened ftatehnan niuft be afliimied of; they had the power of remain- ing neutral, with very great advantage both to the country and its allies; but they wantonly and'uinie- celjarily plunged into a war, for the mere purpofe of cutting off the heads of a few perfons, whom every journal and every newfpaper in France proved to be bulily preparing to perform that ofHce for one another. Scarcely had the war been entered upon before Fvance difcoveied that her apprelienlions as to the confequcnces of it had been greatly overrated. The people of England, who had julily complained of the unpardonable extravagance of their government, and NAPOLEON BUONAfAKTE. gag the unwarrantable burdens tbat they were obliged to fupport, were highly incenfed at being called upon to bear the evils of a war, the objecl of which was jefuitically concealed from them. The tyranny and cruelty of the French rulers towards the Royal Family had, doubtlefsly, excited the flime emotions in the breaas of the minilters as in the reft of the nation ; and they had affigncd this as a fort of collateral reafoa for their hoftiljty to the French government; but the people could not give them credit for this, as one of the motives for war, feeing that they had made no attempt to fave the King whilft he was living, though there was much reafon to believe that tbey might have preferred him by negociation. Every view of the fubjed tended to prove that the objed of the war was to reftore the ancient defpotifm ia France ; to which the arrogance of the Piuites and the Grenvillites feemed ftrongly afllmilated; and when the people faw the imuienfe fums that wtre wrung from them by taxes, to be fquandered away upon a horde of idle and jnfoknt placemen and pen- fioners, the appiehenfiou of their earnings being ap- plied to the re-eftabliaunent of a fyftem of nmilar opprefhon in France, greally iucreafed their feditions and difcontenis; and the French foondifcovered, that, inaead of overthrowing their government, the mini- Itry would find enough to do to preferve themf(dve<= Meantime the fuccefsof the Republican armies on the frontiers was not fo rapid as it had beeii. The Prudians had determined on tlie recaj.ture of Frank- fort, and, owing to the ill-will that the inhabitants bore to the French, they fucceeded with ur^^xpeded lacihty. It was even declared that many inftances ot^treachery and b.irbarity occurred .in the U.^^. ' oL. I.— xo. via. V ^' I'HE LIFK or ment of the Gallic foldiers and captives, but tliefy reports fliould be received with great caution, for it is known that the Republican officers reibrted much to exaggeration, with a view of inflaming the paffions of the French people. The intrepid Cuftine was not difmayed by the furrender of Frankfort and iMentz; but collecting bis forces, rel'olved to check the progrefs of the enemy. The Pruffian army was 50,000 ftrong, and Cuftine could only mufter 23,OOC ; yet the French general heroically maintained his ground till he had fecurcd a retreat into a wood ; from whence he could harrafs the enemy, and prevent his pene- trating into the interior of the country. General Duniourier, after the conqueit of the Low Countries, turned his att< niion to the re-edablilli- ment of difcipline in the army, and the fupply of its wants; his attention wh* alfo occupied with .a fort of extra-official negociation with the Englilh government, to prevent the war extending to Eng- land or Holland. 'I'he General not only wiflied to preferve peace with the two powers, but to procure their friendly office in aid of the means which he was about to adopt for the leleafe of the Royal Fa- mily, and the rcftoralion of order in France; but the ihallow politicians of which the Britiffi cabinet was at that time compofed, could not difcover that he was obliged to ufe a gafconading and inflammatory llyle in bis prochimations and manifeftoes, in order to counteract the machmations of the Maratifls ; af.d judging him by his offenfive language, rather than by his private overtures, they neglefted all the ad- vantages which tlie popuhirity and talents of this Ge- neral oft'ered to them. KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 255 After war was declared, and hoftilities actually commenced, Holland became an object of altt'n- tion to the French Republic, as the conqueft of it would give them a decided fuperiority over the Belligerent powers. It has been fuppoled that Bri- tain and Holland had calculated on the defection of Dumourier, if not his co-operation, clfe they would not have commenced hoftilities in fo precipitate a manner. Conlidering the utuation of the General at this time, it was not poflible to form any adequate conception of the plan he meant to purfue during the next campaign, although we may gather from his own Memoirs, that he had long meditated his efcape into fome foreign country, as he could not be the fervant of the Republic and alfo a£t in con- formity to his own fentiments. His oftenfible plan appears to have been, to advance with a body of men polled at INIoerdyk, ^1^ covering that place, as alfo Gertruydenberg, fix mifes, further North than Breda, on the right, and Bergen-op-i^oom, Sternberg, Klun- dert, and Williamfladt on the left, to penetrate into the interior of Holland by the fea of Dort. Whilft thefe things were in agitation, Dumourier gave orders to General ISIiranda to proceed towards Mceftricht, with a detachment of his army, to annoy it as much as polTible with red-hot balls and bombs, but to attempt no regular fiege of the place at fo in- clement a feafon of the year ; and on being informed that the Commander-in-Chief had got beyond Moer- dyk, he was ordered to leave the fiege to the ma- nagement of General ^^alenco, who was coming from Paris, and lofe not a moment in pufliing on to Nimegucn. Having thus far fucceeded, he was to march by the Duchy of Cl'^vcs, to ftop th«' progvcf^ 'i^ THE LIFE fir .-if the Pruflfian army, if they had previoufly calcn- ]-ited on his taking that route. From the Hi of Fe- bruary to the 24th, nothing decifive was attempted againft Masftricht, on uhich day the Prince of Ilefie, the commander of the town, was fummoned by -Mi- randa to furrender, a requifition with which he pofi- •iv( ]y refufed to comply; in coufequenco whereof, t'.ie French opened a tremendous fire upon it from tlieir batteries, and fet it in flames in different quar- ters, \Vhile thev were cunllructing their works, two unfuccelsful fallies were made upon them from the garrifon. In ilie mean time, General Duniouiier colleclf d )ii? army in the neighbouihood of Antwerp, and, be- fore his attempt lu penetrate into Holland, he pub- iiflied a m.anifefto, addrelled to the inhabitants of that country, whom he denominated Batavians, and warmly intreated them to emancipate lh(nifelves from what he called a tyrannical yoke — the goyernment of the Stadtholder. His force confifted of twenty- one battalions, only two (jf the m troops of the line, «ik1 amounting, Ijy his own computation, to 13,700 men, including liis cavalry and liglit troops. His armv entered the territories of Holland on the 17th of Febjuary, and the blockade of Breda was com- menced by his right divifion, under the coinn)and of General d'Ar^on, while lie gave orders to Colonel I,e Clerc, cou'mander of the left, to blockade Ber- gen-op Zoom. The governors of thefe places de- ferted their out-works, and Breda was inundated at the time of its being attacked. On the 23d, Du- rnourior funminned Governor Byland, tlie comman- der of Breda to furrender, which not being com- plied with, he mounted two batteries, con(ining of 2^ A POL EON CUOXAPAUTE. Q57 four itiortars, and the fame number of iio\vitzLT6» \when a heavv bombardment was opened upon it, and continued for some hours, Dutccafed towards even- ing. The next day it was renewed on the part of the French with uncommon vigour, when the Governor being told, that if ho did not capitulate immediately. Pumouricr would bring his whole army to ad agtunfc him, he thought it prudeni to surrender. On the 26lh of February, General Dumourier got poffeflion of Klundert, (a ftrong ibrtified town, about 14 miles N. W. of Breda, and l6 N. E. of Bergt^n- op-Zoom) which was defended by the Governor with the utmoft gallantry, but as his garrifon confifted of no more than 15Q men, he found itimpolfible for him to hold out agaiiift the force of the enemy. The next ubjeds of his attention were Williamftadt and Ger- truydenberg, the former of which places was at- tacked by a detachment under the command of Ge- neral Berneron, and M. d'Ar^-on, an able officer, was appointed to attack the latter, which he compelled to furrender by capitulation on the 4th of March. General Berneron continued the fiege of William- iladt and Bergen- op-Zoom with unabated vigour, af- fifted by Le Clcre, while the Commander in-Chief was on iheeve of transporting his army from Moerdyk to Dort, (a dlflance of about 1 1 miles), by means of a number of boats which he got polfeflion of at Gertruydenberg, but there the brilliant fucceflcs of M. Dumourier were del'tined to terminate. The army, although it had been fliamefuUy neg- leded by the war minifter, was ftill numerous and refpeftable, which induced Miranda to continue the fiege of Moetlricht with vigour and prefeverance, ha having the immediate command of a confidcrabU V 3 258 THE LIFE OF body of men, while General La None had encamped his troops at Herve, a village fituated about nine miles E. of the town of Liege. General Valence':* Lead-quarters at this time were at Liege, although his outpofts extended as far as Aix-la-Chapelle, and the banks ot tht Koer. The Austrian General, (Clair- faii) having effefled the paflage of this river in the night of the Hi March, came to a fierce engagement will) ihe I'rench forces on the fide of Durn, (about 15 miles due E. of Aix-la-Chapelle) compelling them to retreat to Alderhaven, with the very i'erious and import. ;nt lols of 2,000 men, twelve pieces of can- non, thirteen ammuiiition waggons, and tlie military cheft. As, in the fortune of war, one fignal defeat is very often the pre'ude of another, the French were, the next da^, fucceisfully attacked by the Archduke, %vho became mailer of a number of their batteries, and nine pieces ...f cannon. On the th;r<', they were attacked by the Prince of Saxe Cobourg, who <.i ;ained a memoraijle vidtor}' over them, by obliging them to abandon Aix-la- Chf-r* He, unci retreat us far as the vicinity of Liege, leaving behind them 4,000 killed on the field, 1,600 ririfoners, ai d 20 pieces of cannon. Alter fuch a de- feat, it was no' '.o be expected that General Miranda would deem i; expedient 'o continue the fiegeof Majf- tricht, or indeed iuid it practicable, fince he was in- formed next day, that the enemy was on their march towards ^^'yck,lm iheopp<ifi(e fide of lheriver,35,000 f^rong, and moft uuqueftiui.ubly with a view to grant all necelTary alhftance to the garrifon and inhabitants of the town. Scarcely had he time to withdraw the .'),000 troops ftationed there, under the command of General Leucnour, before they were attacked by the NAPOLEON' CUONAPAUTE. !250 advanced guard of the ciirimy. 1 lie boriibnrd'.ucnt, however, wasftill continued, and much daniagedune to the town in coniequence of ttie fiames. But at nndnight General Miranda ordered all the trcxM s [n commence a retreat, his artillery having bcf n it;i.t before him under the efcort of 4.000 rr.en, arrived fafc at Tongres, the enemy having found it impradicable to conquer this rear guard. At Tongres, being at- tacked by the enemy, he was obliged to retreat to Hans and St. Tron, where he effeded a juHv^iion witii General Valence, who had been compelled to defert Lieiie. ^ ^^-'*'> THE LITE or Cil.M'l'KR XVII. iJijiiyiifc/it-i (>f thefratcrnized Belgians. — Dumouricr ■lj}(ih d at Xccrii'hiden. — Miranda imputes the Defeat •ij Dtntuniricr. — Dumoi/ricr dtfeats the Impcrialifts. — • TIk !/■ fhbfcquent Trcachcr^i touards him, — His DijULe of the 'J\ rrorift Guvcnimcnt. — Thcijfcnd Commijlioners to arrcl'thim, hut hefcizes and confine: thcin.^— He quits the Jnnij, aft^r protefiing aguinft the Conduft of the Jaeo- hins.'^General Danipicrre ajipointed to his Cuvunand, .1 UK abfiird and violent coiuJuct of the Conveu- tion and its nnnifters, becaiDC now ib difguTting to the Coinmander-iii-Chief, that lie could no longer nnd refolution to carry the honors of war further into foreign ftates, for the purpofe of confolidating ;i, power, \vhich f-jenied only inclined to refcue nations from the arbitrary will of a fmgle defpot, in order to fnbjed them to the caprices of a million of ty- rants, who would not thenilelvcs fubmit to any ruif. The Belgians had been completely captivated by fne firft found of French liberty, and nothing was "Tieard among tliem but being incorporated with France. The heyday of Republican delight was pref(;rved aniongft tliem for fome time, by an af- fnrance that they were to be relieved from the bur- dens impoftd upon them by the Emperor, and that their brothers, the French, had been induced to refcue ihem from llie yoke, out of mere kindnefs. But it 'vas a very curious illuHration of this fralernityj that KAroLtoNT bl'oxapahtk. '2^1 the ComminTioncrs of the Convenlion ga^T, when ihey arrived at Brussels; for they (leinandecl very lieavy contributions to defray the exp<'nfcs of the delivering armies. Those and nnmberh fs olhiT out- rages comniilted in llelgia, Duaiourier fay?:, not only alienated llio affections of the people frouj Kraiice, but rendered it unfaR; for an army to be qn utered amor.g liiem ; moreover, General P.ouriioiivilii', v,ho had been appointed niin'ster of war, in lieu of Paehe, had refigned the office, from a convirtioti that the pride and ignorance of the government would defeat all the eflbrls of its officers. Uunder thofe difcouraging circuniflanccs, the French forces met with a very pow( rful refillance from the Dtitch and Englifh troops, which had now prcpan d to arreft their jjrogrefs, and as the Britiflu guu-borts were able to ad in the IlollancI Diep and hies Bofc/i, the General thought it advifeable to re- treat, lealt he fliould be inclofed between the Hol- landers and the incenfed Belgians. Dtimourier had gone to Liege, where he was re- ceived by the troops with every demonltration ofjoy, expf ding that they wcnild be led to conquells under his command, equally as glorious as what they ob- tained at Gemappe. It is certain, however, that the native ftrength and vigor of the French army were now no more, and the man they fo much rejoiced to b(-hold again, was not, in point of enLhuliafm, the fame Dumourier wlio had formerly conquered the Netherlands. On the I5ih of March the Aul'trians determined on the rcduclion ofTirlemoni ; the French iiad no more than 400 men at that fiation, yet they fought with incredible fury before they would fur- render, and the Auf'trians were the* next dav cotn- 262 THE L1I£ OF pelled to evacuate it, by DunKuirier in perfon, when th»;y retrcuLcd luuards St. Tn-u. On the 18th a delperatc cngagtaieiit was fought at Neerwijiden, btlwtcu the iioilile ar.iiies, which continutd, wjth unabated lu;"\' on bo;h lides, h-orn i'even in the inorn- nig tnl hve in the aiiernc^on, at wduch lime lht» I-'ifjich lound tiitnil'tlves ineajaLlc to cope with the cn'.-niy any If-'ngc)-, and ihc Auarian cavalry com- ph 'ely roultd ihcin. Tht; courage uf the Republi- can.s on ihis occaiian is aii;AVt,d lO liave been very gr!.iit, as weil as tiic fkill th( y exhibited; but they li.u! to cowlciid with I'uj.ciio]- nunibcrs of vell-disci- plmt'd troops. .M. Duinouiier attributes the defeat of this dav to the bad cunduct uf .Miranda, who coinniauded the iefi wing of the army, to a blunder connnitted by General La Marche, and the jealoufy of Valence, It is impodible to determine with precifion, how far tliel'e charges ifre founded in faft, or how much of tlif defeat might be owing to the commander him- felf; butcertain it is that General Miranda, in writ- ing to i\I. I'etion, infinuatts his fufpicions of Du- niouricr's integrity in terms by no means ambigijous. lit declares that it had been the invariable praftice of the Commander-in-Chief, prior to the battle of Neerwindtn, to C(.iifult with him upon every emer- gency; but that for this battle he had not made the kuU mc nlion ot the \cry arrans.en:ents which hepro- pofed to adopt. Miranda fays, "' At eleven at night iny orrlers were delivered in writing, and I learned in a converi'aiion with him, that we were to offer battle to an eiicmy ; l.'JOO ftroiig. very advantage- oi.Jiy poUed, and a iorniidable artillery, with a force inferior to theirs, and with every difadvantage of iltuation and encampment — all this was to be ef- fected without having previoufly rcconiioilr'^.i the ground, or the particular i>i>ni'.na of the Cicni'y,' The lufs fultained l.)y the Fr!,>ncli in this batdt', i-j- mourier eftiniatts at 3.()')i) in»-:n, with a nirnb^T of cannon; while the lame autlr;rifv ftates the I'ds of tlie Aultrians at 1,4')0. la H'l'ii'ion to this dt-tV-.tt, the army was fartiicr tnfetbleci bv tb.e lo!? of 6". (It, 1) men who delertcd, taking their route towards liruf- fels and F'rance. llowevt-r, the Republican army retreated with a confiderable degree of order and regularity, making it almoft a fort of vidory by their frequent Hcir- Hjiflies, till they arrived at GodlVnhoven, a league to the fouthwarfl of Tirlcniont. At this place tliey formed themfelves in order of battle, but the holtiie armies refted the whole night upon their amis. The next day (19lh March) produced nothing meu)o- rable; and on the '20ih M. Dumourier got polTi i- fion of the heights of Cumtic'i!, in the vieinitv of 'iirlemont, which gave him an opportunity ofcarrv- ing otf his magazines. It appeared to him, how* ever, that this polition woidd not long be tenable, and that its incapacity to afford any protection to BrUiTcls or Louvai/i, rcndfred it an objed of little or no ccnfequence ; he refolved to concentrate his forces at BrulTels and Louvain. On the 2irt, M. Dumouiier took his flation at Louvain, antl on the enfuing day he experienced a fevere attack from the enemy. The conteft was re- markably fanguinary, and continued the whole day, terminating in the total defeat of the Imperial troops, who loll a prodigious number of men in killed and wounded. Prior to this engagement the Republican '^''>^ _ TriE LIFE OF (■ouuT!Hndti-;n-Ciaef had dir[>at(hed Culonel Mont- joj-e to the ht ad quarters of the Prince of Cobourg, to filter into a treaty refpectiug the wouudcd and priluiiers, ccaiccrning which he thus I'peaks : " lie liiore law C(<lonel Mack, an officer of uncommon nu'rit, who obf(;rvcd to Colonel Montjoyc, that it Hiigiit be cqiiully advantageous to both parties to agree to a fufpenfion of arms. Dumourier, who had deeply confidered the fituation of his army, fent Montjove again to Colonel Mack on the 2'2nd, to demand if lie would come to Louvain, and make the (amc propofition to Dumourier. Colonel iMack came in the evening. The following articks were verbally agreed to : I-'irfr, that the Imperialifts fliould not again attack the Freiich army in great force, nor General Dumourier again offer battle to the Impe- rialifts. Seeondiy, that on the faitli of this tacit arnjifiice, the I'rench Ihould retire to BrufTels flow- ]v, and in good order^ wiiiiout any oppofition from the enemy. And laftly.that Dumourier and Colonel Mack Ihould have another interview after tije eva- cuation of Brufiels, m oider to fettle further articlt* that miglit tlien be nmtuaily dt emed necelTary." >\hether it originated from a' conviftion that Du- mourier was not to be trufted, or from fomc other motive, cannot with certainty be known, but no re- fjiecl was paid by the Iniperiahfis to the above ver- bal ftipulation, who, under the command of Clairfait, attacked the advanced guard at Pillenberk, wliich obliged the French general to abandon Louvain. Dumourier, upon tliis defeat, conveyed the wounded men, and the flour deftined Jor his lrot;ps, in boats to Mechlin; from tlience he pt rformed his retreat to BrulTel; during the night, elf'e he would have had KAPOLEON BUONAPAUTr.. 265 PSifon to repent moft bitterly cf his late aliiance. He fpeaks in terms not very honourable to the con- duct of the Auftrians on this occafion ; that, if he liad not taken the above precaution, he believed, " that notwitnttanding the verbal ftipulatioii agreed to by Colonel Mack, they would probably have feized upon this opportunity to deftroy, or entirely dil- perfe the French army." On his part he continued to pay the raoft facred regard to his promife, and he admits that tlie Prince of Cobourg dii'covered fome regard to it, by continuing at Louvain for the fpace of three days longer, watching the rear-guard of the French only by fmall detachments at a time. Du' mourier with his array marched through Bruflels on the 25th of March, and now the citadel of Antwerp (about 26 miles North of Bruflels) was the only re- maining place of which he found it pradicable to retain the poffefllon. Here he placed a garrifon of 2,000 men, together with provifions to aft them (ix months, witli a view to preferve a communication with the troops wiiich had been left at Bre(ia and Gertruydenberg. He intiiiiates that it was his in- tention to have formed beyond the frontiers of the Republic, by Namur, Mons, Tournay, Courtray, Antwerp, and Breda, to atlbrd him the opporiuiiity of putting his army in a more formidable fituatioa ; but he declares that tiie unavoidable evacuation 01 Namur havmg brokea this line, lie was coinpleteiy dilcoucerled in the execution of his plan. On the 27th General l^umourier arrived at Ath, at which place he received an order from the Ct-n- veruioii to arreft General Miranda and the Colonel of the 73d regiment of inl';! frv ; bul. though Da- "'OL. I,— vo, vin. ^G6 THE LIFT. 0? niourier complained of General Miranda, lie too well knew the fanguinary temper of the prefent legiflators to execute fuch orders. Colonel Mack arrived at Ath the fame day, when another ccnference took place between him and the General, the reiult of which ■was, *• That the French army fliould remain fome time longer in the pofTMlifn of Mons, Tournay, and Courtray, without being haraffed by tlie Imperial army; that General Dumourier, who ftated*to Colonel Mack his dejjgn of marchivg against Paris, fliould, * when their defigns were ripe for execution, regulate the motions of the Imperialifis, who were to art as auxiliaries in the execution of their plan ; that in cafe of Dumourier's having no need of alhftance, which was to be greatly defired by both parties, the Imperialifts fliould not advance further than the frontiers of France, and that the total evacuation of Relf ium fliould be the price of this condescenlion ; but if Dumourier could not efleft the re-eftabliih- inent of a limited monarchy (not a counter-revoluti- on), he himi'elf fhould indicate the number and kind of troops which the imperialil'ts (liould furniib, to aid in the projecf*^, and which fhould be entirely under Dumourier's direfiion." If he vas thus unequivocal in the declaration of Ii's intentions to Colonel Mack, he was equally as explicit to the three Commiflioners from Paris, who came with a ^;e^v to afcertain his defigns refpcding the exifting government of France, although their cftenfible reafon was to hohi a convf rfation with him relati\e to the affairs of the Netherlands. He was then at Tournay, an(', wh(n the deputies arrived, he happened to be in company with Madame Sillery, young Egalite, General Valence, and others. It wa? NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 1i67 natural to expect that the conference between him and the Cominidiouers would not be conducted with any great degree of moderation, efpecially lince the General was detenninerl to keep his deligns no longer a fecret. He poureci forth the bitterelt invectives againft the cruelty and wretched policy of the Jaco- bins, juitly confuiering them as the caufe of all the calamities which had conic upon that country. He exclaimed, " They will ruin France, but I will fave it, though they Oiould call me a Ctcfar, a Cromwell, or a Monk." At this time the Commiilioners did not deem it prudent to continue the altercation any far- ther, but on the enfuing day they returned, with the full intention of difcovering, if poliiblc, how far he defigned to pufh the matter, and what fort of a government he could wifh to eftablilh in France, lor which purpofe they found it neceflary to difguif their real fentiments. Onthecontrary,Dumourier made the moft explicit declaration of his own fentiments, and w-liat he was determined to do for the falvation of France. He very bluntly denomiated the members of the Con- vention a horde of ruffians, on whom he looked with the utmoft abhorrence — the volunieers of Paris he defignated by the name of poltroons, and ventured to predid that all their efforts would be ultimately meffeftual. " As for the reQ," continued M. Du- mourier, " there ftill remains a parly. If the Queen and her children are threatened, I will march to Paris— it is my fixed intention — and the Convention will not exift three weeks longer." O n being uite- rogated as to the fublatutt he meant to employ, he very freely gave them to underftand that he was the determined advocate of a limited monarchy; and Cos YriE LIFE OF ihat tic would mofl afluredly be in Paris in the /pace of three week; for liis being fo fuccefsful in fuch a villainous caufc, had been a fource of lamentation to him ever fmce the celebrated ronqueft of Gemappe. ^Whon the CcmmifTioners returned to Paris, and iatcd !lje i'ubftance of the convcrfation, the members of the Convention ordered Duinourier to be fuper- feded in tjie chief commatid by M. Bournonville, v.'ho was accompanied by four Commillioners appointed to arreft him. ^Viflling to proceed wilh deliberation, .iie Comnjinionersdid not think it proper to go direct- ly to the camp, and therefore they forwarded a fum- •nons to 31. Dumourier, defiring him to meet them .it Lifle, and auAver the charges winch had been ;'rei'i;rrcd againlt him. With.out intimating any i'uf- picioDS of danger, he replied, that fuch was the fitu- :ilion of the army at prefent, that it required his im- mediate prefence and unremitting attention ; as the troops in Antwerp had deferted the place, and he had been obliged to order the garrifons of Brecia and Gerlrudenberg to capitulate, on the provifo that ihey were permitted to return back to IViince ; he, Limlclf, for the purpofe of occupying the camp of -Maulde, having railed that of Tournay. At the fame time he commanded General Miaczinflci, who com- manded at Orchies, to proceed with his troops to IJflc, and arrf ft the Commiflioners fent from the Convention to apprehend him. Miaczinski fool- iiuly made known the obje(5t of his rniihon, which lie ought prudently to have concealed, as it was' inainfeftly a hazardous undertaking. The confe- quence was, that on his entrance into Lifle the gates were immcdiatrly ihut behind him, he wan arreftec], ronveycd to Par-s., condemned rnd executed, by thnt NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. SSp icUigiiinary tribunal, the National Convention. I)u- niourier was fruilrated in his endeavours to gain pol- feffion of Conde and Valenciennes, by the two Ge- nerals Ferrand and Ecuyer, both invincibly attached to the Republican intereft, although they owed their elevation in the army entirely to General Duniourier. " Ferrand," lays the General, " was arrived at an age when he could not realbnably have been rufpe(5ted of fanaticifm ; he had bitterly exclaimed againft anar- chy and jacobin principles in times paft, but he f.i- crificed his opinions and his gratitude together." It was,unqueftionably,a daring attempt to arreft a general of Dumourier's extraordinary talents at tljc head of his army, as the Commiflioners had no rea- fon to believe that his army was difaffti^ed to him. rhey proceeded (ift of April) to INI. Dumourier's head-quarters at St. Amand, and, on being intro- duced to that General, they unequivocally unfolded to him the objeft of their miffion. After a conver- fation, which lafied fome hours, Dumourier found it impracticable to gain them over to his views, or con- vince them of the madnefs and wickednefs of th^ Jacobins ; he gave a lignal to a party of foldiers to take tiieni into cuftody, and requefted General Clair- fait to confine them atTournay, his then head- quar- ters, that their lives might be refponlible for any injury of a ferious nature done to the ])erlons of the lloyal Family of France. In calculating on the co- operation of his army for the purpofe of eftablifhing liiontrchy, M. Dumourier's niaflerly abilities feem to Lave defcrted him ; for although he might fairly con- .hule that his foldiers woulrl not permit him to be ;'»ri f-j I'hWy iiifulted as a criminal; they w-re too mucK 7 3 V70 THE ^li r- OF enamoured of rrpublicaa fentiments to a^Tift m •:.'.>''. eitablidunent of the old government, however mo- dified Having publifiied a nianifefio to his army on (tie evening of the ?nd of April, he on the 3rd, repaired to- [he ciiin;) to make s ontents known to the iohiiers, and ihcy gave tokens approbation refpc cliug his dcr}gns. At St. Amand ihe corps of artillery evinced their faiisfaction with his propofal, and he a r us that he could difcover no fyniptoms of difapproba- tion, but among fome battalions o olunteer?, w.io exprefled it by murmurs. Nex day he fet out for Cond'-, committing the care of St. Amand to Gene- ral Thouvenot; but, before his arrival at be lortrefr-', he received intelligence of the moft humiliating na- ture, fent by an officer, from his confidential friend General Neuilly; that the foldiers were almolt in a Hate of open rebellion, on which account he would not advife him to proceed, as his life might be in dnnier. On his way he pafled a body of volunteers taking the fame route with himfelf, but, contrary to what he might have expected, they gave him no mn- leftation. Scarcely had he received tiie mefl'age of his friend from the hands of tlie ofllcer, when a de- tachment of tlie volunteers, having ab mdoned the high way, and running towards him with menacing countenances, exclaiuied " Stop, ftop i' It was not row timo to deliberate, in the midft of the j.reateft dangei ; ho inoiinted a horfe i)c ::ging to a fi;rvant cf Genei.i! E^i.lite (then Duke de Chartrrs,) and with th- utinoft iflfii ulty made his efcape, the wliole body '>f V(;!unti;t ! s hav ng fin d upon liim at once. It was 'I'.e :i;te: tion of the General, at this crltita} «nd alarnnug jiin(flu;e, to reach the camp of Maulde, NAPOLEON aUO:^ Ai'AUTK. 27' '-v'here he hoped to find proleftion and cfteem ; but as this was rendered impraclicubl(% he proceeded by the river ScL'eldt to the territory of t!ie I::iperialills ; where he had a converfution with Colonel Mack, and fpent the whole night in preparing the prociamitioa of the Prince of Cobourg, which was ifTued the 5'h of the month, accompanied by one his own. It fippears that the General placed great reliance upoii his influence with the troops, for at this conference it was agreed that wiien IM. Dumourier got polTef- (ion of Conde it was to be delivered to the Aultr ans to be employed as a magazine, fiiould the French Commander-in-Chief find it necelTary to apply for afTiftance lo the Imperialifts in the prolecution of his plan. Dumourier s proclamation, or manifefto, rc- fcounted the fignal fervicts he had performed to his country ; and he likewife animadverted on the un- pardonable negleft of his army during the preceding winter by the War Minifter. Me did not omit the cruel and barbarous treatment of the Jacobins to- wards the mud gallant and intrepid ofTicers of iLe Republic, and particular towards himfelf. He de- fcanted on the reafons by which he was aduated in arrefting the Commiifioners, inlifiing that imperious neceflity called for fuch a meafure ; and gave a mort pathetic and animated dtfcription of the dreadful evils which would unavoidably come upon France, without the eftabliOiment of a rational confiitution. He clofed his manifefto with an exhortation to the people of France to unite in rtl'toring the conftitution of 1789 — 90, and — ^^91, which they had fworn to maintain ; folemnly fwearing that he appeared in arms for no other purpofe, which having accom- plidied, he would make a voluntary refignation of V, ~ i ;; L ;.i t F OP all public eUi;;l'tvmi.'nt, and enjoy in lulituJe ihr j.lt-aiing refleifliun, tli.it I:e had conferred fubftdnlicil iKippiiitrfs on his tolluv; ciiizens. Till' proclauKition iVoni the PriiiCt.' of Saxe Co- hoLirg did tiiL' uHMlcu ii'./iiour to its cunipofer ; it l";ated, that tl;e CoiiVbiititiii were making indifcrinu- nate havoc of innc-reuce and ^uilf, fo that tlie life r:':v) hof.!?!; and upright man n-as in fafety tor the f; arc of I'.'. luty-four hours; v.i,i it was the wilh of the Prince to t* rminate fuch evils, and to give France litr own tonuitutii.n. lie ])h;d tbt Idgliel't compli- ments to (General Duri'.uuiKr, and lolemnlv pro- teftcd that u;e allii.':i powers v.cre only acting in concert wilh that General for the re-eUabhlhment of iho rcnUitution of 1 7Sy the constitution that Fra/icc I'urmed for fuTACij". Declarations like thife wore very judicioufly made. but the writers wtre required, by all the circum- rauccs of liie cafe, to give I'ome more than ufi'.al pledge of their finccrity beu)ro they could obtain belief; for it occurred to every Fren-rhmau that ihefe pronvifes were at variance with the whole con- duct of the combined powers. It was the conftii'i- tion of I7f^9 v.hich llie Priuces hud rtfufed to ac- knowledge, and which the cu5.kied powers had united to overthrow. Was it the fiaiple fact of the King's airafilnation which liad fatisfied thofe powers ; or was it any proof of tlu.ir reconciliation to the free coiiftitution, that thoy had intiicled the moU unjul: and barbarous cruelties upon M. La Favetie, and his friends, who %\trc its purefi defenders r The peuide cou!icils of the combined powers, ne\cr law iLi" ••'.eight of contradictions like thefe, and tl^ey lui- r;erv(:d, a? ;t '.vcre, the arms of their moft valuai '■■ '/// ■ /V/ /////v >//, -VAPOLEON BL'ON'.iPARTE. 273 friends, hy their own jeiaitica,! and crooked policy. The Frencl] required time to witnc^fs fome proceed- ings rorrefpondent to the fentiments of the procLi- niation, before they could regard it in a;iy other hgiu than u.% a mere rufe de guerre. M. Dumourier fct out for the camp fit Mauldc, attended by a guard of 50 dragoons belon^^ing to the Imperial army, with a view to afcertain the ge- nuine fentiments of his foldiers, and try whether or iiot he could depend on their co-operation. lie experienced no open infult or oppofition, yet he could clearly perceive that a fpirit of general revolt liad furceeded to wonted adulation. Ih: next in- tended to found the opinions of the foop'S at St. Amand ; but on his way he was informed of liis danger, fi'ice the corps of artillery were in open re- bellion againft him; and he regained the Auflrian head-quarters, accompanied by a fc'.v faithful officers of his itaff. Befides the General Valence, Egaliit, and Thou- venot, Colonels Thouvenot and Mountjoye, and Madame de Sillery, who quitttd the Republic with M. Dumourier, he v.as followed by a regiment of dragoons, and the greateft part of the hulTars cf Berchiny; but the princij)al part of the army were f!)OU taught to regard him as a traitor, and cheer- f illy fiiliiiitted to the command of General Dam- pierrc, who was appointed to fucceed him in tiiu C'.-iDmatui. '■^74, rHE Lit K ftp CHAPTER xviir. Liceittivufntfd (if Manners. — Infuyrefilons in the S.iuthcrn Di jutrtmcnts. — 'ihc linolutioiiart/ Tribu- mil. — The CunitHtiurt orders the Kui/al Family under ylrrci.t. — ProinptUudc of thr. Conxtntlon.'—Tht Folly -of the Allies. — The Brifijh Cabinet reje^s the Over- tures of Duittoi/ricr. — l/'ulencienncs taken by the Duke of York.— The Death of General Darnpicrre. — 'J'he Decrees in the Comenlion against Marat and Mi' rmtda. — Marat acquitted. — Tumults in the Conventi- on. — Twaity-oiie JJeputics pro^ribtd and arrested, and the Hatred of the People excited against them as Federalists. — Some of the Deputies arrive at Caen, and join the Insurgents, but are mostly destroyed.—' The Fleets of Bigotry. — Several Toirns taken by the Combined Armiis. -1» HK defcftion vi General Dumourier was by no means ihe piiucipfil enibancilTincnt that the Republic jr.et with, I'lie pcopjti in many of the Weltern and Soulhein depaiUiiente of France, arofe in open re- bellion againll the tyranny of the <'onvention. The diforgani;;ing ff)irit of the Jacobins was fuch, that they \>:iu\ no regard to tlie prejudices or the delicacy of the peoph^; but, uiuier the name of fanaticilni, t!:ey pcri'ec litrd everv thing that was decent and regular. 'I'lie 7t ah)t.s in religion w( re fhocked by frecjuent proce^i(lI:^; of hwd wonun, heatl}enilhly at- tired a;- goddtfiet., icaciy to receive the devotions of tilt ir licentious worllniers, 'i he friends of virtue were ontiaged m everv nlatiOii hy the nicnibers of the legii'aUirc, V. ho, both b\ th( ir prai'lictb and laws, NATO LEON r.'JON'APART?,. '^/^ Uivc every tacilitv to dilVuliilior.s of iIk; marriage con- trad; and the lovers of order were clutgiined at the increafrng pracliccs of cafual cohabitation and irre- gular intercourfe. Novelly feemed to be tlie riding principle of the govoinniei'.t, and the guillotine t'.ie only argument it condefcendcd to ule for the con- viclion of the people. Refiilance to !"ach a fylleiu became a f^cred obligalion, and the perfecuted priefts took advantage of the pvibiic feelings, to iifin their flocks, in various parts of t!ie country, into powerful armies againil the Conventiou. La Vendee was the firll department that offered any ferious oppolition to the Republic, and there the Royalifts afTenibled in great numbers; but they act- ed rather under the impulfc of paffion than from any . concerted plan. The Convention lent a few troops againll them, and they were difperfed ; althougii it was known that fixty out of the f ighty-four depart- ments were in a high ftate of difafieftion. No bhuue can attach to the Royalifts on tb.is account, if it be true, that the courage of the iuft is infeiior to the defperation of the unjull ; for the fault of the Roy- alifts was, that they were panic ftruck with the un- heard of jintl unexpected cruelties of the Jacobnis. On the 31 It of March it was announced to tiie Convention, that the national guard had taken 300 of thefc counter-revolutionifts prifoners, on the left bank of the Loire, and that they were all immediately mafiacred in cold blood. This was even confidered perfedfly regular, for the Convention doomed everv Royalifl, if found xvith arms in his hands, to be ftiot j and if xvithoitt arms to be guillotined. A fyftem of terror was eftablifhed, which rendered a man fearful of his own thoughts, left they (hould efcape him; aud -■^6 THE LIKE O? the Cc):i\t,ntion eUiiblKhed a Jcrutinizing iiKjUifitiuii, caiUd the REVoi.u'iioNAKY I'niBUNAi.; by which they often executed perfons wh6fe ihoiighis wire delefttd by V.x: auk ward means they took tu conceal thtm. Adniill f:ll the dangers which thrcatciied it, the Convention fccnied to be perft (^tly confciuus ot it* own power, aiif! in i\<> one infiance did it betray unv otthufe n)!iikf) of mibccihty and tergiverfation whicii was fo cvi(itnl in the conduft ofevery defcription ot its antagonifts. It refolved what it thought proper, and what it relulved it determined to accomplifli. Upon receiving accounts of Diiniourier's defedio and the arrelt of tlie Commifiioners, the Conven- tion decreed, that the whole of the Bourbon family ihould be kept as hoftages for their fafety, not ex- cepting the ci-dnajit Duke of Orleans. I'his fallen Prince, the firft of the blood royal of France, and the richeft fubjeft in Europe, liad degraded hirnfelf to the loweft fancy of the multitude, and when they adopted the uuivcrfal cry of " liberty and etjuality," he petitioned for leave to change his princely flyle, and to be called Flii/ippe F.jza/ife. I'y his arts and his treafures, he had fecurcd ujuch popularity and a feat in the Convention; but now, that it was dil- covered, or the people thought they had difcovercd, that he had not crouched thus low merely with the Ijafe dtTue of lenglliening out a fliameful lite, but with a view to fliiflthe crown to his own head, they deternained to tiud fome pretence of putting him aiide; accordingly the firft decree was thortly fol- lowed up by one which ordered all the Buurbon family under arrelu Having tlius fecurcd the fafs-.ty of theComniif- NAPULEOW BUONAPARTE. .277 honors, the Convention appointed new ones to vifit aH the armies and all the departments ; and thefe were endowed with an unlimited authority fo take fuch meafures as they Ihould judge neceflary for the accomplidiment of the Conventional decrees- and fome meafures of particular feverity were adopted, with a defign of recruiting the armies upon the Republican principles of au equality of duties and rights. Whijft the Convention was wifely taking the moft firm and adequate meafures for recovennw the eround it had loft, the Combined Powers feemed to be coi- leding all their folly, with a defign (if, upon review- ing their whole conduft, it can be admitted that they afted according to any defign) to lofe the advantage they had gained. Generals Neuilly, Dumas, Ber. neron, and feveral other, officers and foldiers, had found means of joining Dumourier, where they united with the Auftrians, and proclaimed the fon of Louis king, by the title of Louis XVII, and thus clearly delined their views for the fatisfadion of thofe v;ho might be difpofed to join them. At this cri- tical juncture a Congrefs was held at Antwerp, by the coalefced Princes, which was :ittended bv the Prince of Orange, the Duke of York, Prince Co- bourg, Lord Auckland, the Spani/li, Pruffian, Nea- politan, and other miuifters, as reprefentativcs from their feveral courts; and this Congrefs was {o in- toxicated with their nominal conqueOs, that they obliged Prince Cobourg to revoke his Proclamation of the oth ; and broke their faith with the French General, from an overwening confidence in their own prowefs General Dumourier Iioped, that ii. •or. i.«-5o, VUT. ,^^ 2/8 THE LIFE OF tlie Britifli cabinet, at leatl, he lliould find Tome men of greater wifdom, and he hallened over to London to reprefent to them the true ftate of the conteft ; but he was miftaken, they were fo fwoln with the daily meed of adulation poured out to them by the clerks and writing-boys of their feveral offices, that they could not comprehend why it fliould be more dif- hcult to conquer the French Republic than it was to triumph over the numerous clubs of tailors and flioe- inakcrs, which they succeeded in hunting about from alehoufeto alehoufe ; and therefore they would not condcfcend to hear what the General had to fay, but ordered him immediately to depart the kingdom. -After this, the moderate men in France faw no alter- native, but fubmilhon either to the exifting govern- ment, or to the ancient and odious defpolifm; the former, they faw, muft correft itfelf in time; the latter they knew would grow worfe, and therefore they left the Combined Powers to purfue their own projects, and they united with the Convention to defend the country. General Dumoui'ier and the other officer;, withdrew into rctirment, and moft of the foldiers found means of returning to France. After the Congrefs was broken up, the Aultrian General gave notice that the armidice was at an end ; and large reinforcements of Englilh, Hanoverian, and Pruflian troops having arrived, it was refolved to attack the French frontiers in ten diflercnt points at once, and fome advantages were gained in the inter- val tliat was employed in reorganizing the French armies. (ienc.al Wurmfer was appointed to the fiego of Landau and Piiuce Cobourg invcftcd Conde; but the attention of the Allies was principally devoted to NAPOLEON BU0\AI'AR1\R. '279 Valenciennes, where the French General Dacnpierre was defireous of finduig protection for a new camp that he was about to form. The Duke of Yorlv com- manded the Britifti and Hanoverian troojjs, and took the principle diredion at this important poft, whicli was conduced with much credit to the Britifli arms; as, after a very long and ardent conteft, the enemy was obliged to abandon his camp, and leave both Conde and Valenciennes to the beiicgers. In one of thefc battles General Dampierre was killed; and his death was a very fevere lofs to the Fiench, as moft of their able generals were either under arreft^ or chafed away from the army, bv groundlefs fufpicions and accufations, yet the iol- diers defended their refpeftive garrifons with un- common brav'ery. General Cuftine, who had fcarcely been inferior to Duniourier in valour and fuccefs, had been as greatly difgufted at the conduct of the foldiers, and occupied a great length of time in endeavouring to restore difcipline in his army, without any very great eflecl. On this ground he was oi^ligcd to contmue on the defenfive; but, with the affiftance of General liouchard, and a few other able officers, he fecured this frontier from the inroads of the enemy. He had been obliged to fet fome very fevere examples of military execution in his camp; not\\ilhftanding winch, after an attempt to furprife the Pruiliaus at Sembach, he complained to the Convention, that he could gain no iucceis \\itii fuch troops. " Our artillery," laid he, " had great etiect, and the battle was much in our favour, but while our infantry was forming, our cavalry rode up towards them, which a battulionof our troops taking for the enemy, they rua *'^0 THE LIFE O? away, and could not be rallied. I did every thing to i-.op thtir flight, but in vahi, and in running off they fliot at our troops and behaved like cowards." A liivGurable period now offered for the*>peration3 cfthe Combined /\rnHCs; for in addition to the pau- city of officers, the diforgaujzed flaltol the army, the iiifurrettiohs in tlie country, and the fluctuations in the gcveriuTient, the Legiflativc Body itfelf was daily attacked by the menaces of the Parilians. Tlie »r!arcii of the troops into the interior of France might/ Jiot have been diflicull, if the invaders had happened to have blockaded the places they befieged. inftead ot remaining i'o Jong upon the frontiers. It dees not a;.;pear that tiie ComLined Powers uftd any endeavours to make either of tlie factions inftru* mental m overthrowing tlic rtft; nor docs it appear that either of them endeav(jured tofccureiticlf by the aid of the Combined Puv.-rs ; yet tlicy did not fail to a-jcuie each other of this corruption w'uh as much bitternefs as if thev were affured of each oil; trs guiit. Tt.'e BnlJiiLines were now entirelv outdone in crimes, tliey had un(iertakeu a race for which they were inad(-i]i.au ly equippet!; the Jacobins bid io much tiigher ihan ihev, thai ihe corrupted I'arillans were willing to take utf their head's as ruvalifts, ariuocrats, or ti aitoj"; of any nanif' lini^ mighcbe thrown at them ; and liaving fuhTiniteci to reftramt from tins party, in & few infiances, 'v' ry impatienily, they inlif.ed upon being oppoicd no furtlicr. Tlie trial of firengt.h between the parties com- menced I'jHM a difcLillion in the Convcnticm rela- tive to delivering G'Ti* ral Miranda over to the Pevo- iutionary 'i'nbuiuil, v.hich the Briffotiues had dcter- Uiincd to prevfiu, by denouncing JMarat himfelf. KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^6l He was accufed of inftigating the people to mafiacrej wiiich charge he only tinfwered by a decl:ariUion o* his Republican principles and his love for tlie people,, of whole attachment heproterted that he would foou convince the Convention ; and, accordingly, a moft. tremendous convulfion cnfued in the galleries, which prevented any further difcuilion. " He threatens to excite the people to infurredion," wasexclauned frona fevcral parts of the hall ; and, as foon as the debate could be refumed, his arreil was decreed. So far the BrilTolines triumphed, but the decree againft General JNIiranda palled alfo. The next day Pelion moved for the repeal of the latter decree; " Miranda," he faid» *' was facrificed by Dumourier, only for having the courage to denounce him four days before his trea- chery was revealed." This opinion would have been fupported by the Maratifts, if their accufations had had any other foundation than mere caprice ; but they had thrown embarraflments and difcord in the way of both Dumourier and Miranda from the fame motives, and, therefore declauned againtl fliewing lenity, to confpirators. The galleries, at the fame tune, applauded their fangninary doctrines, and hooted thofe members who fpoke in favour of Petion's mo- tion. The debate could not proceed until the mili- tary had cleared the hall, when Petion's motion was loft by the order of the d;!y. A ftiil more confpicuoiis triumph was obtained by the Jacobins a few days afterwards, upon t!ie ac- quittal of Marat from the charges -t exciting to mur- der and carnage, and conlpiring to diiTolve the Con- vention. The hall was afi'ailed oii ibe '^-l-thot April by a motley affemblage of thofe petitioners w inch had io frequeully been headed by I'etion. Santerre, &':. A a 3 282 THE LIFE OF who demanded permiflion to file tlirough the Anein- bIy,to teftify their joy at the acquittal of the "Friend of the People." Leave being granted, tlic ufitors proceeded to take pofleffion of tiie unoccupied feats, and a general fhout of, '* Long live the Nation! long live Marat i'' welcomed him to his place, to whicli he was conducted by a large body of the municipal officers and gendarmes. The deputies, as well as the mob, e\inGcd the moft frantic joy at the iniqui- tous acquittal of this fecret afTaffjii, and to him it was a vii^ory undifturbed, for the Briffotincs had prudently ftaid away. A few interlocutory debates upon the new Confti- tution, the necefhty of fecuring the Convention from diflurbance, and the infurredions in the departments and in the colonies, occupied the two parties till the Maratiffs had completed all their arrangements with the Parifians, for feizing all the members of the Con- vention who were obnoxious to them, and erecting themfclves into an oligarchy ihat fliould defy refift- ance. Tlie public mind being fufBciently agitated bv falfe reports of dangers and confpiracies, which nobody could trace, but everybody was fure would accomplifli the deftru(5^ion of every family in France; n fudden alarm was given, at four o'clock in the morning of the 3 1 ft of Way, by the firing of guns, and the founding of the tocfm, the great bell of the ^^•athedral. This was the ufual fignal of infurreftion and alarm; and it always had the effeft of thro wiiig the city mto the utmoft confufion. None but thofe who were immediately in the I'ecrct knew what were the ffaiigcrs to be apprehended, or how they were tn arpr lach or be avoidech The Convention would be the rallying point, in that cafe, as the paUce had fr.rnicrly beeii ; clucI, i;'":''iC opijoliiion fiiould not be i'u'.Ticicnlly powej'ful, a few iiiiia'iKnatory fp«eches from the faction iniglu arorifc their partilans to rulh upon the vicliais and malVacre th'.'i;; out of hand; in which event, the cere:rjony of falfe accufation would be fpared, and the rifk of acquittal iivoided. Such was the plan of Marat, l;ut it failed ; for there were at Paris a number of arnird voUuitetrs iVoni the departments whicii the; Hrifiotinc.-s leprefented, who mixed amongft the crowd, and by their pre- fence deterred the cowardly I'arilians from proceed- ing to their uiual ads of outragf>. In the Conven- Lion the moft violent tumult prevailed ; and the only faft that could be intelligibly underftood, was, that the adminii'tration and the police were divided, and that each party fufpeuded the other, and contra- vened its orders as often as it got the majority; and every unconcerned fpe6tator fav; that which ever of the parlies fliould mufter ftrongefv would accufe th^ other of the cv)nfpiracy. The Briflbtines, very fool- iflily, did not call out the armed men to their affill- ance, but trusted to their inviolability as members af the Convention; and therefore iMarat overcame them by mere noife and clamour. lie demanded a de- cree of accufation agaiafi: them as the accomplices of Dumourier, though no charge could be worl'e founded. The mob did not thinic proper to define their charge fo nicely, they would affign no other reafon for de- manding their heads but having " incurred their displeafure." Deputations were sent out to appeafe the people, and prevail upon them to let the Conven- tion proceed in its delibciations. It was fcarcely polfible to obtain a hearing; the members were per- ijoally infelted, and no anfwcr could be obtained est TliK LIFE OF \>'.:.l liic uriiiunn cry o:' •' Accufe ihcm ! accufe thf m :' At leiig'ib, av'.rcouuj by !\iU2ue and defpuir, the ^veak men juiaed ih'j hud men, and a decree of arrelt was paiVed, to coul'igii twenlv-tbiir of tlie re[)refentives and minifters, over to tli^- lluvolutionary Tribunal. Tiireo of ti.etn, however, h:id only been iiicluded iii liie dfiii'ind becaufe they had faid fomcthing to offend Legendre, the but(dHM-;and tiiortforc Marat inter- ceded to h:ive them dlfiuif.l'd, which reduced tliC number to tv.'cntv-or.e. Some of tlieie deputies were t;:ken in tlieir feats, and a few wt re arrcfied in al',;in; tn.g to conceal thenifelves : but the greater part o* ii;em efcaped into the departments, wiiere the Jacobins anticipated thenl with fo many calumnies, that manv of tiie;r own ]5artii'ans uere re:u]\- to abjure them as Royaiihs and traitors. Tliey were j)urfued exacllv as they had purfued the jxirtizans of the King, wit!j charges of the I'uuleu kind, wit hunt tlie fnadcv.' of proof, ap-d, tliough they had violattd no law, t'luy \\eie liunted as rebels, aucl a pi ice was fel ur. on tiieir ieads. I-^very prrfon, i'rom one boiMvdary of Fiance to the other, now law that tlie verv fliadow of liberty had d.cparled ;. and that if the mojoritv of the Con- vention poffefied thf means of ftifling the voice of the minority, tlie f\itern of leprefenlation was at aii end: and manv thoufands of thefe determined to rcfift the ufiirpalion td'tlio oligarchy; and very po.v- Mtul affocialions were formed in difterent part- f-; France, with a view to affiit the prof':-ribcd ct. punec- in r<. ftoring the Republic. F>xperience had not been fo advantageous to thofc d<f}iuti',s as might have been cxpcc'tcd ; nolwithliau'i- -NAPOLF.ON BUOKAPARTF,, 285 li.g the intrigues to which they had frequently re- i-H'ted, wheuever they had been determined to gaju a pfjint over the Royalifts, they liad no conception of feeing the fame arts pra6tifed againfl tlicmfelves'; and tl.'crefore many of tliem weakly imagined that ihey Ihould be perfectly fecure in their own inno- cence. Royalifts tlicy were not, and traitors they were not; this they could eafily provt;, whether they appeared before tl:e Revolutionary Tribunal or before liieir conh'.tuents in their feveral departments; and tfius fome chose to throw themfelves upon their trial and others into ihe arms of their friends. Having thus let them upon a defence wiiich fliould oblige them to avoid all connexion v.uth the Roy- alifts, thq^ Jacobins ajjpointed commiffaries in every place to charge them with a new and undefined crime, called Federalihn; the guilt of which they could maginfy in proportion as the people v/ere ig- uorent of its nature. Petion, Gaudot, Gorfas, and feveral other?, tra- velled intu tir.i Vv'eftern departments in dii'guife, aiui on their journey they difcovercd, tb.at, though they v.ere generally acquitted of royr.hi'm, great preju- dices were entertained againft thf ';i as fede/allfts. It was now that they law, for the firft time, the whole ex- tent of tlieir delufion. Tliey now learr.ed, that juftii e, to be pure, mi; il be a (hniniftered according to law ; ami that laws, t;) i>e jwlt, nuift ue pahed wilii oe'iberatioii. Now tliey had difeONered that la\'.s are ific offspring ol reaion, and that the pecvpie are guided by pailion; that it thepec.j)ie arc; Vac J'jurc':- of goverum'. liavenot leifuiet.) learn its pii:;( iU'Jg'uent is more Ireeucntiy 'i;. i iipHMence tiian,-of tuo cv. • : ;.li(y des; aiid ihal their *S6 THE LIFE OF griet they now faw, that a governmenL may be cheap without hQ.\ng good ; and, that while thcyhad been tconoiuical in expenfe, they had been diffipating every liinig which a good govcrnnieiiv. would have lecnred iheni. 'ijie bilterelt regrets deprived them tjf th'. ir energies; and, when ihi'V ariived ni liie cie- partnicnts, tiiey had n:jt the courage left to rnufter their p.irtilans, and hazard a iingie battle. About twenty of the fugitives arrived at Caen, in C'aivudoi, where thc-y found ti.e brave defender of Thio;ivilie (General ^Vinlp^en), at tiie liead of 2,000 men, and in the centre of eight departments which had declared agaiiitt the Convention. Tiie men v.ho had overthrown the r.afiille on ll:e 14lh of July, and the palace on the lOth of Aiigult, were feeking a refuge from the fcatfoid ; and tluy found themfelvfs in the midft of an empire: line Gorfas found cou- rage without the aid ot his eloquence, and Petion found fvjldiers without the ;tid (.f intrigue: here were fenators ciravai from tlio feat of legiflation ; and here was a people in want c^f a governnit nt ! Circum- ftaiices V. ere made lOr the in, thv'y weic not called upon lor any extraoidinary efiori; the only tlnng reijidred of tiietn v.a^, to have iollow( d lluir good foitune without goirii, ( ;;t of the ordinary courfe. A formal declaration ui tliiir legiflative unuui, and i'.n c.ihcial prc'tcft a^ainit the proceetiings ol the Con- viiilic;n, vouid Ijunc i.roi ght all the \Veftern depart- ments i,::der tneir i'aniier? ; r.r.d the poffciiion o, Lvieux, which C!','ne -.d Wunpfen would hare fe- cur((.i v.. til ]u,<:k.O 'rv: ; s, wo>uld have enabud them I.. l.aM:c;.t o!! the j rii.ci; al i'upplies frum]-*ai!?, ani f xciuf^i d it ircjin :•■:; cor.'ft. '1-Jien niight they hav€ tiiann'hea over the Cor/.ention. ami have faved iheii KAfOLEON BUOXAr\liTK. '2^,J country from what they conruiercd the nvcd'Qft ol" evils; but this their political bigotry wouhi -sot per- mit. They fulpeaed that both Cpncral Wni'y-fen and his partifans were Royalifts, and they could not fight for ju-rcicc in company with Royalifts, without Glaring it with them when it was obtained ;-~aii ide;- as fliockiPg to a Republican, as it would be 'for I Chnftian to admit an unbeliever into the same hea- ven with lumfelt". This faftidioufnefs obliged the Deputies to undci- take a freHi journey, in hopes of making up an army all of their own opinions; but they were fo long ia reaching Bordeaux, that the Convention had fo'Lnd means to fend troops before them, and the people had been difperfed for want of leaders : nothing re- mained but projeds of efcape, and thefe moftly failed them ; except Louvet (who was perhaps the leaft guilty amongft them) they all either fell into the hands of the Jacobins, or perifhed of hunger in their hiding-places. What the profound dellgns of Providence were, that promoted the extraordinary fuccefies of the Con- vention, pofterity alone will be able to judge; yet it^ can hardly be doubted, that any influence ihort of fupernatural, could have produced the blindnofs which difabled either the Republican Deputies, the Combined Powers, or the Emigrant Princes, from, confolidating the rebellion, which was, moie or lefs' fcattered ail over France at this time. Though the people were in want of leaders, they arofe,infome places, m very great numbers ; and, hi feveral inftances, were fo powerful as to be able to fend deputies to the Convention in defiance of its armed force,. thrtate::ing to march againft Paris un- -3S TilE MTE OF IcTs tLeir reprcfuntatives were iiberated. Angei:^, Bor'?caux, L}ons, RocLfort, Nantes, Caen, Marleil- ies, Toulon, St. INIalo, and all ibe neighbouring dif- trids, were ready to proclaim Louis XVII. and the Confiitution ''.f 1789, whenever a ftandard might > have been erc<^led for tiiem in a central point ; but the Princes did not appear, and the Combined Pow- f.rs neglected them; fo that the Convention found Siieaiis, by the terror of its police, and the power cjf ]is army, to prevent any regular correfpondence be- ing kept up between them. Still a mighty aimed force was found necefTary Iq check this widely extended iufurrection, and an ac- tive council migiit have overcome the difficulties that fuppreffed the energies of the inlurgents. Ge- neral \Vimpfen directed their attention to England ; and very properly, for, thoug!? there were many men of courage amongll them, there was not one who v'.as capable of becoming the animating foul of (o \u(t a bodv. An auxil c^ry power was therefore ne- I'pflary to found a folid balls for the general hope ; and that power was England, who could enfurc fup- plies in the hour of ftrugglc, and provide a retreat in the event of failure. But here again political bigotry oppofed itfelf: the Englifi! government would wil- lingly have affiftcd tlie Iloyulifts, but deneral ^^'imp- fen defended Thionville ; Ijovv could he be a Royal- ifl r he was as bad as Dumourier. But, even fuppofe it to be pr(jper to treat with him, and his confidant M. Puifaye, was it poflible to ad with the Brif- folines? No, they had been King-killers and Pvepub- licans ; and to admit the ponibility of their repent- ance, would be a difavowal of all the doctrines thai liiid been advanced tonccrning them. Thergwnsvet NAPOLEON BUONAPAUTR. 2*^9 no rieceffity lor fuch a concrfllon ; for tbe Bj i ., army had but recenlly entered the field, and it >^ .; gathering laurels very rapidly upon the tr.;ntiMF: \n the. regular way. After a ftruggle of four lonriihs, which had been equally credUahle to tl.egail lur of both fides, the Combined Army had game'i |>(ilTt.'f- hon of Valenciennes, Conde, andQaefnoy; Mentz, having fuftained a very defperate fioge, ha i furren- dered to the Pruflians; and, as far as h.ard fighimg went, every thing was to be expefted from the Royal troops. VOL I—NO. IX, 250 THE LIFE OP CHAPTER XIX. General Cujline deprhed of his Command, and guil- iotined—-Houchard appointed in his Stead.-— The Duke of York defeated at Dunkirk. — Savguinari/ Decrees of the Convention. — Dreadful Majfacres. — Tlic Death of Marat, hj Charlotte Cordt.—~Her intrepid Conduct, and her Execution xcith a young Man, xcho offered to perifk fur her. — Marat's Funeral. — Barrere procures the Queen's renwial to the Concicrgcrie. — Her Execu- tion. — Charaftcr of the Jacobins. — A Decree of a general Confcription, to recruit the Armies, andfurnijh them, with Kecr^aries, t^c. — Defpotifm of Barrere^ Tallien, SfC.—Houchard, Lucbier, Madame Roland, Egalite, S)'C. guillotined. — The French determine to prolong the War tcith England, and prohibit Englijh Goods.. — Declining State of the French Trade. — Effects of the Abolition of Slavery in the French Colonies. JlHREE different plans were now propofed by tlie different powers for facilitating and inarch to Paris," one was for directing the principal operations againfl the departments of t'le Norlii and of Calais; the fe- cond, to foice their wav to tlie metropolis by the Seine, and the rivers contiguous to it; by means of whicli, it would be an cafy matter to convey all the ftores and heavy artillery ; and the third was, to take advantage of the confufion into which the Republic ■was thrown by the surrender of ^'alenciennes, &c. which had led to the accufation and execution of a great number of generals ami officers, and to march ▼i'ith a very ftrong force from thence towards the capital. In either event, Spain was to penetrate o» NAPOLEON BUOKAPARTR. S^l the fide of the Pyrennecs, and Pruifia on that of tlxe Kliiiie. Of these propositions, the. firft was adopted^ and the Auflrians undertook, to reduce Camhray., while the Duke of York inarched to bcliege Dun- kirk ; and this gave the Conventiow the only advan- tage it wanted, which was time to place aVl the re- sources of the Republic at the disposal of undoubted Jacobins. The Comniiffioners ftationcd nith the army had an ojiportunity of discoveiing the talents and prin- ciples of the different ofilcers, and they made no scru- ple of railing a fubaltern to a command, al the ex- pence of his superior ofticer, if they faw the fmalleft preference. General Cuftine, who had undertaken the unpopular tafk of reforming the vices of his army, found himfelf fo much difliked, that he would not renture to attack the Combined Armies, fo long as they were contented to wafte their time in battering down fortreffes. He knew (hat the time which they loft would be of the grcateft advantage to him in training the hordes of recruits wliich daily arrived from the departments; and that a few weeks would put him into a condition to recover all that had been, loft by the retreat of Dumouricr. Not fo methodical neve the reafonings of the CommifTioners, they ima- gined that in a little time the Combined Powers might jccover tlieir fenfes, and the lives of forty or fifty thoufand undifcipiined fokliers were nothing to them j they would put double the number in training to be ready to fupply their pUicc^ ; and if the general would not afiail the enemy's intrenchments with the army that he had got, they would appoint fome general that would. His military objections were of U'.i avail; and only ferved to prove that he was a« 2<^'2 I HE LIT EOF Ariftocrat, by his attachment to an old fyftem, and therefcrfc tbey bad him arrefted, upon the charge of affifling the eneuiv, by his mancejvres and delays: - r,o coniideration v.as paid to his foimer fervic; s and victories; gfatiUKJe. was a weaknefs which a Re- publican would have been aAamed of having been feen to practice; and to prove himfelf wholly inca- pal;.le of its ijifiuence, was a Jucohiu x'lrtue, \Vith- out hfcjitalion, therefore, General llouchard was ap- pointed Commander-in-Chief and Cuhiue was gull- ioLined as a traitor. Various trifimg fuccefTcs brought the Duke of York bef^Dre Dunkirk on th« 2Jlh of Auguft; but by G fpocies of criminal negligence, which invariably prevails.'d under i\Ir. Pitt's ii<Ui:iniuratioi,, Uie naval force, which was to have co-operated with his Royal liighnefs, did not arrive in time;' and the French .were enabled to colleft troops from the armies of the Rhine and IMofelle before the Biitiih were in readi- nefs to cemrnence the attack. On the 7th of Sep- tember, therefore, General Houchard falhed out of the garrifcn, and l)y an irjpctuous onfet, iupported by Ins gun boats, coniplfltiy routed the befiiging nrmy, and took the greatcft part of the artillery and ftores. Ihe hege of Cambrarv fucceeded no better; and it became evident that ll^is plan was wholly ineh;- ciont. ?.I;:nv cf the powers were now d'tcouraged at their ill fuccefs; and as it was conndered tliat England had the louof ft vcic? in forming \hv arrange- icnts, th'v ex];( c;c-(i her to ]:2y a ccni'iderable part '■i t}}eir expenles, ;:s the piice of iheir further co- operation. I'higlanJ, on the contrary, becaoieinors ♦.arncfl in the conieft, in proportion us fne was driven NAPOLEON BUON'APARTE. 2^3 further from her obje6t; for, as the war had been undertaken by her Miniflers, chiefly with a view to fecure their own phices, and the fyfteni of corrup- tion by which they procured their popularity, they were willing to make any facrifice rather than ac- knowledge a defeat. Some naval advantages had been obtained, and very exteiif.vc arrangements were mak- iiig, by which the French Cohaiies in the Eaft and V/eft Indies were to be put into the hands of Great Britain by their Commanders; which encourage- ments induced the ?Jiniftry to grant fubfidies to mofc of the powers of Europe ; and thus it was deter- mined to try the event of anollier campaign. The interior of France became cveiy day more convuifcd, and fcarcely a town or village efcaped the punifliu^ent of military execution. Ariltocrats, Roy- alifts, Priefts or Federalifts were fupuofed to be con- cealed by their friends all over the country, and the moft fevere and fanguinary decrees were pailed by the Convention againft ihofe unliappy perfons, and aU who ailil'tfcd them. Children were dragged to execu- tion for endeavouring to pieferve their pareiUs from the fcaffold , and wives for fliewing aCls of kindnefs to tlieir hufbands under fentence. PulTtogers were no*-, idiowed to travel the roads withuul having their paCi- ];orts witPieiTed at every turn} ike; nor any inhabitant to go to reft till he had furniflied the police with a lift of all who were to deep under his roof. Evciy means were contrived to aftbrd an excufe for de- ftroving the people, as if the Convention had coa- fifted of monfters, who only took pleasure in flied- ding of blood ; yet was the example of BliuxuSjand that moie recent oneof iheir own heroic countryman, I'ARis, loft upon thefe pufillanimous Frengbmen -, £ b 3 20i THE LirF or and it was loft to a young woman to inflid juftice upon the leader of iht-fe wretches, Charlotte Corde, from Caen, in the department of Calvados, conceived the defign of freeing her country from the dominion of ^Nlarat, whom flie confidered as the greateft monfter upon earth, notv.ithftanding flic was afl^ured that her life would fall a facrifice to the undertaking. Anxious for the accomplilhmeiit of her defigns, Ihe wrote hini a letter on tlie l'2th of July, intimating that Hie had rnatters of the kift im- portance to communicate, on wn;eli the I'ulvation of the country might he fuid to depend. Xo aufutr being returned to tliis requeft, ihe madealeccnd ap- plication in thefe words: " f lave you received my letter? if you have rectived it, I reft on your poli.e- nefs. It is enough tliat 1 am unfortunate to claim your attention.'' On ilie ].3Lh, in the eveinng, flie procured admittance, wl^en the convr rlation tumeti on the alarming fituation of Can, and the views of the Pe])uties who had theie taken I'efege. jMajat, obferved that it would not be long b^cfore the traitor!* ihould be appreliended, and pay for their rebellion hy the forfeiture of tlieirheatJs epona IcatTold. lids declaration llred the heroic Charlotte with inconceiv- able rage ; and, linding a favourable moment for the accom])llflnnent of h.er deligns, flie pluiigcd a dagger to his heart. The perpetration of this deed infpired her with no trepidation : flie departed from the houfe with manifcft fymptoms of tranquillity ; and on being informed, when arrcfted, that (he would unqueftion- ably be pundhed with death, hxr conduct to the otTicers exhibited the moft fovcreign contempt. She was tri<*d the fame day bjefore the Revolu- tionary Tribunul, where the lirmnefs of her anhvcrs j: f t K «5. IV ■S \' \_ I % //// '. NAPOLEON BUOXAPARTE, 2^5 anci the intrepidity of her manner, excited general admiration. Siie treated the phalanx of herinfamous judges with a degr.?e of contempt, that fliewed how little jiiftice flie thought was to be obtained from them. " Wiiere was the necellity of bringing me before your" faid Hie, " I thought I fliouidbe giveu up to the rage of the Parifums. and be torn to pieces by them ; I hoped that my head, ftruck at the top of a pike, would have preceded Marat en hisftate bed, to be a rallying point to Frenchmen, if there areftill any worthy of being called i'o ; but if I am not to be fo honoured, my memory will foon be honoured by all France." Sentence of death was imniediately pronounced upon this heroine, and ihe was guillotined the fame d-iv. This glorious deed appears worthy of greater aa- miration, as it was the e.^ed of pure patriotifm. T:ie gallant maid had fpoken to Barbaroux, Louvet, aiwi feveral of the Deputies at Cten, without in- timating her deiign, or betraying any emotions of iufpicion; nor was Hie any way alTeded by the cru- ellies of the Convention, than as flie witnessed, in common with every other perfon in France, the wanton flaughterand devaflation that were fcattercd all around by Marat's fyftem. She had undertaken tiie journey on purpofe, and knew what would be ■ the iffue as to herfeli". The virtue of this one damfel did more good to the caufe of mankind, than all the councils, and all the princes, and ail the armies who railed their puny ftrength againft that iiifamous Convention. Sl;e in- fpired her countrymen with a degree cf refentment which, as it will be feen in the fefjuel, accomplifhed her own prophecy. Her fate was hardly pronounced 96 TiiE LIFE or when a young man, fired with admiration at her firmnefs, intreated the judges to accept him in her place, and to be guillotined infiead of her. His pe- tition they would not grant, but they lent him to the guillotine with her. Another man, a rr.e.mber of the Convention .^Adani Lux), penetrated with equal ad- miration, haftiiy compofed an oration in honour of the action, in which he proj.ofed to ered a ftatue to the heroine, iiiiciibed, Grevvter tiia>; Brutus, His head alfo tlicy cut oth Marat was buried wi'Ai great funpral pomp, and the ceremony was attenclcd by all tlic Members of the Convention, and all the afialTins of Paris: an.d, to teftify their attaciiinents to his bloori-thirfty ienti- ments, the Convention ordered his buft to be placed in their hall. No immeciiatxj effect was prouaced by the death of this anarcliift, l"or the government was in the lianris of a Committee of Public Safety, con- filling of feven cf his puvefi f'iilciples, who feldoni ventured to take breath, v;ithout locking round to i'ee what heads they could cut off. Out of about 37,000 victims that they liad fecured in t;ie ditiei'ent prifons of the Republic, they fuid for fome time over- looked the Queen and her children. Their fpokcf- man, Barrere, the greatcft cov.ard in all Franco — the moft complete poltroon in all Euro'pe, now aiked Jeave of the Convention to make the neceffary ar- rangements for fending her Majeft}' to the guillotine, in the mcd't otTenfive manner t!;at could be devifed. Accordingly, at 12 o'clock at night, on the iftof Au- gnft, two police oihcers were fent to the Temple witU a hackney coach, to remove her froni tliC Temple to the common prifon. The removal was attended with every circumftance of fyftematical crudity. He* N'APOLEON BUONAPARTE. 297 Majviiy was not allowed a nioinenl's nutice, but was uL'ligetl to rife cat of becl-ai:d deliver up yvery jirlicle fi.'f had to the otficsrs, Vliich only conlilted of 25 Louis, and her pockct-bijok. The wretches fuffered her to take leave of her fifter Elizabeth and her daughter, but rcfufed to let her fee her fon, adign- ing as a reafon, that " he was innocent, and would not futlor j" which was clearly indicating to her that both the Pi incefs Elizabeth and the Princeis Royal were to follow her to the guillotine/ After being confined two months at the Concier- gerie, in a ceil eight feet fquaie, half under ground, with no other furniture than a bag filled with firaw to fieep upon, and a foun diet; the innocent, the gener- ous, the dignified, the perfecuted, Maria Antoinette, ('^ueen of France, daughter of JSiaria Therefa, and fifter of the Emperor Jofcph, was brought before the Ptcvolutionary Tribunal, to receive its predetermined fentence. It would be mockery to fpeak of a trial, for no I'uch proceeding took place in France during two years, from the 10th of Auguft 179'^' The fen- tence of llie Queen, and every other perfon, that was paii'ed in that period, whether of acquittal or con- (Itmnation, was determined by thofe infamous judges before they caiiie into court, v.'ilhout any regard to *i)e evidence, whatev;:r it might be. ■J'he murder of this Frincefs took place amidft the ihouts of the Parifiarjs, and all the courage and gal' I'nitry of thf iircat nation was collected to overwhelm a:id inlult a feeble — defeiicelefs women! Three per- fons w*:re detected in dipping their handkerchiefs in iur blood ; they were inftautly arrefted ; — liow they '•vcrc diipof'.'d of is unknown, they v, ere ne\erlibe- 298 THE Lii i: or icitcd, but ihey were never executed, at le'dh not publifly. Barrere ant! his alTociates had been guilty of fo many crimes, that they kn>;,u' the raoft exemplary punifliments would overtake them if they did notfe- cure their power,as well againft the Cornbip-ed Armies and liie Royalifts, as againft the Republicans, now everywhere in arms. To the members of tins go- vernment the deftruction of all France wao nothing, compared with their own prefervation ; and accord- ingly they refolved ujion fuch a comprehenfive fyftem of requifitionj as fliould place France, with every be- ing, animate and inaniinate that it poiTeired, at their ownabfulute and uncontrouled difpofal. It was not enough, that by the conftant facrifice of life, and the confequent confifcaticnc of wealtli, the national do- nmins rapidly incrtafe in their hands; they would not be fatisfied till the whole property of France was in their pov.er aifo : accordingly Barrere propofed to the Convcnlion a decrte for obliging ever!/ per/on to ddircr in a trucjlutement of his tj/iuIc property, and hew it had been acquired ; " in order that the Committee of Public Safety might raife a loan \\ithont opprelT- ing the pour." I'he nonnna! amount of tlie ioua was fJiily twelve n-.ilUons; but, thau^h the crafty Conii.duce had laid it fo low, tlie wary mendiers of the C<;nvcution faw its ccni; quencci fo clt^irarly, that they wifiicd tiif re) ortei to rt co;;A<-/f?- his motion be- fore he pit fiVd il upon the Afiembly. In truth there were a tew delicate feelings, Ly which iome of the leading Jacobins were governed, that the Committee did not calculaie upon-, and, which not being ot a nature io admit of ejij'liination.Lept them blundering NAPOLEON BUOXAPARTT.. 2.99 on upon many occalions, wiien their nieafures did not meet with entire approbation. The fqui'amiihntfs of the Convention upon ttiis occiilion did not ariCe out of any objf^^Hon to fucfi a trifling loan ; nor to its being a forced loan ; nor even to its putting all the j)roperty of the country into the hands of their Committee ; thefe were altogether burdmis which the legillators could have contrived to throw upon the Shoulders of others, but it was a very diti'orent.tliing when the Committee came to talk of every man giv- ;;ng anaccount how he acquired his money; yet what hunterafter popularity could appe;irto reuft a projio- htion which would transfer all the riches of the Arif- tocrats and Royalifts at the mercy of the Republic. To explain the particular motive for the caution of the legiflature upon this folitary occalion, it is neccf- fary to obi'ervc, that the Jacobins themfelves con- lilted of two diftind and very different clafles of men, at lealt of beings, which for want of appropriate terms are defignated men. One of thofe clahes were mere philofophicalcut throats— lioneft fellows, wlio openly avowed their objed, and publicly declared their de- termination to wade to it, even though it might be through feas of blood. The ruling pafiion of thefe demagogues was ambition, and if tliey could but be great, they neither wanted to be ricli, luxurious, gay, nor agreeable; in money matters, therefore, they were fcrupuloufly exacl ; and their duty was per- formed with the ftrictelt regard to moral rectitude ; they could, confequcntlyjhave no objection to the ex- amination of all their accounts by theCommiflioners of the Republic. To this clafs belonged Marat, Bar- rt re, Robefpicrre, Danton, Carnot, Billaud Vaiennes, Collet Herbois, and all the members of the Com- son THE LIFE OF nuttee. The diircrpnce between this clafs and th» ]\(-j)ub!ican3 was, that the liittcr would j;ot ciTccl an ot.jtrch bv ux-u';^ o!' bi()f)cin!ed, till ihey iiad palled laws wi'.ich Hioukl cloak theii' itijurricc, and f'aniiliry tiieir critnf "^j whereas tJiis firil cla^s of Jacobins re- quired no ci'Jtik at all, and regarded the law as au Bniv'ce;T;irv enibarraflrnent. The fecond clafs were p::;riV(:tly uiiited v,':rh ;hp i^-i"r in their determinations to afconip^iih thtir ob'cci. v. h;Uever facrifice itniiolit rt. qv.ire; but tiiere was a flight dinerence of opinion th;al they ii;:d thon5j;lu ]u'Oj)er lo conceal, and which related to that ar.ide of rigid patriot! fm that called upon a porfon to conllne his wants within what might jM'operly bta called his own property ; in fine, they liad rcjcfttjd this article as v.diolly fuperfluous in the Jacobinical creed ; lor they could not ctimprehend wliy any perfon lliould fet up the trade of robbing and murdering thofe who polTelTed the good things of tlip world, uiilefs they were allowed to referve a con- iiderable })oi tion of thofe good things for tliqir own enjoyment. Of this clafs was Santerre, Tallien I.-e- gendrt-, Lecohitre, the liebertiftp, ancJ a great part of the Convention, wr.o had indulged themfelves in many expenfivc^ habits, which they could not maintain if they were not allowed " to profit by the reign ot jiberiv," and this would be impoiIib)(>, if the iiupairy proi.ujl'ed by the Coniniitlcc w(;re to be fet alioat. Agcntlereconmiejidation toBarrere to re-cojiiitier his motion, was all tliat could be laid upon the fulj- 'iecT' ; and if the Commit'ee fliould be too dull to take tlie hint ; — why, tlien, faid Tallien, " patience." No other part of the j^lan was objected to, and it was decreed, that all unmarried men and widowers, from till i'ge of IS to ?.5, Oiould march lo the armies, and NA>OLEOy r.UONAPAaXE. 301 that men of all ages fliould be put in requifition. 'I'liat married men (liould forge arms and tranfijort provilious ; the women make tents and clothes, and wait in the hofpitals, and make lint of old linen ; and the old men (hould canft themfclves to be carried to the public fquares, to excite the courage of the war- riors, to preach hatred of kings, and the unity of the Republic. That the national edifices fliould be con- verted into ftorehoufes; yhe ground of the cellars be waflied with ley, to extrad fakp^tre ; that all horfes, carriages, mufkets, fowling-piepes, and arms of every kind, ihould be delivered up for ^he uie of the Re- public. That all the plate of the churches fhould be coined for the national treafury, and all the bells be melted to be caft into cannon ; and that the re- prefentatives appointed to enforce thefe decrees lliould be invefted with unlimited authority. So far fecure, the next objedl of the Committee was to provide for its. own permanency, which might be hazarded by the adoption of the conftitution, that had been long under difculiiou ; for that conftitution being truly Republican, had guarded againft the P'ofTibility of any governaient continuing in power againft the will of the people, it was therefore the project of this Committee to prevent any conftitu- tion being adopted. With this view, Barrere propofed (Auguft 28), that France fliould be confidered in a ftate of revolution, until all the other pov.'ers fliould have acknowledged the Republic. I'his ])ropofition was a bribe to the Conventioti; for being only chofen for ihe purpofe of forming a conHitution, it was at a lofs for an excufe that Oiould juftify its refufal to diflblve, but here it VOL. J,— xo. IX. G c 302 THE LIFE OF was provided ; and the nation, after all the horrors it had fuffered in the name of libertv, was robbed of its franchises by a haily decree. Now the Taliiens and tlie Legend res were, not merely kings— thofe unbluftiing men, (who, not one year before had plunged their country into a civil war, to retrieve it, as they pretended, from the yoke of a chief magif- trate, every one of whofe adions was regulated by the law) were tyrants, created without law, and placed above the law. Inquiry into their conduct Kow, if not feverely fcrutinous, they might find means to overcome; and fhould the Committee be flupid enough to become troublefome, fome means might be found to send them by the fame road as the Briflbtines. Without limiting the expenditure of the Commit- tee therefore to any fum, it was inftantly decreed, ** That all perfons fliould give an account of their property and pofleflions, and that fuch an afielTment (hould be made as the Committee of Finance (hould think proper." The EngliHi government had very expeditioufly fent a reinforcement to the Duke of York, under Sir Charles (now Earl) Grey, \\hich enabled the Al- lies to maintain a ftand in Flandeis longt-r iha'i the French expeded ; and they thought it nectflaiy to ftrike terror into the army, and to ftimulate it to exertions of tijc moft de-fperate kind, by a new exam- ple of fevt'rity. Barrere, tlierefore moved for leave to hav-^ General Houchard guillotined ; "becaufe," faid he, " fo!nefa(5ls expofe him to ftrong fufpicions; firft, that, after defeating the Engliih, h'i did not throw them into the fea ; fecondly, that when he fur- rounded the Dutch he did not cut them to pieces ; J^'A^.Ji.'/..v-/>/.j^ NAPOLEON BUONAPAKTE. 303 thirdly, that he fent no fuccour to the troops at Cani- bray ; and, fourthly, that m retreating from Menin, he expoied his rear to great danger." It need hardly be faid that Houchard was guillotined. Mar- Ihall Luckner followed him fhortly after, as alfo Madame Roland, becaufe (he would not declare the place of her hulband's concealment; then Philippe Egalite, Duke of Orleans, and twenty-one of the Briflbtiues. This number having been completed, al- though Petion, Roland, and many others, were not yet taken, ftill it was thought that the Conventioa was not fufficiently jD«re/fec?, and therefore fifty-four more of the menvbers were arrefted, who were occa- fionally guillotined, as the Committee found thofe executions neceffary to anfwer its purpofes. The Jacobin government was perfonaliy as deeply interefted in th e/wcce/i of the war as that of England; but, after the decree of the 28th of Auguft, it was ftrongly interefted in its duration ; for fhould peace be concluded, it would be impoffible " to conlider France in a ftate of revolution." Regarding England therefore as become the principal in the war, the Committee of Public Safety adopted fucha conduft towards that governmei»tas fliould irritate it beyond the pffibility of reconcilistion. Barrere ufed occa- fionally to make pompous harangues, for the purpofe ot whfit he called denouncing theEnglifh government, Billuad Varennes thought the moft offenfive thing that could be done, was to talk of a defcent upon England, and toinfult both the government and peo- ple by abufn e language, " We nmft attack Rome in Rome itfelf," said i;e; "let the fate of Carthage be the fate of England, and let her proud capital be levelled to the duft !" and, fliortly afterwards, a raea- 304 THE LIFE OF fure of vindictive malice, which was not againfl the government but againft the people, m as adopted ? all English gotfds and manufactures were ftriftly prohi- bitcr; throughout France, which it was idly fuppofed would convert ail the manufacturers of Birmingham, Sbefrifcld, ?iIaTichtfter, and Giafgow,into ueggars,and totally ruin the country. Meantime tlie Britiili navy was fo fiicccfriful, and opened f- many new cliannels cf commerce, that tliis fooliih decree was hardly felt ; and, in a few years, the trade of England encreafed to fuch an afioniPning extent, th^at more merchants and others made fortunes in England between the years 179S and 18C0, tlian ever were made in any age or ■ tountry in the f-n^.e fpace of time. Inflead of ruini.ng England, the Convention was eonkantly lier.ring of fon:e new difafter happening to the trade and ccmuiercc of France, until it becairui nearly annihihttcd. Decrees had been palled for granting libe ly to :he (laves ; and tiiey had not been merely freed fiom their iniquitious bondagc,but their uninformed minds had imbibid, within about two }ears. as m-.:n'^ crude notions about liberty and equably, as would have required a whole century to digcft. 1 h» pocu- creatures were not fmiply informed tiiat tlieir mafters were ivrants andopprelforSjbut they were left without any guide, as to the moral obliga- tions impoled on them bv their new condition ; and as it never occured to thern, that in the re':o\ery of their rights, thev were fnil bound to tije performaiice of dutii-S. liiey co),ceived freedom from fervice to mean freedom from labour; and by a literal con- ftruction oftlie doctiines they v.-ere taught, they ex- pected to (hare land as v. <.'il as liberly with liieir uiaf.trs. idieneis and want fooii i'pread themfehes KAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 305 through all the black tribes in the Weft Indies ; and then they proceeded to pillage the ^vhites^ which being refifted, many dreadful ravages and flaughters took place; the repetition of which, the ccnftitutcd authorities were incapable of prevcntiiig. .Various applications were made to the Mother country by the j)!anters, but the Comniiffioners.appointed by Go- vernmetit, were equally as frantic in their notions of liberty as the legiflators themfelves, fo that the planters faw no probability of an equitable fyflem being eftablifiied ; and, at laft, the Convention learn- ed that the Colonies had invited the Englifli to tak« pofTelhon of them. ^ 306 THE LIFE or CHAPTER XX. Agreement befxcecn the Tonloncfe and the Englijh to deliver 7.'p Tovlon-^The Combined y^rtkies oltaii' pnf- fefiun of'ioaUm and the French Tleet. — The exertions of the National Comnnllioncrs fo retake the Town. — Thr French take Fort Faron, arc driven from it, and the]: l'^eta(hv:cnt vfterlt routed. — General O'Uara arrives at Tordon as Governor. — Diigommier appointed to the Vnnnnand of the Army before Toulon which is reiiifcrced by the' Army from Lyons — Bu.o N ap a rte appoi;!fed to the Command of the Artillery by the interejl if Salicc.'ti uii'Ii Barras. — His firft operation fuccefs- in!, for J althoii'sh his Troops xccre driven from their Fojl, the Governor, O'Hara, is uounded and made Frif- cver, and the French regain their Poftion. — The French purfiie the Siege vigoroujly. — Mount Faron attacked by the Combined Troops, who are at length routed. — Bvd- naparie fignnlizcs hinfelf in the Action. — His difdain of Fnst ruction J roin Barras.— Toulon evacuated. — The dreadful fituation of the Inhabitants. The French Fleet in the Harbour partially destroyed.— The French re enter I'uu'on, and indif criminal tly butcher the Peo' pic, dc.'froy the Town, and celebrate theEvait at Paris iy a Test it ah— —'l hi. Southern In fur regions. — The Siege and Capture of Lyons, and the dreadful Fate of the City and its Inhabitants. Although the evil genius of tbe Englifli mi- i)iftry prevented them from fending any auxiliary force to the ports in the Channel, tlie contiguity of which to their shore, would have enabled them to have pourrd in fiipplies enough to have encouriiged i»iiu collected all the Infurpents before the Conven- NAPOLEON BUONAP A.UTE. 30f tion were prepared for refiftance ; the chance of get- ting pofTeflTion of a French fleet was two powerful a temptation to perniit ihcm to refufe a fimilar invi- tation from the iiihabitants of Toulon. By an ar- raniiement entered into between certain Commif- fioners from that port and Marfeilles, on the part of their fellow citizens, and Lord Hood, on behalf of Great B;itain. it was agreed that those ports fliould be delivered up by the inhabitants to the Englilh, to be retained until peace fhould take place ; and in the event of the IVIonarchy being reftored, then to be returned to France. The execution of thofe conditions, as far as re- lated to MarfciP.: s, was prevented, by the Republi- can Getieral Carteau taking polTenion of it before the Britifli troops arrived there, ^j'oulon fell into the hands of Lord Hood ; and it was in thai, diftant region that the Britifli government commenced a co-operation with the Royalifts, which nearly ex- haufte'] the hopes of that patriotic body, and became the procuring caufe of fixing the deftiny of France, by hi ft difplayingthe fliill, and introducing into pub- lic notice that extraordinary genius, which at every moment fubfequent to that period has influenced the Hero of thefe pages. Aftff r fome refiftance on the part of the Frencli fleet in the harbour of Toulon, which was occafloned by a difi'erence between Admirals TrogofF and St. Julien, its commanders, a part of the Englilh troops were landed ; but' fcarceiy had they taken poflef- fion of the place and the fleet, when Barras and Freon, the two National Commiflioners at Mar- feilles, made incredible exertions to regain Toulon. The Convention eagerly co-operated, by tranfmitting 30b THK LIFE OF enormous funis t ) tb.e Southern Departmciits, for the raiung and feqi.i]';.;:)^ an iiuaicrife multitude of new balicilinns. Sori;r ilciriuifiiing enfuc-d bet'.vccn the French and Eugliln noOj.J, which ended in the Fr(:n(;h obtaining one of the advanced poils, and compelling the Co- alefced i oiccsto eoucciurate ilicmjelvcs within the forts that protectee) liir place, f'he Englifh tre<5led redoubts on all the li!^ i^ahts, and furrdfhed them with the cannon tiikeu from the lower decks of the I'rench line ofLattie fl)ipS;aud la'ge reinforcements of SpjniO), Sardihiai', and Sicilian troops arrived to the fuccour of the tiarrifon. Ban as and Freron, CV-iiiniiflioners from the Coii- vention, afit-'mbled ail llie young men in rtcjuiiilion from the departments ; ihcy were lupplitd with an immeme quantity (<f artillery, and a reinforcement of 2-j,000 troops weie ordered troni L}ons, Kach army was en.>p!oyed in auackiiig and deleuding de- tached polts ; and the heights of I.a Graj/b Vvcre de- fended by i.tav_\ cannon, dragged up a very fteep af- cent with ii finite labour and extraordinary difpatch. The French were equally indrdati^ablein the night of the 30ih of Sej/tember; they niade an attack on fort Faron and lucceeded. So inipcrtanl was the pofftllion of this poft, which was abandoned by the Spamfti garrifon, that it was, even at that period, calculated to render the poiielhon of Tc/ulon pre- earious. A council of officers immediately afl'em- blef1,and it was determined tore-obtain the redoubt. An obftinatc engagement w as tought, and the French upon the heights, at length abandoned Faron ; and not more than a fourth of theirnuniber returned to head quarters ; for thole who did not fall by the hJAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 309 bullet or bayonet, broke their necks in tumbling headlong over the precipices in their flight. The il.i;glifh afterwards fucecedexl in deftroying two new batteries which were likely to annoy the licet; but inch was the ardour and perieverance of ti;e French, that a detachment under General Lapoype, florined and took polTeifion of the heights of Cape Brun. The fuecefs of tliis event, acquired by fupeiiority of numbers, rendered the fate of the garrifon daily more hazardous. About the end of October a reinforcement fron:i GibraUer arrived, under the command of Lieutenant General O'Hara, who had been appointed Governor of Toulon, and afterwards, by a commiflion under the great feal of England, he, and Lord Hood and Sir Gilbert Elliot, were appointed Commiflioners Plenipoteniiury of his Britannic IM-ujefty. Dugora- niier was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the French army : he had diftinguiflied himfelf by his Victories over the forces of the Kmg of Sardinia, and the foldiers v/tre niucli attached to him. The De- puties furuitlied cannon, ammunition and provifions in abundance : whatever llie bcrfiegers required, was obtained by immediate requilitions ; and all the ex- }):oits of the Republican troops were at once witneflT- <:d ai;d rewarded by tliu repreientatives of the peoiile. Lirge reinforcements an ivtd from Lyons, and invelt- c.i the city with animated expectations of fuecefs. The Frencii Deputies hud fuperintendcd the ar- rangement of an immenfe body of artillerv, which WMb (^ppoa'd to the great naval arfenal of the South. Tilt; conqut'ft or furrcnder of this avlena] it was dcteriiiiiieti iiioulci Le obtained at any lale. '1 ho imjiortauce of the fcrvice required that it fliould be 5H) THE LirE OF committed to the management of an engineer, every ■way woi l.hy of tiie occufion ; and the Deputies deli- berated with caution before they ventured to nomi- nate a jjcrfon to the aj-pouitment. At length, Napoleon Buonaparte, who had re- entered the eorps of artillery, and ferved in it as a lieutenant, was recommended by his countryman Sulicetti, the Deputy from Corfica, and one of the National Couunilhoners with the army at loulon, to Bai ras, who UDmediately promoted him to the rank of General, and gave him the conmiand of the artillery deftined for the reduAion of the arfenal. T he event juftified the prudence of the appointment, for our Hero contributed, by his military talents, greatly to eliecl the decifion of both the fate of Toulon and of France. The lirft military operation of Buonaparte w^as decilive of fuccefs. Seeing that the poflcflion of Mal- boufquet, one of the prineip;il outpofts of Toulon, v.ould enable him to bomb^^rd ihe town and arfenal,, he opened a ftrong l)attery of heavy cannon and mortars on the height of Arenes, which annoyed that jKjiition exceedingly, bv means ol an incell'ant fjre of (hot and ihclls. G(jvtrnor O'iiara obierving the neeciiitx oi taking in;nie(!uUc and titectuul inea- furf.s icr the fecurity of fo i .poriant a polt, deter- nniitd to deltroy the new work?, which were termed the Ci,nventi(in Battery, and cairv off the aitilicry. Having piocuied a reinforcement of fean)en from the tUet, to defend a poft, from whuh he propofed to wiiiuiiaw fv;nu' Biilifh loldiers ; at five o'clockm the morning of ihe ^Olh ot November, a coi{)S of 400 Brit;/]i, 300 Sardinians, 6'00 Neapoiilans, 6'00 Spaniards, and 4-00 frcnch, uiarched from tli^ town, NAPOLEON BUO.VAPAftlT;, ^n ■Knder the command of Sir David Diindas. Not- withliaudiiig they were obiig. d to crofs the new nver, on out- bridge onlv, to divide alterwards into four columns, to march acrofs olivo grounds, inter- f^ded by ftone walls, and to ufcend averyronfi 'er able height, cut uuo vine: terraces, they fucceeded hi furpnhngthe redoubt; but, iaftead of forming uoon and occupying the long and narrow fuoimit of die lull, agreeable toof.lers and military prudence, after havujg effeaed all the objeds of the expedition ; they impetuouHy followed the French troops, defcended the heights, afcended other diftant heights, and at length were compelled to retreat, by the French, who fuddenly profited by their difurder, and obhged'them torelinquilh the advantages they had at firl> obtained General O'llara, who had afcended the battery aj foon as the French were difpofieffed, and when he fuppofed the objea of the day had been obtained, arrived m time to witnefs the fudden reverfe, and to' be wouncied and made prifoner by the French. His wound, though not dangerous, had bled much, and, added to the exertions he had before made, he was fo' far weakened that he could not retire many paces with the troops, but infifted on being left by two foldiers who were condu<^ing him, and whom he ordered to proceed and lave themfelvej. The expectations of the befiegers were much jaifed by this event, they began to make nearer approaches to the town ; and by means of their batteries, not only attacked feveral important polls, but threatened a general alTault. The garrifon was in a wry alarming fituation; the French army, which amounted to near 40,000 men, was conilantly encreafing, and eom- mauded by an intrepid and able general j and their 312 TUEHFEOF batteries were managed under the direction oi" Buona- parte; who, though a mere youth, diiphiyed the molt cool and dauntleis courage. 1 he rdlied troops never exceeded 12,000 rank and file, and were now greatly diniinii'hed bv liifeale and death: they were conipofed -of the natives of five different nations, from whom au entire and firm co-operation could not, from the dif- ference of their language and other obvious causes, be expeded. Theft had to defend a circumference of fifteen miles, including eight principal and inter- mediate pcfts, ■which alone required 9)000 men. 'J'he firge vas now purfued with encrcafed vigour. The French relieved fuch of their troops as were fatigued, and at two o'clock in tlie morning of the 1 7 th of December, opened two new batteries ou Fort JMulgrnve; and from thefe, and three former ones, continued a very heavy cannonade and bombard- ment, which killed many of the troops and dcftroyed the works. The weather proving rainy, they fe- cretly afiembled a large body of forces, with which they ftormed the fortification, and entered witL fcrewed bayonets, on the fide defended by the iSpaniards, upon wliich tlie Briliili and other troops were obligetl to retire towards tlie flioro of Balaquier. At dav-break another attack took place on all the pofts occupied by the garrifon on tlie mountain of Faron. They were repuli'ed however, ou the Eall fide, by about 700 men, commanded by Colonel Jer- magnau, a Piedmontefe ollicer, who ptriflied on the occalion ; but ihey found means to penetrate bv the back of the mountain, although 1,800 feet high, and duemed inacceflible, fo as to occupy tiie fide which overlooks Toulon. In this day's fight, the; l^nglifli troops condudtcd ihemfelves with jrtat bra- NAPOLEOV BUCNAPATITE. 313 very; while the French, invigorated bj their enthu- fiaim, and trufting to their ziun\bers, charged with unufual uitrepidily and fuccefs. The D'-puty Arena, who was a Corfican^ headed one ci' their columns ; and General Cervoni, a fubject of the King of Sar- dinia, particularly di/tinguin>cd hinifelf. The new General, Huonaf)arte, fignalized hinnfelf on feveral occafionsbya promptitude of vixertion which marked him for one of the abloft candidates for niiliiary glory •AvA renown. It is ftated, that, in the midtt of the engagement, BarraS found fault with the diredion of a gun, which had been pointed under the order of Buonaparte : the young General requefted he would attend to his duty as a National Commiilioner ; '' I will do my duty," faid he, " accoi*ding to my own judgment, and be anfwerable for the confequences with my head." Nor friend nor foe were capable of inducing him to forego any purpofe which he had planned. The Britifli Commander called a council of flag and general officers, who tleemed it impradicable to regain the pofts that had been taken ; and, as the town was not tenable, while they reniaii.ed in poflef- lion of the enemy, it was determined thai Toulon fliould be evacuated. The troops were accordingly withdrawn, and, in the courfe of the evening oi the i/Lh of December, the Combined Fleet occupied a new ftation in the outer road. Early next morning the fick and wounded, and the Brilifli field artillery were fent off; the Neapolitans having abandoned iheir port, without orders, embarked at noon; and meafures were taken to withdraw the Briillh, Pied- montefe, and Spaniards, amounting to about 7>000 men, during the night. VOL. I. NO. IX. V d SI-* . THE LIFE OF It was necessary that the retreat should be cfTcctPcI as soon as possible, for the enemy not oiilv com- manded the town by their fliot and fliells, but alfo ibme of the fliips. The Allies removed their ihijiping beyond the reach of the lliot and fneils with which they were affkiled Ijy the enemy wiihout intermiirion, till ten o'clock at night, of the l^th of December, when the town was set fire to in different places, by the Allies, as well as part of the rni]'ping, after which they began a precipitate retreat, and theKe'publicans look pefli ilion next morning at three o'clock. The hafle with which the plact; was abacdoned, let"t nmcli property and a numbej- of vessels an eafy jirey to the concjuerors, but left the inhabitants in asituatiun truly melancholy aud deplorable, ^^'hen they perceived that flight was resolved on, they repaired in multi- tudes to t!ie fnores, and requested the protection, from their greatest enemies, which the crown of Bri- tain had pledged ilfelf to grant them. It nuift in- deed be acknowledged, tliat several eflbrts were made to convey thovifar-ds of them to the ships, yet it was found impossible not to leave multitudes behind to f-uffer the incalculable tortures which wotrid,no doubt, be inflicted on them by their incenfed countrymen. Numbers of them were beheld to take away their own lives, deeming that a more lenient method of terminating existence than what they had to expect from the Republicans; wliile others threw themkdves into the v.ater, making many fruitlefg efforts to come at the Britiili veffels. The flames continued to Ipread •withastonifliing rapidity, and the Hiips previoufly let on fire were every moment in danger- of blowing up, and !)uryingeverv thiug around them in irretrievable tief.ruftio:"!. NAPOtKON BUONAPARTE. 515 But if the land e.xhibiied I'ucli a Icene of horror, the fpertacle was no h;fs dreadful on board the iliips. Thefe were rilled with a motley group of all descrip- tions, men, women and cl]ildren,old and young, and of \arious nations. To add to tb.eir calamities, they had on board, the iick from all the hofpitals, and the fettering wounds of the I'e who were yet undreft, bccan.ie extremely otl'ensive as well as dangerous. A light i"o horriljle was perhaps only exceeded by the dolorous complaints and mourni"uiciiesofniuUitud(;s for their hulbands, fathers, or children, who had been iniavoidably left on fhore. No colouring of language could do juftice to this tremendous fcene. In addition to all the miferies already mentioned, they had to struggle with an almost real famine, as the food on board was not nearly fufficient for fuch an immenfe multitude, and almcft unfit lor ufe. The- Briti/li found thirty-one ships of the line at Toulou, tliirteen of which were left behind, nine burnt in the- harbour, and one at Leghorn, beiidos four more which Lord Ilooi had fent to Brest and Rochfort, with 5,000 feamen belonging to France, whom he was under confiderable apprehensions it would be dangerous to confide in. It appears therefore, that Great Britain acquired by this fanguinary and ex- penfive expedition to Toulon, no more than three Iliips of the line and five frigates. The French gained from the allies more than a hundred pieces of cannon, four hundred oxen, llieep and hogs, together with vatt quantities of forage, and every fpecibs of provifion. I'hus, after a siege of about tliree months, and an incessant assault for five successive days and nights, Toulon v/as restored to France. Thebefieging army had provided 4,000 ladders for an alfault ; but, on the 316 THE LIFE OF evacuation of the pla f, tley entered it at 7 o'clock )n tbe mording ci' the l()ih of Deu:n.itr, I?. MS. Some '.•[ tiie in! ahit^i,.'.? v c i:ad iV-'curcd the Allies, remained hthiiio, ni.d pcDlh'. J, eith'i uy their own ha.'Kis (T iLc gi'.ilif line. On 'Ije i-.cyai.ils at Toulc-n, as well as at ;\I;irst iilfcs, x\it most cruci pu- nishments were intl'Cled, af'd .he \ictory cf the cen- querers wa-i friiied bv a terrible and indibcriiriinLite carnage. The popuiauon becan.e daily and '■'- ibiy decrtased by tlic continual butchery oi the p'. rple- The principal habitations '.vcre d- ft roved by work- men, who wae invitee! from llie ni -.ghbo'jring de- partment to dcmolifli the town. Tlie name of Tou- lon was cl.'angtd for that of Pert de la ^lonugne ; and a grand leltivdl wai; cel.^brattd at Paris in ho- nour of the event, to vhich the members of the Convention went in procellioru fhc gf nius and taients of Buonaparte were de- veloped by this fiege ; it was a stage worthy of his adion, aid the rtmenibrar.ee of his exertions at this important period, was liTvieeable to his future ad- vancement in the arniios of the Rejublic. Duiiii^ the iiege of 'I'oulon a conflict, tqnallv fan- gninary, took place at Lyons ; but tiie pe( jde of tliis place jtroctccled with more caution, for they main- tained the inoiviiiuility i:f the Pveruibllc, and prufefjf- f d the Wnrmeft alta( hmt nt to '.h(^ Convention, at the time thatihey were collecting troops, v.iih the great- eft aifiivity, to repel any iirmy that might be fent Bgainfi ihtm,wlien ilu \ itiould think proper to flicw - their inlurg'nry. Tne chief inhatjitants were pei Ions vlio i) .d fjbtained wealth by trade and manulac- turtb, who were defirous of t-njoying their prcperty jnealfesand latttv, and were but little foiieitous about NAPOLEON BUOJfAPARTE. 317 the triumph of liberty. Many of the ancient nobles, and a multitude of emigrants and priefts were ihelter- ed there; and the crimes of the violent demagogues, who arrogated to themfelves the name of patriots, tended to excite in Lyons a powerful infurredlion. The opulent inhabitants were treated with great cruelty by Laupel, a constitutional prieft, and Cha- . lier, the niaj'or, wiio liad gained over tlie populace by bribes and largciTes. The vaults under the town- honfe were filled with prifoners ; and the greatest part of the townfmen expeded that plunder, captivity, and perhaps death, would be their fate. Their fears were encreafed by the difafleded, who pretended that the Jacobins merely awaited the arrival of fome troops from Kellerman in order to commence a flaughter of all the Royalifts by (hutting the gates to prevent their efcape, and then delivering them over to the " national axe." The fears of ihefe unfortunate people being thus ■ heightened, induced them to attempt the deflrudioa of the power from which they apprehended fo much evil. The fedions met, under pretence of adopting nieafures of general fafety, and feized on the arfenal. The excefli's which are ufual on infurrcclions;. excited by the threats of one party operating to produce defperation in the minds of the other, were commit- ted without remorfe. The Municipality was devot- ed to the Convention, and took refuge in the town- houfe; but, in the night of the 29ih of May, they were dragged forth by the infuriated people, and, after a fliort process before an incoitipetent tribunal, the Mayor was depofed and put the death. The Lyonefe invited the leaders of the department* D d 3 5i3 THE LIFE OF ci tlifi Rhone, tlie Gironrir, and Calvados, to form a Cm ;:;'■( Is within their wiills. Two clcpinics arrived, l;u" i; appeared the Departments were uttdchf d to Rt puijlican fonr.s, and the conferei.ce droppp'cd, '"SlinTeilh-r. hari appointed two ConiaiilTioners from oa;'h oi its.U-crions. Ail Provence Joilowed the ex- am','rh\ and tlie ini'urrtclion became formidable. It \va; re^"'- ed iluit aconivefs ihonld uc lield at Rouryes, to r' L,Ldate the trneral intertu.-, aiul th^at two reprc- f f 1 ;ilive^, ar,d a battalion from eat h. diUria, lliOuM afeiiiijlp there. The Convention were irnV'rnied oi thefe evcni-, ai^.d Otntrai (.'ailae.x \va- dctaciied iro!n tli'i arinv of Iialv, ai the erilic! ptiion! whrn t^vo batrabenh from iNLirfeibos aao Aix, d- hiu- d ior Lvops, l;:id I. ■ken poiubiori cm Avi_i.on. They im- mcciiat? i\ hf;wf:'Vt :■ abana* !;■ fi tiiat ;dacr, and the river Durance i-^^j^aratui U.v ib;CvS oi eatri pari v. It b».eam'> i-,oc( h;:ry u, au,:n!; ;;t: t[;e battalii^ns. Rou-h i was ej. i:-d i.c :a rai ; buc, b iilialc o; hii oan mcapacitv, .r" urned \ '^iuntar;!}' to i;,e rank- a? u jjnvaie. \ bli'. n-:uvc- i'ouii-itf. lormeriy a cwlon i in the KLyn^ent oi Aricjii. v.-£ ncxi app.hntec); anch be- in:: iuuicu bv :o;ne Iroc- ; ::xm bavbun. _ave Casaaux bailie, 'i t.i) at lirb g;;:red iun.e aov-i.tage, but the Conventa n.. ; tr^e Ch ],,,\)::^ 1 et n ..eLtia ntt d llay be- eame lia; ;ap];an:, and the pi uicipal i_:t;e5 betnj lin;? buel't iA il;e b-athl; ih; •; hoM d Iran; Uiiiriiniled forct , v.a :e ::,;\. r^ ^ isceci to tiien- a;'ari'tt rtlVjnri ( s. Mai'h ;iii - v.a:- ,]ri\i :\ to tia- grcateii extreniiii': £ by t!ie Rep a i;ean ara.ie.-, and by fanniie. lli little army, and' ■ \bileneu. ■ . ■ >i.ca;at d t!;e ia;j.i;l?. 'I'he ^Marieiiiefe v.er'.- lal, jajv.a ver, u;iited among ihcn.- fclvcs ; many cf ih.*' ke;iLaiS pubiieiy declared their v.iiii ij accept of the new conltituttoo; which had N-^rOLEON BUOXA.-'AUTE. 319 been fo fuddeuly formed by the Jricobins; and tl;e contention was fo vehement, tiiat the blood which ^vas fpilled prefeated a jM-e^ude .to the hcMTors tlirit M'erc expected to enfue. The iiopt:s of the Jacobins were uicreafed by \';'diCrieuve being driven from the heights and which were attacked and earned b}- Ge- Hcral Cartaax. \';ikneuve t(-ck refuge, with 500 of his troops, the municipal oflicers, and a number of citizens, ui the city of Toulon. Maribiilcs fur- rendvred ; and the infaiiated Ilopublicans eagerly wreaked their vengeance on thoff- u^duippy iiiijabii- r.nts who were too naiderale in their fentiincnis to be either vioiciit Royalilis or Jacobins. Lvoiis v/as now leii to depend upon tlie ftrength of its o'.vi! ci'.izens alone ; they had cKieavoered to cfcape the rage of the uonn, by accepting ib.e new conltitution. They fent deputies to notify tlse event to the Con.vePition, but thev were rect ived with marked dil'plcafurc, and only iaved tlienii'i Ivls from ini})rifoinn('n<' l^y tligbt. A intiiage was ibat tiiem tkiat " they must deliver np tlieir new magiftraies if they expected mercy, ibe blood oi the patriots faed by tbeni demanded vem'i;.ance." Tht. fe overiures were rejected, and ti;e nu::abriants prepared for an obftinate def.nce. Tliey were dtfbtuce, liov/ever, of cannoii, lor Kellerman had cbuuned all their ord- nance under pretetice of fapplying the wants of the army of Italy. The tov.adaicn, although numerous v.-ere undilciplined ; they v.'ere moftly the fathers of families, who trembled for the fafely of tiien- wives and children, and their property; and altiujugh an imnienfe number were in arms.. not n;orethan 10,000 could be relied on. The Jacobins alio remained 2'iO THE LIFE OF Within the walls refolute and determined, and the populace was uniformly at their command. The I-yonefe however determined to rely on their own intrepidity. Precy, formerly a colonel in the conltitntional guards of the King, was elected Goie- ral by acclamation. The fortiilcatioris were repaired, and artillery call -, and fuch was the general enthufi- afm, that, while the youth were in arms', the womea and old men worked at the redoubts, and encouraged the warriors by their prefence and their perfeverance. The army dcftined for the attack confifted of nearly 10,000 troops of the line, 3,000 cavalry, a ni.mber of battalions of national guards levied in the neigli- liourmg departments, acorpsof oOO artillerymen, and 20 battering guns,beftdes mortars. The uilial forms of a fiege were recurred to; and, in addition to the arms of the beiiegers, their iuccefs was promoted by the poorer inhabitants, who not only conveyed intel- ligence into the camp of the Rt publicans, but even directed their negociations by means of Ijgnals. The general, at length, poured in a tremendous fliower of bombs and red-hot balls, and this unfor- tunate city was fet on fire in forty -two places in a fingle niglit. It v;as tlireatened alfo by the horrors of famine; and two columns of armed citizens fallieJ forth to colk'cl corn, one of which was cut off ex- cept five, wiio efeaped into the town, and their leader, Servand, was fliot. The refiltancc continued obftinate. Dubois Crance, the deputy, was recalled to give an account of his conduct. The befiegers obtamed fome advantages, but the horrors of famine being added to the miferiesof war, the citizens, after a fiege of fifty- five da\s, m which they dil'playtd the moll heroic NAPOLKON BUONAPARTi:. 321 courage, yielded to an enemy againlt whom valour was ulVlefs and lUjavailing. Collet D'llerbois, Couthon, &c. were appointed the new deputies, and they itfufcd to grant any terms until the leaders oi' the irifurre^tion were delivered up. The chitlV -he eiore, both civil and military fevercil of the piianual inhabitants, and all thole pro- feribe 1 by the Jacobins, to the amount of about 5?.,C00, (allied forth 'Vom the city, to feek an afylum in a foreign land. A frw waggons, containing the remnant of their f anty fortunes, and fome four- pounders, followed the fugitives; in the midft of whom were a great number of females, determined to folIoH' thiir hulbands, and, with their children in their arms, to (hare their fate. Suddenly, however, on entering the defiles of St. Cyr and St. Germain, they founa themfelves furrounded by near 50,000 men : they performed prodigie.^ of valour, only 500 men and women efcaped with thtir lives ; they were chiefly eov(>red with wounds, and were transferred from dungeon to dungeon until their days were ended by difeafe and puniiluuent. About GO however fuc- ceeded in ootauiing an afylum with the nighbouriug peafantry. The fate of the inhabitants who trufted to the mercy of their fellow covmtrymen was not more tolerable. A fourth part of the city had been de- ftroyed by the beliegers. The ferocious Commif- lioners ordered the deihiuiion of the principal edi- fices. The Convention decreed thut the city fliould be deflroyed ; that wbatestr was inhabiied l)y a rich man fhould be demolifhetl ; that this ancient city fhould no longer be recognized by its former name, 322 Tii h LIl E OF and that a column OiouLi be riiiff.'d upo;! its nuns, to attell to poftcrilv it;- crin;ics liiid its puniOimeiits. Tlie l"urierinii,s of the inilcrable ibliabitunts have never been furpaHed. I*de;ifurcs were actually taken to tranl'port a great number to aii()ther jj'ace ; and the Deputy Freron, on entering tij3 town, ordered fevera] i^uilloi.ines tu be ereeteil, and anounced, that " terror was the order of lb'; day." Even he was Airpallud in cruelty by Collot Ddlerboii : ihi- bar- barous rufiian's pro-confulflup in the Soudi was orie continued feries of bloodfhed and ferocity. A bat.d of Parilian Jacobins, and a cobiuin of the Revolu- tionary army marched in before him. The procefs of the " national axe," was too flow for his impa- tient vengeance ; and the bayonets of the infantry, and fonietimes the fabres of the cavalry, were re- quired to a': ate his infatiable thirft of carnage. At length, evtn thefe ciid not effed his horrid p^urpofes willi fufiicier:*: celerity, and grafie-fliot and ariillery, and the fr.fihidfs of the trorpb daily ftrewed the great fquare of the city with the dyn;g and t!:e dead, and flooded tlictov, n \\ilh the blood of the unhapt^y Lyonefe. ^ KAPOLEON r,UO\APARTE. 323 CHAPTER XXL The J.ltcyation of the ¥rcr,ch (Calendar. — Gohcf, and other lhJtup.i,Jolcni)i!ii raiou/n:'' ('hr>;i/(i:iitj/, raid give up their Eniolinnent-J. — The /illi':.ij''j.ciej'>-fa! at Strus- Inirgh, 4-f. — 'J'he FruJJianSy ^c. defeated at Deux Ponti. — The French .Sueccssc. at Spires, Se. under iTchcgrit, Roche, S^c. — Xc-.v ^ rejects of Co- operation by the Allies. — ITar,^ of fhe Liitishfur a\.';iiti,;g the ilojaliits ill Britta/n/ — Extravagant Siii:^/idies to in- duce the King oj Priisi,ia to remain Confederate.— IFesterman's Addrefi to the Curircriii(j,i. — The Celebra- tion of the 2lst of Januarii.'—'l'hc iiiiincnse Force (f the French , and the comparativeli; n-cak State of the Allies. — 7he Duke of York commands the British Force.— -The Emperor commar.ds the Allied Armii. — The Duke of York forces the French to retreat. — The Allies bcfiege Landrccif — General Otto d feats the French. — Pichegru defeats the Allies at Moucron, and takes Coirrtray, and Meniii. ji HE iccncs we have metitio.ipc] were tvuly tragical and terrible, but fo trivial di i Uiey ii;;pe:u' in tiit.' eyes of the Convention, that they were, aimolt at the fame inftanc amuling thenifelves with an alteration of the Calendar, dividnig the year into twelve months of thirty days each, and conferring on the five inter- calary days the odd cpiihet of sansculot'idcs, aitcr- wards complenri(;ntary days. Each month was di- vided into three decades, or periods of ten days, and the t'-'itli, not the feventh, w;>.s appointed to be a day of reft. Tney made the Republican year to coni- m<ince on the23rdof September; the anniverfary of Sx?* THE LIFE OP the Convention entering upon its funt^ions, began the Rej)ub]ican era tVom that day, dating all their" public ads fublequent to that period. Year of the French Republic. The autumnal months were called, 23 September, Vendeviairc. 23 October, Brumaire. I'Z November, Frbnaire. The winter months were called, 2'2 Dtctuiber, 2<iv(>s. 21 January, Flircius. 20 February, J'tiitos. i he spring months wore called, 22 March, Gcrmina!. 2i April, F I or col. 21 May, Prnrial. The funimer months were called, 20 June, BJciin'or. 20 July, 'Fhcnindor. ]<) August, Fructidory The days of each decade were called in its order priricdi iluvdi v.}) to dccddi, and tlie complimentary dsys wtrt' to be kept as natioual/d^/e*. It v.as t-nactcd, about the lume time, that every nriel't fouiul in arms ag.;inft the intereU of the Re- public fh!vj'',d be p.nniflied as a traitor; and that all Hien of this pruf(jflion,^undcr fixty year;^ of age, fliouid be bauilh.cd to Trench Guiana, if they had not pre- vioufly taken the oaths preicribed by thcconUitution, Dreadfully have mankind exclaimed againU the impiety and infidelity of the French, and they gave too much realbn for the charge, On the 7th 'jf No- vember, the Republican bishop of Paris M. Gobet, his vicars, and different other members of the eccle- NAPOLEON BUOyAl'AUE, 525 ilaftical body, entered tue hall of the Convention, where they mack' a folemn furre^der ot their offices, and oftheCiitifliaii rt-ligion, at the fame time. Only one, of the name of Gregoire, (bifliop of lUois,) had the magnanimity toconfefs himfelf a Cl)riftian, while he declared that he was ready to facrifice the emo- luments of his office to the good of the Republic. The attempts to annihilate religion, and cftablifU pagan abfurdity in its place, did not, we muft allow, meet with the approbation of the people at large. To the honour of Frt-nchmen be it fpoken, this mea- fure was highly unpopular, llebert and Fabre d'Eg- lantinc were fuppofed to be the grand promoters of tiiis blafpheinous ftep, by which they accelerated their own deftruclion, and Robefpierre made him- felf remarkably popular by his defence of religion. By a dceiee of the commune, the churches were or- dered to be Huit np,but fo highly irritated were- the people of Paris at fucii a procedure, that they were obliged to reverfe it (ui the 1ft of December, when Barrere proclaimed the freedom of religious worfliip. It a]'pcars f;om this, that the charge of iufidelity is wholly unfounded, v/hen brought agaiuft the people of France in general ; and if fome leading men among them were tindured with atheifm, the fame may be faid of every country upon earth. Becaufe "there are numbers of infidels in this country, it would be unjuft tor that rcufon to pronounce the kingdom of Great Britain a nation of alheifts. The (hocking decree of the 7th of Movember was, in feme degree, compea* fated by an act of the 15tb, wdiich abolilhed forever the immoral and difgraceful pradico of lotteries. The termination of the campaigii wus far from being in favour of the Allies, for thoui^h the Bnlifa 326 x{[E Lii-i: OF had taken pofi'effion of Tort Jeremie, Cape Nicola Mole, and Poncjicherry, together with all the other fettlements belonging to the French on the coaft ot Coromandel ; yet the Republicans in F,ari,;;e were more fnccefsful, and as they were mafters of the for- midable lines at Weiiiembourg and on the Lauter, little hopes of fuccefs could be entertained by the Auflrians of taking Landau, General Wurmfer, there- fore, determined to level allhisftrength againftthefe, and on the 13th, was allowed to penetrate them. Ihe town of WeifTemburg made a more determined oppofilion to the enemy than Lauterburgh had done, and it was not reduced to theneceffity of capitulating till the latter end of Odober, which cofl the Auftrians about 800 nien. This vidory induced the enemy to pufh forward to Straiburgh, were the Rejuiblicans were again vanq'iii-hed on the 25th, when the Aultrian general made hirnfelf mafter of Wanzenan. On the 27th he was vigoroully engaged by the French, but in this action they futi'ered moft fevereiy, as their lufs has been eftimated at 3,000 men; and this fuccefs encouraged Wurmfer to inveft Landau. Pichegru, who hud been a ferjeant of artillery, conceived an a^'mirable plan for reconquering Alldce ; and he was ablv frQonded by Hoche, who, like hiinfelf, had wielded a halbert netore he was fortunate enough to gnli' a tiuncheon. On the 14th of Move mber Fort Louis was taken poffrlliDn of by M-inhal W uruifer, whofe career a'^ainfl France was now about to terminate ; tor, on thp -2 1ft. he was def^'ated bv the Repubhcdns, who obliged him to retreat ; and they continu*^! 'heir vi aoriors mnrch alnioft to ih- ^ate^ of 1ih^. ..lu. During .hefe iranfaclions the arui) of the .MOielle NAPOLEON BUOKAPAUTE. 3C'7 proceeded to form a junction with the army oftbe Rhine ; and, bj their joint co-operation, the Pruffians were defeated in tlie neigbbourhoofi of Saarbruck, when their lofs was confidcjrable but to what extent is not fpecified. 'i'he camp of the ei:emy at Biief- cafile, was earried by the French on the fubfequent day ; a;iG, without giving ttiem any time to recover tr-ra their conflernalion, they i-)r(K-ee(ied towards D'.-u:\ Penis, undei' the commar^ii of tiie celebrate-d General Hoche. By llie fkiil and gallantry of this oftjcer, the heights of JNIilleback and Hornback were fpeedily fubdued; and, of confequence, the PruiTians found that Deux Ponts was no longer tenable. On the 29th and 30th, the Republicans fullered feverely, by making a defpcrate attack on the polls of the Duke of Brunfwick in the vicinity of Lantern; but they foon experienced an ample compenfation from the vidories of Pichegru, whu, on the Sth of December, obtained all tlie redoubts of liie enemy which defended Hagenau, at the point of the bciyonet. The 22d was equally gloriou'5 for the Frcncli, who iijadu pr;;d:gious iiavock of the allies, in diflodging l:Hrn fro: 1 Bifchoiiers, Two days after, the Repub- h.cans 'purluod the fugitives as far as the heights of ^fI■otle, wliere ilie enemy were reported to be as h.oiju);.' fortified as a*^ Gemappe, yet nothing could ?} i\v refiU llu impetuonty of tie Pretich. Pichegru b £an to attack ;hem withliis artillery in the ufual form ; but finding tijat the cannonading proved inef- lectual, and that the ardour of his troops panted for fomething more decifive, he marched up 10 the very ;; ot of theintrenchnicnls, which lie completely car- rifcd, after a dei'perate refiftance of three hours, and obtained pofl'e'hou of all the pofis which the Allies 3^8 THE LIfE OF had abandoned, and made a triumphant entrance jnto Weiffembourg on the '27th uf the fame month. General Wurnifer effected his retreat to the Rhine, and the Duke oi Brunfwick tell back precipitately, in order to protect Mentz. The r (Urea to ft he Allirscaufed the (icge of Landau to be raifed, after it had been redciced to the utmoll dilirds ; and; by virtue of a career of victories, the French calily got poflcfiioii of Kaiferilautern, Ger- mcnlieim and Spir-s. Such was the enthuriafai in- fpired amonf: ifie Repablicans by the vigorous mea- Uires puriucd by th.e two young generals, Tvho now AJhtined the glory of tlit'ircoiintry, that the name of a Ireii' !( army conveyed terror into the hearts of tii'^ir'-nenni's. ih^^ conin^ancl of tiie Northern army was taken 'ro:n Jourdan, and conierred on General Pichegru ; !•! ta: Jourdan was declared, by a ik^irrec of the le<^if]a- •:ve bo.^y, in confequcnce of iiis achievements at lloniifchoote and Maubaiige, to have retired with honour to hiinfelf, and with the gratitude of his coun- Ty, there was nothing to exclude him from fuhft:- -rqiiciit ;;iithority, and accordingly tie v.-;,^- foon after .';', pointed to th.c chi^f conini;;iKl i.f ihe army of the ^anihre and the iMeufe. In the vicinity of MaroUes •;;e I'rench were in a fuite of fornud.ible prepaialioM, ■ ■iiii tile thunder of liieir artillery prodigioiiiiy galhxl 'heoutpolts of tin; Allied Powers ; but the enemy having erofled tlie Sandjrf; in great torce, made a vi- £;orous attack on their redouble, put great nunjbers '-t the llej^ublicans lo the sword, and made 500 pri- '."Oiirrs. The I'rench were e([iially unfnccefsful, in • iifter',.nt fkirmldies, befori; the commencement of v;>«r u:'2.bt jiroperly be d*;!;on)iKaled the campaign, NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 329 and for which both parties had been making the moll extenfive preparations. Tiie diplomatic corps was adlivcly employed, to etfeft a vigorous co-operation among the Combined Powers, and the Courts of London and Viennaunite<i to make the moft ardent ftniggle in the common caufe, for which purpofe Colonel Mack, an officer in the confidence of the Emperor, was fent to London to arrange the plan of the campaign with the Britifli miniftry. WhiUt, however, the olhcr powers were making the moft generous facrihcefc, the King of Piuffia, who had been among the firft to tempt them into the conteft, was mean enough to tamper with the agents of the Republic for a feparate peace ; and, by threritenmg to withdraw from the Confederacy, fxtorted a fulilidy of 52,0001. per month from the Dutch and Engliih Governments, belides a prcfent payment of 300,0001. Tiie plan which the French had proje»fled to fecure the luccefs of the campaign, was, to force their way with a powerful column, through llie territory of Namar aud the diftricl of Lie_t',e, to attack'tlie can- toni:ientb of the Auftnans with a forinidable ibrce near Tournay, and lay fiege to Conde, Quefnoy, and Valenicennrs ; i)ut this plan was dilciofed by an oificfcr, wliu dt'feiled to the Auftriaas. Thel'e cii- cumftaucfcs delayed t!ie opening of the canspaign to an advanced period of the year. The BritifliGovenunent agreed to contribute to the aid of the Royalilh in Brittany, and places adjacent. 1 lie ti oops deftincd for this expedition vvere to be commanded by the Earl of Moira. Whilll, howev<T, they were encampetl iu the neighbourhood of South- siinplon, the critical fituation of the Brilifh array in E e 3 330 THE LIFE ©F ^he Nethorlaiuls, iDduted his LorcijTiip to ccmpiy ■with a very preffing folicitalion from Ihe minirtry, to land a confiderable re-inforcement in the Low Countries ; in which he fo far fucceedt^d, that he was able to defeat, both at Altfte and IMalines, a confi- derable French force, which would otherwife greatly have annoyed the Duke of Yorlc's army. It mufl, however, be remarked, that the j^eople to whom thefe fuccours were intended, were allowed to be com* pletcly fubdued by the victoriou5 Republicans before the Eiirl was in a fituation to reacli them. So fuliv were the Froncli accjuaintcd with it by reafun of delay, that tii^y were prepared to give him a warm reception as for !i a? he apjcar* d oil' tlic coaft, on which account i;e dofciiicd it neitli-r fiife no:' prudent to att'Mnpt a binding. It might now have ::p]Haied manifeK to ptople of ti-'oderale imderfuindii-.^s, that ii was the i ei^h: o: aLfurdily and cxtr.:vag.uice to oncea\our to iubjugate i-'raiice. The iLlur^t-xils of Noirmoutit r. in thr iHe of that name, bad remiiikabiy ftrengUiened tlit ir h.rtiiica- tions; but ihf.v ■.tcuj 'uy tl'.is pf;nod to have confi- dercd t'ncir caufc iscn-fpcraie, for t!.<^'v niadc a volun- t:iry i'urroii(.lcr of ti)e town Lf-iore the Fapuljlican arniv arriveu withir r( ;ich of tb: w f'allcries. In re- ducing this iiland lo I'ubmilTion, tije lloyalifts are faid to have iof^. oOO intn k.iic.i, a:.d 1 ,'200 prifoners, beGdes 50 pier s of can-un, <S,i;00 Uar.d of arms, and 30,000 po..!.ds of gunpowder. It was nutinal to expect that liie fangainarv difpofitioiis of the Re- publicans would tiea: the^.e unliappy men with un- common feverity, lav ng been io long uccultomcd to the ihedding of human blood. Five hundred of Ihem were iLot at Na;rz, becaufe the guillctiiie was / KAPOLEON BL'Oa AFA KXK. oSl not deemed a method of deftruiJlion fufficiently ex- peditious. Multitudes of them were difj)atched by grape(hot from the morths of cannon, or funk in barges, according to the humour of their conqujrcrg, and it is faid that more than 4,000 fuftered in a (in- gle pit. The temper of the French Government may be in fome nieafure collected from the proceedings in the Convention about this time. General Weftermana a.i)pcared at the bar on the 7th of January, and _ad- -«hefled the legidature in fubfiance as follov.s : " Citi- zens, reprefentatives ! a wound, v/hich ]'»revents my fiitin'^ on horfebacic, is the motive of my journey to Paris ; 1 prefent to you fome of the facerdotal fpoils of trie Biihop of Agra, fo famous for the part he acted in the Cathohc and Roy;il army. I come to alTurc you, on my head, that of that army, which was fo ftrong, not a Jingle combatant lemains ) chiefs, ofiicers, bifliops, coiinieiTs, and marchioneffes all pcriiutd — by the iV.oid — by the flames — or by the waves ! 1 his dreadful example is unprecedented in the annals of hil(ory ; and Europe will fee with alto- nifhuient', tlrat the R(3public, like the everlafting Fa- ther, (hctates its laws from the fummit of the facred JSIo'Uilain, and will be able to maintiin itfelf, and to reduce every country which fnall be foolifli enough to attempt rejloring Royalty in France.'^ General Wellermann had been ordered under arreft, previous to his arrival, and was afligned to the regions occu- pied by the victims marked out to fatisfy the daily cravings of the guiiloline; but this patriotic oratifvu perfuaded the Convention that he poffelTed ruffianifm enoagh to be left at liberty, and therefore he was ordered to be provlfionally difcliarged. On the 21 Ti: .332 TilE LIFE OF of January, bein^ ihe anniverfary of the King's death, both the legiilators and the people amufed theinfelves by fwearing hatred to tyrants ; under which deno- mination they coniprifed the members of all go- vernments more ancient than their own Barrere, the organ of the Committee of Public Safety to the Convention, took frequent opportunities of promulg- ing the national i'entiments, m tlie charader of his own reports. " In common wars," faid he, upon oneoccafion. after he had recounted the triumphs of the troops, " fucccHes fo numerous have led to peace ; the wars of kings were only fanguinary tournaments; the cxpenfes were defrayed by the people, while tyrants infolently aiTuraed all the pomp to themfelves ; but, in a war for freedom; there is but 07ie means — that of <x terminating all defpots. The Coalition has bar- neiTed twentj-one nations to the corps of defpotifm ; the inhabitants of which are ftill Numbering. The people uf England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Han- over, Brunfwick, HelVe, Pruffia, Aullria, llufiia, Spain, "Naples, Sardinia, Rome, &c. &c. to enumerate them is but to give a lift of the vanquilhed. Some voices, however, are already litard declaiming on the advant- ages of peace! What man of underftanding, what fmcere patriot will dare to mention peace without dreading to compromiie freedom^ Brunfwick, Co- bourg, and Pitt defire peace ; but our land forces have made us glorious, and our naval forces mull increafe our glory, before we can think of peace. The committee prepare a terrible war, as the only way of obtaining solid peace. Arms and gunpowder, ihcie are our negociators. Let it be decreed" con- tinued the reporter, " that every captain, or other officer of the navy, who Ihall lirike and iurreiider NAPOLF.OS' i'.UONA PARTE. 333 a ihip of the line to the enemy, without having fought a force at leart double her own, fhall be declared guilty of treafon againft the country." And the Convention decreed, at the fame time, that the fea- men who flionld capture an enemy's ftiip, of one- third greater force than their own, (hould get pro- motion, and be ol'scrwiu; rewarded. At this period, the Convention had tlie enormous number of 730,00(>men ready to take tho field againft the enemy, exclu'ave of thofe of the fecond rcqui- filion. Againlt this imiiienfe multitude, tl'.e Allies could only bring 356',OaO, independent cf t'le aid they might receive from Spain, Portugal Sardinia, and Naples, Prince Cobourg had 140,000 men under his command ; the Duke of York 40,0C0 ; the Dutch army 20,000; Anftrianson the Rhine f>0,000; Pruffians 64,000; troops of the empire, 20,000 ; and the Emigrants, under Conde, 1-2,000 men. When the difiicullics which had delayed the ope- rations of the Allied Powers v.ere adjufted to the fatisfaftion of all parties, his V.oyal Iliglinefs the Duke of York took the command of the Bruun forcos. He accompanied the Auftrian General Clautait, on the 17lh, to Valenciennes, to hold a council of war, in conjunction with Prince Sa\e Cobourg ; and ■dWrv delibcniling on the mofi proper m&iifures to be adopted anrl purfued, cath commanding ofTiccr re- t.'.-rned to bis refpeotive head-quarters, Th.' Repub- iic.iU troops, tov.-ards the dole of the n>onlli, made {Ik.v appearance in Weft Flanders, and gave buttle to the out-pofts at Caleau, Beauvais and Solefmes ; but the timely alliftance of the Auftrian cavalry, whicn appeared at thatintlant, con)pelled the eneuiy to retreat, not, however, without the lofs of about 500 534 TJIF LIFE OE iiiCii, "hiie that of the Auftrians was no mere than 120. A part oi the Reptiblican army, in the tnean- time,having furprifed the Hell! ans ftationed at Ten- breuil, bctveeu Werwick and Ypres, had the good fortune to get in tlie rear of the Hanoverian piquets, by which manteuvre they cut off their retreat. But, on the approach of a conficlerable force from Meuin, the Frcncli deemed it proper to retire with precipi- tation, after the accomplilhment of the cbjed they had at this time in view, yjid croficd the Lys, with three officers and 14-3 men, pnfonc;s. It has been faid, and we believe wiih truth, that indolence or inactivity produces eflects equally per- nicious u'ith thofe arifing from the moft defperate engagement*. Akliough much time was fpent before the accompiiihment of any thing decifive on either fide by aftivc opeiation, the all-conquering hand of difeafe was levelling its ihoulands in the daft. We iave no particular accounts of the lofs fuftained by the French from this caufe, but that of the Auilnans, in Brar)aT;L alone, has Kp-mi cilimatid at 23,000 men. iloir rwjv.-iiui to the mifciiievous eli'ecls of tlie fword, or the thuncierof cannons Tt-as this cevaftation? J;i fo;nVjii(:ijce of difpulcs that hud arifen among ihe Princes in the Combined Arniy, as to the rauis. they fiiould hold, it was agreed that the Emperor ip. perfon fnould 'oe commander-in-chief; and on his arrival at Bi-uHl-ls, in the b.' ginning of Apnl, he was comjrimentt^d by the Slates wilh ihe tilh; of Dukt- of JJraL.mt. His inauguration wu,s accompanied with •JiC in'.;.c folemn mi-.rk.s of fiatteiy and adulation, ilie key* of the fMti s of Louvain were preiented tu his luipcrial Majelty, and tliey bore this infcription ; •• Cotfar udest^frcmaH Calli ;" — "Cxfar is prefent, SAPOLEOK BUONAPARTK. 335 tlie Gauis fhall trembu' ?" .On his arrival at Valen- .cieimes, the Combined Army appear8d to receive hirn with demonitrations ofjoy, and was reviewed by him on the 16th of April, llationed on the heights above Cateau, whicli marched, in eight columns, on the fubiequent day, towards the small but ftrongly forti- fied town of Landrecy. Prince Chriftian, of lieflV. Darmstadt, had the connnaud of.the first column, which confistedof Austriaus and Dutch, whofe desti- nation was Catillon, which after fome oppofuion, they compelled to furreuder. General Alvin^^zy, to whom was committed the command of the fecond column, obliged the enemy to abandon their entrench- ments at Mazinguer, Oify, and Nouvion.. making himfelf master of the forest of the last mentioned name. The third colunm, under the command of the Emperor in perfon and the Prince of Cobourg, had alio its (hare of surcefs. in the redmiJlion of the two villages Ribouville and Wa'Jigny,. the advanced guard of which got poffeflion of Grand and Petit Blocus. The fourth and fifth columns were com- manded by the Duke of York, the one by himfelf in perfon and the other by Sir William Erfkine. The object pointed out for their conquest were the village ofVaus, with the redoubts by which it was defended, and the Republican entrenchments in the wood of Bo ham. His Royal Highnefs was fully perfuaded that the enemy occupied a very formidable pofition ; on which account he determined, if it could be accom- plifhed, to turn their right wing, and therefore cora- maoded the whole column to march forward, under cover f>t' the hijib grouno, -bile a AUtficient num- ber of cavalry was reiervtd to deceive the Frsuch 335 THE LIFE OF and divert their attention from the object he had in view. When the engagement commenced, the lire of the Republicans was uncommonly bri/k ; but on perceiving that it would be impofhble for them to retain their pofition, they foon after, retreated, when a part of them were cut off in the wood, and the remaii\der retired towards the main army by the ■village of Bohain. The forces commanded by Sir William Erfkine were no lefs victorious. The three remaining columns, which were under the command of the Prince of Orange, did not come to any attion with the enemy, as th.?y were only intended to watch the motions of tlie I'rench on the fide ofCambray, Thefe various fucefus on the part of the Allies, enabled ihem to lay fiege to Landrecy in due form, '-vhich was committed to the charge of the Prince of Orange. The Prince of Cobourg had two detachments of liis troops frationcd at Blocus and Nouvion, formerly mentioned, which the Republicans attacked on the 2irt, but by the tirn(;ly afTiftance of the Duke of York, with five battalions of Auftrians, together with llio brigade of BrUiiii cavalry, under tlie command of Sir Rubf-rt Lawi ic, they were driven from Blocus, while victory declared in their favour at Nouvion, having obliged General Alvintzy to retreat. The French, in the mean time, wore engaged in colleiSting troops fr in the campofCiefar,in the neighbourhood of Cand;ray, where the Duke of York fent General Otto, with fome cavalry, to afcertain their Itrengtli, and give them battle, if he Ihould deem it advifeable ; but on finding that tiieir force was greatly fupcrior to his own, he deeUned coming to an engagement till the morning of the 24th, v^htn he received re- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 33" iuforceiiienis ; in confcquencc of v»'hicli he was, at le:.gt!i, vi'.Toricus, obliging the enemy to quit the field iu the utinoii confufion, with th:-; IcA's of 1,200 mp.n and three pieces of cannon. Tbe lofs of the Allies was Uttle inferior to that of the enemy ; for, on the fLicceeding day, the Duke ofYork was engaged by the French at all points, wlio were, however, obliged to yield to the Briti'Ji commander, after an niiftinate refiftfjice. The Combined Powers mut^ have fuffered fe\erely in this as well as the p'/eeeding battle, but we laid no accxirate ftateaient of it upon record. The French are faid to have loft 35 pieces of cannon, end 1 ,'^00 men who were left dead on the field, together with. General Chapuy and 350 officers and private men taken prifoners. From this lad battle we may confider the French as having feriouHy begun the campaign ; for the eti- gagement was an attack fo general as to reach along the whole of the frontiers from Treves to the lea, a diuanee of about 130 miles. The column under the immediate command of the Emperor was attacked by the Republicans, but vvithoutelfect ; although in one point their fuccefs ajjpears to liave been conliderable. Ihefe ficirmifhes weu: only intended as ftratagems to <!eecive the Combined Powers, and prevent them from C'^mnprehending the principal defign of the Re- publicans. The Anftrian General Clairfait, having etf^cled a junehon at Moucron with the Hanoverian troops, refulved to act upon t'.je oflenfive, as foon as iie fliouid receive his expeded reinforcement of fix battalions of Auftrian infantry. Thele del'igns did not efcape the vigilance and activity of General Pichegru, by whom tliey were difconcerted ; for, on VOJ,. I.-— NO. X, Ft 338 THE LIFE or the 29th, that able officer attacked thepoft at Mou- eron, which after a vigorous refiftance on the part of the Allies, was obliged to furrender. Courtray likewife yielded to the French commander, which produced the inftantaneous evacuation of Menin; that place, in confequence of the vicl'ories acquired by the enemy, having defpaired of relief. The garrifon, which confifted of four battalions of Hanoverians, and four companies of Emigrants, fought their way through the midft of the Republican troops, and re- treated, with very little lof?, to Ingelmunfrcr. ^ NAPOLEO^T BUONAFAKTE. 339 CHAPTER XX[I. Operations of the Annies. — Landreci/ furrendcrs to the Allies.— Dif cat of the Duke uf York.— Defeat of the Emperor, — Defeat of the French by the Combined Poivcr.s. — Reaulieu takes and plunders Bouillon. — Jour dan enters thcLuxembourgu, and Beaidieu retreats, — i.W, Aides defeated, and retreat to Halle.-— Clair- fult defeated, and retreats to Ghent. — IValmoden ahandons Br ages. ■"-The Emperor leaves the Army. — The French defeat the Spaniards at Ceret, and arc fuccefsful i'l Piedmont. — The Englijh take Martinico, St. Lucia, and Cuadaloupc. — 'lUc French annoy the Englijh Trade.-^Lord llowc defeats the Fren:h Fleet under Admiral ViUaret. — Safe arrival of the rich American Convoy in the French Forts. 'A. HESE repeated loiTes and difcomfitures were hardly co:iipeiifated by the fuccefsful fiege of Land- recy, which furrendcred to the Combined Powers in the fpace often days. With fuch incelFaut fury had the place been bombarded, that no more than two houfcs were found to have cfcaped the vengeance of the cannon at the termination of the fiege. U'wo hun- dred of the inhabitants lofl their lives, and 1,200 of the garrifon ; tlie remaining part of the foldiers being made pvil'oners of war to the amount of 4,400 men. The Kepablican?, however, were victorious towards Trevc?, w;ih the army of the Mofelle. By order of the Comniittee of Public Safety, it was commanded to take its route t'rom Longway towards Arlon, with a View to intercept all communication between Lux- cmbourgh and Treves, with the countries of Liege and Namui', which order was executed v/ith fpirit S40 THE Lli-E OF asid activity b_v General .lourdau. On tlie 17th ot April he completely deftaled Gt^iierul Bcaulieu. The {'iigao(;uient lafted two days, almoft without interniif- lion, according; to the account ot the French Ge- neralj during which time the carnage on hoth fid«^s was drv adful ; but we have no certain authority for the num!)er, either of killed, wounded, or piifoners. On the lOth of May, a fevere engagement took jViai e between the Duke of York and a llepublican Army of 30,000 men, at Tournay. Tl.-e light flank (ii the Couibined Army v.as attempted to be ti!rr,ed by t!ic ]>( ii( h ; but in this tl.ey were unfuccoftful, tor the regiment, wLich v'ar- coiniuandcd by Prineo K-iunitz, and pofted in a wood to cover the main bf.idy ot the army, repulfcd them with lofs. Failing in • bis attfmpt, they endeavoured to force ihecenterof the Duke's army, which they attacked with aOoniih- ifig intrepidity, in the face of tb.e nunieious artillery l>y wlueli it was defended, lint the Republicans were obliged to retreat, with the comtiuted iofs of 3,000 :iien. General Clairfait, having effected the paflage of the Heule, obtained a conqueft over the enensy, and compelled them to take refuge in Courtray; but he was foon o',iigpfi to retreat precij;itutely acrojs tlie )leu'e,and aft-rwurds to continue his retreat K.'wards Thielt ; v.btre he h-und mt-ans to pvottcl Giu;)', Binges, and Oitenfl. Much about tlie p( riod under confidcration, the northern Repnbiican arniy pallt d the Sambre, and made tbieuifelves mafrers <jf Biiuiie ; v.h.i.ch laid Ge- neral Kaumtz un.der the necefiity of retieating, and ftatKJnir.g hnnAdf between that place and Ilou-.eroy. for (.he piirj o!e of dc fcndiiig Mont againft an attack NAPOLEON BUOKAPARia, 341 from that quarter. From this place the French were determined to diflodgehim; and, accordingly, they at- tacked him on the 14th of May, with their accuftomed impetuofity; but fortune here fmiled on their antago- nifts, who compelled them to repafs the Sambre with the lofs of about 5,000 men and a few pieces of can- non. This vidory elated the Emperor confiderably, becaufe he concluded that!it had fecured him thepof- feluon of that part of the country ; for which reafon iic refolved to march to the afliilance of his Royal liighn^efa the Duke of York, at Tournay. The forces cf the Emperor, the Duke, and General Clarrfait were to form a junction, and aft in concert againft the iine uf the Republicans, in which grand attack it wa$ believed they would be able to drive the invaders from the whole of Flanders. It was, however, dil- concerted by means of fome illicit correfpondence with the people of Lifle ; and the French were mailers of thefecret before it was ripe for execution. The Combined Army, in five columns, began its march on the lolh, in the evening, two ot which were dedined to force the palTages of the Marque ; and, having made a vigorous affault on the French polt5 along the river, were to protect the operations of the three culumns which remained. But it was ib late before t'ney could acxompluh tlieir objeft, and the men were fo exhaufted, thai they vvere obliged to relinquiih the execution of the remaining part of their plan. The couunn to the right, under the com- mand of General Bafche was equally unfortunate ; for the Republicans at Moucron, being far more • numerous than he had apprehended, he did not deem it prudent to give them battle, but refumed his for Hier pofition at Warcoing. The column under On rfS S-i'Z TBE LIFK OF neral Olto was rather more fuccrfsfal, as they werr enabled to a rive the enemy from Watciloo, and force their way towards 'lurcoing. The Duke of York alio repulfed tlic Republicans, obhgrd thv-m to eva- cuate Lannoy,and marched forward to Roubaix ; but he did not deem it exjicd^ent to proceed forward, be- ing unacquaiutcd with the real fituatioii of the co- lumns on his right and. left. The Duke having in- formed tiie Emperor of his defigns,ttie Brilifh forces were ordered to march forward and attack Mor- v( aux. as his iMaieftv was under the ncceirity of co- operating with General Clairfait. The Republicans were ciriven from their entienchm; nts at Morveaiix by the intrepid Geno ral Abercrombv ; ;uid the trans- actions of tlie ITlh inr^^ht be faid to temilnale v.iih fome hope of i'ucreil- to the Combined Powers, but it was oi ihort coivliuuance. Turcoiiig wis atta-ktd by tho French on the morn- ing of tlie IBLli, v.'hieh was commanded by Colonel Devay. whilher the Duke of York fent two battalions (if AuUnans, with a view lo make a diverfion on that (]uarter ; a;id they v, ■j'-c pofilivijlv ordered to join the maiii armv i: leverelv I'Lubtd !,■-.■ the enemy ; but, throuiih !';.u:e niifuijdi ifardinti, tiiev joined the Co- loi;e! at Turcoing, bv whirii mean> achafm was i.c- cafioned on the riflit of Mie Duke's forces, ofwhicli it was natural to t\]tS: that tiic Il<-publican Gen^jral v.f^i.iil tij'.c immediiite ad\an;agf. About the lame >i.rit a I o^iy of 15. (^00 Frencii were feen approach- ing from Liile, and another, having obliged General Oitr' to abanoon his pohtion in the vicinity of Wa- terloo, were enabled to attack the Britifli forces in the rear. The t: {;ops under the immediate coininand of the Duict; unable to iland agaiiift the force of the NAPOLEON RUO\" APART R. 34 J i:«iiemv, foon £'ave way, :ind the Duke huufelf v.as compelled to lly, to join General Oito, with whom ho continued, on uccount of the melancholy fituation of his own army. It. is difficult to fay with whom tlic bkme of this unfortun;i;o rd'ikir (hould reft; the Aliii s are charged with a want of vigour and firm- nefs, while ths Aafirians- blame the Hanoverian troops, who, they fay, " were the firft to retreat. Ihey created the i^reateft confufion; for their cavalry not only deftroyed ihe foot, Init threw the whole army into fuch dilbrder, tl.at they became a hclplefs prey to I'le purfuing enemy." The Brilifh troops were extricated from their pe- rilous iituation, with uncommon ability, by Generiils A'eercrombv and Fox. Acordmg to one ftatenient, the lofs of tlie Allies on this occalion amounted to .'3)000 men ; a number which decs not appear to be exaggeraled, when we reject that the lofs of the Britifli alone has been eltiinated at no fewer than 1000 men, and 43 pi(>ces of cannon. Two columns under the command of his Impeiial IMajefty and the ]''ii'.ice ofSaxe Cobourg, were likewife defeated with lo!r>e lofs, wiiiie General Clairfait could not grant any ailiffai.ce, as his army was ftiU feparated froni ihe reft by che Lys. Thcfe calamitous events once moie decided the fate of the Netherlands, and were tiie means of dilVufing confternatiou and difmay throughout the v»diole country ; nor were a few Im- perial proclamations adequate to the talk of fupport- ing the drooping fpirits of the Emperor's fubjects. The fcattered troops of the Allies be; rig collected witli as much expedition as circumftances would per- mit, they were again affailed by the Republicans on the 22nd, with a force of about 100,000 men, de- .J It THE LIFE OF figucd, if pofrible, to turn the right wing again ft the out-pot'is; the Frcncli were at firft fuccefsful ; but :\ reinforcement having been lent under the com- niand of General Fox, that able ollicer enabled the Allies to maintain their pofitlon. This dreadful con. telt continued from five in the morning till nine at nigl:t. when vidury (lecl;:"Ld in favour cf the Com- bined Powers ; and the French, finding that tlieir fituatiou wasuo lon'^er tenable, witi.drew their troops ill the r.iglit, and marcl^ed back towards Lille. Tlieir euin:atcd lof> is almof: incredible, being tuited at iJ.OeO me;). Thus v/ere the Freneli defeated for the prefent in their de/ign of forcir,g the Scheldt, and invesi-ngTournav. General Picht^;ra was com- mander on tivis oecafion. and bis ikiil w\:s eminimtly displayed in the arrangement uf his army. The right mid left wings, to.;ether with the rear, were pro- teclcd by a wood, fo that in was impotlible tor ca- valrv 10 do them the Imaliest injury in any iliape whatever. Tiie Combined Powers, about this period, experi- e:iced fome p^artial fucceffos in another quarter ; for Ciencrai Bciiulieu penetrated into the duchy of Bouil- lon, afiaulted arid took the town ot' that name, con- quereti a large bt;dy of t!ie French stationed there, and delivered u;i liie town to be plundered. -^The Republicans lot^t at this time about 1/200 men killed, SOOpiifoners, and O" pieces of cannon. It was a lingu- lar circumiiance, that we find lew or no statements of the lolTes luUained by the Comb'ined Powers ; and, as v.c cannot fuppofc that they were invulnerable, their lofs has been kej.t a fecret for foine particular purpofe. There can be i.o doubt that it was oa uianv occalions, ai iieavy jis that oi the Rcpub- NAPOLEGX BUOXATARTE. 31-5 iicans ; and in partjculur inftances, it was probably more fo. The French having arnin eflccted llie pafiage cf the Sambre, were vigoioufly and fuccelsfullj at- tacked by General Kaurjitx on the 2-!-Ui ; and h.*-, hav- ing come upon them by furprife, obiigtd i/ieni to re- treat with precipitation.leaviiigbeiiiud '-hern 50 pieces of cannon. I'heir lolb in killed. has been computed at 2,000, and 3/XJO prifoners, while that of the Au- ftriins has been denominated triihng. 'i'he Repub- licans were alfo defeated at Krvfurflautern by Islar- flial :>Iollendorf, he having furprifed their entrerich- nicnts, and put many of them to the fword. Thefe partial vic'tories, however, were productive of no permanent advantages to the allied intereft. At the very time when Befiulieu was doing little more than trifling in Bouillon, the victorious Jourdan iu- vaded the duchy of Luxembourg at the head of an army of 40,000 men, and inftantly g t poileffion of Arlon, which obliged Beaulieu to relinquilh his late conqucfl, and retreat v.ilh precipitation, for the de- fence of Namur. As foon as Jourdan was enabled to ft jp all com- munication between Charleroi and BruilLis, he pre- pared to lay hege to the former of thefe places ; but the Prince of Orange attacked him on the 3d of June, aiid compelled hirn, with conhderabie loss, to raife tlie hege and recrofs the Sambre. The French foon retraced iheirfteps with a force of 90,000 men, and demolifhed a flrong redoubt which had been ereaed for the dei'ence of Charleroi. This was a place of very confiderahle importance in the eflimation of the Combintd Powers, which induced the Prince of Saxe Cobourg to undertake the relief of it bv every ^'^6 THE LIFE OF means in his power. At the requcu of the Prince oi' Orange and General Beaulieu, he proceeded with the principal part of the Comhiiied Army and eifecled a jun^licn with the troops under tlie command of thefe officers on the 24-th, at Nivelles, fituated 17 miles North-north-welt of Charleroi, and 22 North-weft by Eaft Ci Mons. The piincipal puriof Jourdan's army was itatif-ned at Templcuve, Gofieiies, and Fleurus, with a view to covt-r tlie fiege of Charleroi. All the Republican potts were t. .. eked on the 26th in the Tnorn;ng,i\ hich were foiigl.i ■•,'.! th fury anddesperaticn t;il the afternoon was tonilderably advanced. At -ength, victory fmiicd on the vigorous exertions .f the French, who obtained a fiiinal advantage over the Allies, obiigin^^ theni to retreat to Halle wiih prodigious lofs. Thr-y continued their triumphant career towards BruiTcls, and i<irced Cobourg to re- treat from Ilallc; and Charleroi in confequence lur- rc;,(iered, by capitulation, on the preceding night. Defeat now followed upon the heels of the Allies with a (iegrce of raiiidily iliat filled tlie human mind v/itli aitoniihinent. Ypres was befieged by a Repub lican Ai-my (,l .;o.OOO i^en, whofc operations were defended bv another of 2 l-,Ov)0 ftrong. Confidcring th;s place as the key to Weft Flanders, the Allies re- fclvcii to ipare no expenfe in protecting it Irom the cni.iiiy ; bu'. (ieueral Clairfait, ui attempting to force v.\r cue;. IV to raife the iicge, was three times defeated in the fpuce of live diys, aftv^r having fought at th? head of a:: army whirh maintained Its ground like a V. al! of iron ; at:d at laft, was under the neceffity of makin- a precipitate retreat, in the utmoft confufion, to Ghent, abo.it 14 miles diuant: where he learned, that there v/as no longer a communication between KAPOLEON BUOXAPAKTE. 3-iJ that place and Oudenarde. Ypres, after a gallant and obftinate "refiftance, furrendered to the Repub- licans under General Moreau on the 17th of June, on teru:3, it is reported, which are not always held out by the victors to the vanquiflied, On the defeat of theAuftrian General Clairfait, the intcreft of the Combined i'cwers became every day more defj.)erate. The fituation of General ^V^hnoden, with a handful of rnen, was no longer tenable, and he was obliged to abandon Bruges to the vjaorious Republicans,- who were received by the magiflrates, on the 21th of June, with the utrnofr cordiality, after figningfubmifFion to the armies andfoiereignti/ of the French Republic. The Emperor found it impoffible to prevail on his fubjects to rife in a mafs for the defence of the Ne- therlands : and, from different parts of thejr conduct, iL might have been furewdly conjectured that tht-y rather wlfned to be Republicans. The Emperor him- fcli was fufpecled by this time as not very hearty in the caufe, for he departed for his capital, under a cou'iction that the fabjagation of France was im- practicable. The career of the Republican troops on the side of Spain v.as equally brilliant. In the vicinity of St. Jean de Luz, 10 miles South-weft of Bayonne, a bat- tle was fought, in which the French were vidorious, having either difperfed or taken prifoners three regi- ments, and an Irifh one from Ultona was totally de- ftroyed. The Spaniards were obliged to abandon Boulon, and their camp at Ceret, in the month of April ;aud not long after, General Dagobert made a conquefi of Urgel, a town lltuated near theEaft bor- ders of Spain, in the province of Catalonia, about S5 miles North-north-weft of Barcelona, the capital. He .IIS THE Lrrr. of iour.d the citadel in a condition to hold out for acon- fuierable time, at;<] the r;ridge leading to tiie town having been dcmciiOied, he was under the neceillty of waiting for reinforcements, during which period he Wis fhot by a cain.on ball, and General Dugom- mier fucceeded him in the command. One victorv gained by the French about this period was generally the prelude of aiiolher. On llie Ift of Mav they ob- tained a vidory in tlu' neighbourhood of Ceret, on the borcU rs (.'f SjViin, the trails of which wore '2,000 priioners, the piodigions ni;:nber of 200 pieces of cannon, and the Spanilh camps, ir.aga?ines, and eqni- pag<=. 'I'liis was fucceeded bv a ftruke fnll more ter- rible to tiic Sp;inilh intorefr, their principal arn-.y being almoU tutaily defrroved, an(i their baggage and artiliery captured bv the conciuerors. At Collioure, a town about 13 milts Soutli-eaft of Peripignai;, 7,000 Spaniards laid down their arms before the Re- publicans. St. Elmo was abandor^ed by the Spanifli forces on the 23d of Mav, and port ^^ r.dies furrendeied, by capiiulalion, to General Dugommier. Equally fuc- cefsful were tlie Republicans in Italy, arid vicioiy and glory attended all their movements. In Pied- mont alone they took 60 pieces of cannon and 2,000 prifoners, befides immenfe n)aga£in(s ofprovinons and fiores, and a mamifuvftory of cloth of great value. Keilher the Alps nor the Pyrenees oppofed i'uificient obfiacles to damp the ardour of the P.epublicans. General Dumas, who commanded the army of the Alps, purfued a fuperior enemy through the mod dangerous denlcb and tremendous precipices, and gained polfeffion of the Sardinian artillery and maga- zines, after fcveral violent and fanguinary conftic!-:. ?f A POLi;0'..- BUONAPARTE. 3 $"9 T(:« conqutus of the Briliih forces in the Weft Indies, v;ecc as rapid as thofe of the French on the Continent of Europe, owing to the Hiill, courage, and adivUy of the two brave commanders, Sir John Jer- vis and Sir Cliarlcs Grey; infomuch that time was not allowed to the enemy even to put themfelvcs npon their guard ; and, before it could rationally be apprehended that one ifland was reducv:d, fhey ap- peared in full force and military preparation before another. Immediately on the conquefts of Marti- nico the troops were embarked for St. Lucia, which excellent IHand fell into the hands of the Bri- tifli on the 4th of April. The enemy lod a confider- able quantity ofllores and artillerv; but weare happy in being able to add, that the fubjugation of the ifland was eifeded without much carnage on either fide. At this place, the Commander-in-Chief left Sir Charles Gordon, Colonel ; and on the very day on which he achieved tiie reduction of St. Lucia, he em- barked ills troops and returned to Martinico. On the 6'th and 7ih, the land forces vvere removed from the diips of war to the tranfports ; and on the 8th, a detachment of four fail was fent ta the redudion of the fniallifiands denominated the SaintS; (fituated on the South of Guadaloupe,) a commiirion which they accomplifhed with theutinoft gallantry and difpatch. Two of the niips,the Boyne and Veteran^ came to an anchor on the morning of the lOth off Poiat-a-Petre, in Guadaloupe; and although all his troops were not yet arrived, Sir Charles Grey determined to make a landing at Gofier Bay the very next morning, when his troops were covered from the enemy's fire by the guns of the WJnchelfca, which Lord Garlics ran up VOL. I. NO, X. G U 350 THE i.iiK t)t K) clofc to the batteries of the rjcncli, tuat tiicy \veri> obliged to abandon thorn with precipitation. Next day, (the 12th,) at five in the niorni.iy. Sir Charies took, by Itorm, a fort called Flcur d'Kpecat the poiiit of the bayonet, by which means he got iiiunediate poffetTion of Grande Terre ; and tliis was folif.nved, on the 20rh, by the confjuelt of BafTeterre, (fituated on the South-well ofthe ifland,) which furrendered by ri'i'ilulation. Itis faid thatlhe number of men at Guadalonpc, qualified to bear arms, amounted to 5,S77> of V. hich the enemy are reported to have lofl 232 in killed, wounded, and nrifoners, at Fleur d'Epee, and the Britilh about 80. From the con- queft of tliefc places the Commander-in-Chief re- turned again to INIartinico, and entrufted the c.o.a- niand of Guadaloepe to General Dundas, In the Mediterranean, the Britifli were jireparing to increafe their poiieflions ; the inhabitanlb of Cor- fica having uioftly rcfulved to difunite lliem.felves from France, ;;:;d put ihcmfelvcs under the prote^ion of the Engliili govcnmicnt. Oiic of the moft j-emarkablc circamftances of this period w.is, the very bad management of the Britiih Navy, which enabled the French to annoy our coaft- ing and mercinmt vciiels i'o mucli, that, in the finglc montli of May, they took f^^) fail, v.hilit our captures werf'comparativel}' nothing; among others, they took eight Weftlndiamen, together with the Lifbon packet, having on b(;ard avaft quantity of money. 'I'iiis fuccefsful method of ruining our trade was unaccountably abandoned by the Frcncli ; and their anxiety for the fate of a convoy, expected every hour from America, with the rich produce of their Weft India lii&ads, induced the Convention to order a fleet. XAPOI.EON BUONAPAUTE. 351 oi 'Jo fill of the line (in JNIuy) to put to lea from the haibour of Brelr, in order to proted it. The coixi- uiund was given to Adnnnil Vilhiret Jovoufe ; and he ]y,i(l on board one of the refn-efentalive: ofthe people, Jean Bon St. Andre, as a Comniiliioiier, or fpy upon Uie Admiral's condiicl. yVs Lord How;-, the Englifu Commander, received inielli_;ejiCe of this valuable convoy, he had put tofea, in L!)e fame month, v.ii'i *Jlt fail of the line under his command. On the 2Sth, the Britifh admiral came in fight of the French fleet ; but it was yetataconliderable diftance from him, on his weather-bow. After they came completely in fight ofeach other, and within the reach of ibeir flio'^ t!jc '^.Qth and fvllowmg days vv'ere chiefly taken up v;it;h a variety of manoeavres and ij^irniiiJies till the Itt of June, when his Lordliup obliged l,ho eaeuiy to come to a clofe a(!:tion, after having gor. wh:'l, in the language ©f maruiers,ii; called thciriviathcr-gage. 'ihis wonderful naval engagement luhed hnig, and was fought on botli ficf;^- with the moll deterii.iined ura- very ; bu.. fhc Driiifh lar^ were deciaclv r: ■•.-;■ : to the Pvcin'hii.'.an failors, bol!i ni knowlro^- ■ ■. \'-.!- pline. In the niaiictuvring, previous to the c- .. .r,'-, i '■■-- m nt of liiejirand attack, le-L-ril (A tbe i''rva..-.L iii.|js had oeen eor.lidcrably dauui^eci, ana. at belt, 1' old rud cra;';y, that they coidd, in nu leide, be deemed qualified to coijc with the Britilli commander. Sc.rae fiiips, in both fleett, had their malU com- pletely earned away; iind the vaft multitudes v»dio vt:re ditin, (n- otherwife periflied, mate humanity Ih.udder. The Lc l-'engcur, of 74- guns, was lent to tnc bottom, and ail hiinds on board lue-itably pe- rillied. The patriotic fentim<?nts, and enthuiiaftic exertions of the crew, will probably command tiie i.tini-.ra'uon Oi ihi^ laccll pofterity. AftCK the guns »iton the luwer df(,k were couiplt.ttly under water, l«Jev Ctjiiin.ueJ \u fire ihou; ol' the upper tier ; aiici, wlieii iuur.chmg into cternUy, ihey made the air r-..:- found 'AKh U;'^ vxclainuliun oi' " Vkcla lltpuhlique ! xive la Idt: Uc, tt la France '" About an hour after the ei:gA^eiiifcut l;eca:iie general aiici fanguit;ary, ihe Jic;iub'LL:an Admiral, who had bttu en<:a^ed v.ith the Queen Cha; iottt-, 'Towtied oii, aiid his e-^aniple was lollcwfcd by all the other flups that were in a con- diuoii to carry fitil. It is certain that the Britifli fleet were alio very much difabied, fince levcrul of the French fiiips elcaped after tiv. y had been captured ; "I"' '.V,'o C! r-'C'»ii. in pari-cular, ivund wo ditiicuity m pcttitig clear off with a hngle fpriifail, or otli'jr fihdll fall on a !)attercd foreniaft, tix out of the l\'.entv-lix were brought into Plvnunilh by the Britiili. Admiral ; lo thiit the whole lofs of the Republicans on this memorable dav, amounted to fcvenfail of the line, including the unfortunate Le ^'cngeur \\hich went to the be ttum. The Britifn had 27- men killed, and 787 wounded. The lols o; the Treiich muft have beiu great, and has been couiputed by lon-:e at 1,£;00 in khied and wounded. This action was fup- pciled to he the ni^-ft fangulnary and beft fought that had ever occurred v.u the ocean down to that time. It canntit be faici that the I'rtnch, upon ti-e v. h.olc. were great h^fer:; b'V ihls cugagenn iit, for they gained the objciit for v.hich a was undertaken. Only a tew davs alter luia cireadful battle was fought, the rici; American convoy arrived in falety, conlilur.g o7 ]C() lail, whole ca;-goco were moderately valued at li\(j millions fitjiir.g, exciufive of a vaft e.uantity o; rif.val li.'.r(,':> ano \ ro'. ifons v.hich thev had alio en NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 333 board. Six old crazy fhips of war certainly were not equal to fuch a prodigious acceffion of wealth, if we except the iofs of fo many lives. It muft not be forgotten that feveval fevere adions had been fought by Englifh frigates, in all of which the officers and feanien maintained the honour of the Britilli flag, and captured the foe. ^ G S 3 3.^4 TttE L'BF OF CHAPTER XXIII. Wonderful j)olitical Entrgy of the French People. — The Jacobin Jtheijls confpired agai?!ji by the Jacobin Chriftians. — Arrefl of Cloots, Paine, ^-c. — Arnfc and Eiecntion ofDanfon, JVeflerman, S^c. — Execution of the Princefs E/izabcth. P^obifpierrcs Proccjfion in Honour of the Supreme Being.-— Oppoftion of Tallicn, Ee- gcndrc, SfC. to liobefpicrrc. — Bi/laud dc J' areuncs de- nounces liobejpierre to ike Convention, — Taliicn.sRant , — liobejbicrrc, cSc. arnjhd and carried to the Hotel de Ville, ivherci/i they thj'end fhcnfeiiLS, but, being attacked and oierconie, attempt Suicide. — 'J'heir Execution, — Their Character, utid the Charaelcr oj the Cn/nentiun. A. HE jjolitical ftate of rrdiice during ilie Tpriiig of this year, fiiftovercd the piiv.ers of hunjan fiitrgy in a nuicli ftrongtr liglit llian ti;c aunals of uiuntiinu had ever dilplayed ihciu Ju. 'I'iie palt was rtn^allcd, and the future anticipated to I'ujply tiie wants of the niomcnl, and every ctidrt of intclkc^tuul vigour was exerted to direct all the rei'inucf.sof the itatc againfl the dangers which oppofed it. A military Coui- niittec was formetl under the i:uidaneerf Carnot and others, who ada];l^■d tlieir tactics to the fpirit of thi; tunes, and availed thtnifelves at the famf: time of the inlelligenee and experience of the great generals and flatefmen who adorned the inonarehy, and of the follies of the peo]ile who difgraced their own reign. It was a curious fpeftacle to fee a raw army allured to the battle by the biandiflnnents of the cyprian corps, \N ho were diluibuting braiidy through the ranks. ^T A POL EON BUONAPARTE. 35 while cannon were placed in the rear of the troops to prevent them shewing their backs to the enemy. No leis extraordinary was il to behold a nation la- bouring to produce a harveit, not fo mucli with the hope of reaping its fruits, as to find leifure for march- ing to the frontiers to chaftife an invading foe. Such prodigies were effeded by this extraordinary people, that they feemed unconfcious of political weaknefs, and indulged in all the plenitude of felf- will, as if they had adopted it as i;n infallible maxim, thatybr a nation to he great isfuffic'unt thatjhe idlls it. The cool and deliberate councils which other nations think it neceffary to adopt in feafons of danger were confidered perfk^dly unnecelfary in France : the na- tion rioted in its own ftrength, and in the midft of perils would change its government with as much eafe as any other nation would alter a road. So many of the BrilTotines had now been taken and conduced to the fcatfold that they were nearly iorgotten,and the viftors had leifure to difcover that there were yet differences of opinion amongft them furticient to prevent that entire fubmiflion, which the bigotry of each required, for the dogma that he cipoufed. Among the Jacobins was a feet, whofe revolutionary views were principally theological : ihefe could not imagine any ftate of fociety worthy of being called free, unlefs it were compofed entirely of Atheifts, and though they would have had no ob- jedioa to have been governed by a King and Em- peror, or a defpot of the moft unreftrained kind, luppofin'g he were an infidel, the lloyalills were moft of them Chriftians ; and hence this fed contributed Its aid to get as many of them as polhble guillotined eff. The leaders of this tribe were Hebert, Ronzin, 356 THE LIFE OF Fabrc d'EglaiiLine, and a conliderablc! corps oibon ^•i- rants, whole numerods extravagaiicies had templed them to feii 'iheir votes, and in fome inftances to make too frte with the public money ; and Danton, .Ca- mille, DdVnoulmcs, Cioots, and aconliderable num- ber, who were only partakers in the common crimes of the day : in the liands of this body ti)e Chriftian Jacobins thought that power would be as dangerous to them as if it were in the hands cf the Royalifts ; and as the roaliing and b>roiling zeal of the Catho- lics continued in its fiill vigour, noLwiddtanding the relaxiiliun of ccclcfiaftical difcipline, RobcfpierrL- and bis orthodox pariifaiis, rcfolvcd to take adsantage of the pious indiguiiiiun which engaged a great ma- jority of tiic people tu tall for divine vengeance on the heads of Ihofe profane peribns, who, as we be- fore rtlaltd, had abjured the faith. A great variety of new intrigues were no^v com- menced, and numerous falfe repurls and accufations fabricated, witii a view to peiluade the people that a freiii ccidpirucy exiftt-d, (till more dangerous than any l no preccc'ing. All foreigners were expelled from tiiC' ('on vt liLion, amongft whom vver( the Orator ol the llunii'.n llace (Cioots), and the author of the Agtj oi Keafon (Inline); ;ind the people were taught, thai irjiirconhcJencehacl fo frequently beenmifplaced, ;,nii uuy had been io vdltn deceived, that they had better adopt a licw iineuf condud, and rely injphcitly upoii the Cumniitteei-.j Public Safety. At lengi!), the uecc-Uary i^u:iulum of alarm bt '.ng excited, the He- bend'.s .vert luddenly arretlcd, about the middle of iNiauJ), by order cl tin C'jmndltee of Public Safety, upon ihe cbi^'-ge of having ' iirtf erred thur private intcrt^i to the <^ent:ral <iuod." Nothing could be more KAPOLEON BUONAPARXt. 'o-'^l liiJeniiite than this charge ; but thefe wei e confider- ati(;ns fur below the fablime philolophy of Trench- men — there were heads to chop uft', and it v.'as the faliiion of the day to believe, that the well-being of the Republic dependLd upuii preventing any mau f;om carrying one upon his lliouiders a inofnejit too long. The urtair hardly excited a debate in the Cou- vencion, and the Robefpierians contented thenifelves with fpeculuting upon ihe probr.ble conduft of Dan- ton and his friends upon tiie overthrow of fo many of their party. Thefe, however, feeuied wholly ua- conl'cious of their danger, for Dan ton entered the tribune, and called upon the people to affilt the Con- vention to countera(il every plot ; and conclrded by recomriiendii'ig confidence in the Committee. His colleagues received fentence in the molt precipitate and Ihameful manner, and 19 of them were arretted and guillotined in Icfs time than an equitable court would have taken to examine their papers. Ihe friends of Danton litlle apprehended that, within ten days, they Ihculd thenjftlves become the victims of the fame baity judgment. On the 3 ift of I\Iarch, Legendre informed the Convention, that four of their JMeud.'t rs had been an efted ; " t!:e celebrated Danioi:," iaid lie, " is one ofth-^'Ui,! know noi. tn(3 names of the other three. If tiiey be giah}', i vnU be ll)e firft to call for their puniliini'. nl, but yow ouLht II! hear ihem. I ampurf,ixiK\ i bt.l;eve Danton lo :je t'S puie us mylcii.'' I'his interfi,rcnce ol Le- g(,nGrt; oiK-nded ilobei'pierre gr^ atiy, lor he had • nly been excepted from this profeription, becaule he was coniidered loo contemptible to be li-aicu. '■ \\ iiat, faid Robeipierre, " does Legenvire pretend to be ig- norant of the other three names? Knows he net tliat O.OS THE LIK E OF liis frieiul Ijacroix is oi ihe numljer? he afi'ccts ]g- r.orancp, bfc<.aiii''j be knows that he could not pro- uoiuicc ll)ut uanx^ v. ilhout bU.lliiisg, The name ot Daiitoii, he thinks is his oirciilive; it is natural that tlie cauie of the guih y Hiouhi be I'leaded by their ac- compiicos; but uhy lliouhl llu-ie Deputies receive any favour that hus not bt.'en fhev.n in former caies? tlie propcil'al is an infult tolibcity. 1 nic\e the ]ire- vious (jutfiion on Legenche's niollon," The })revious quellion was carried, and the decree of aneU conlirnied againft Danlon, L?.croix, Philip- peau, Camille Defmoulins, and llerault Sechcllcs : in conl'"quence they were, on the 2d of April, to- getht. v\iih ten more, brought before this mock re- volutionary tribunal, or rather flaughter-houfe. Not one of the fuppofed criminals appeared to be in the fmallt.fl dtj^ice agitated, llerault, Sechelles, and Ca. uiiile Defiiiouiins, entertained and diverted tiie ipea- talors during their trial, by turning the a(ft of accu- lation into the mofi; pomlcfi ridicule. The wit and invertise of l)cU;lon vveie io keen as comjjleteiy to dilc(.i;cert ike judges; and lie fun'iu'-icd to anuifc hwhlv ii ^Mtii tiHO'viru kiiall balis, ol ilie cunillivnee alio lire u'. a j'-f ti, in ikeir tute.-, .\li the priioners denuiiK.'! v! iIkiI IliJ.c.lj h r. . niighL Ix' k.unii;oneri to a!;c;;i' li.io i:;ock 1]:'a:;.; i, when ilicy pledged theia • fc!\(i lo Cwnln'iit him Kilo t;- k;ce ; kiu he found rntaiis to cr.ci.ie iiiuneik v.i.i.^r the jj)"eL^.\l that ho vv(jui;i lkt:i!: b^ in (iai:g( r (jf alk.lk-:.i: u-n. .Vc they ]'. i:;kd K. ^n.; ,■, i r ;; :.y i:;' : ■rioj.aKvrus be,; (;;i the a"ijo\e eiiiiiii'-iL ! , {',.■ )..:■. in;i'it a ii.cn'l pruct is en it, and mni;'. dnileiv Icunu U;(tn guilty, Luliicr alone ex- c pl'-'ci- 'i k'.y reoeiM J ki.le'iee ol dealli at two in the al'tern,.'on,.and tluee hours alter they were brought NAPOLEON BUONfAPAaTE, 35y to t1ie guillotine. Lacroix w.r, tl-.e only perfo;i whole courage failed hisnat t!ie t;-vingrno:nent,or who d;i- covcred any fvmptoms of trepidation an:! t;;ar. Da i- ton was tlie laft who fuiTered ; and he did U wiLli To mucii magnanitnity, turning up his oycs to the d:o-i.|- ful axe wlien he was tied to the plank, thai the ipoc- tators were deeply penetrated with veneration and refpeft. Danton has been dt.-fcribed as a man of abilities and commanding eloquence, orignally trained to the prcfclTion of the law. lie was chiefly inftru- mental in rendering fuccefaful the deilgnsof the Re- publicans on the memorable 10th of Auguft, 1792. His perfon was tall, inclining to corpulency, but, upon the wdiole, his figure was engaging, and few could look upon him without a prepofTefilcHi in his favour, lie and his alTociates were accufed of being concerned in the defeiftion of Dumourier, as favour- iiig the deligns of the unfortunate Duke nfOrleans, , and being acco;npliccs with Fabre d'Eglanliiie. They were alfo accufed of counter-revolutionary princi- . pies, a dcfign to murder the reprefentatives of the people, to deftroy the Republican Governmeiit, and re-efiabliih ^Monarchy, not one of which charges were ever proved. V\'hen Danton had time to refioff, in the prifon of Conciergcrie, on the vanity of all fublunary enjoy- ments, and the peculiar fwc-ets of a retired fituatlon, he thus exclaimed, " In revolutions the power al- v.'ays remains in the hands of villains. It is better to be a poor fifiiermau than to govern men. Thofe fools, they Will cry, Long live the Republic, on feeing me pafs to tlie fcaffold. This day laft year I caulbd the Revolutionarv Tribunal to be inftituted ; I afk 300 THE Lli'E OF pardon of God and of men ; for it was ijot that it fhould become the fcorirgr of humanity ; it was to ])rL'vent the renewal of the raafiacres of September." Danton is fuf^pofed to have been the principal planner of the attack upon the King's palace on the lOtb of AuguH', which dreadful outrage was executed by the ruffian W'efterman, and i!u y both periOied in one da}', upon the fame fcaffold. On the 6th of April, it was enacted by the Con- vention, " That every Deputv fliould be obliged, upon pain of death, to give an account of his re- venue before and fince the Revolution." The defign of this decree is maniffft. Everyman \.ho has the charge of the national purfe fliould be an honeft man, but be that as it may, it wa^ themeft fatal of M. Robefpicrre's enterprifes, for his colleagues now (iifcovered him to be a mcft unreafonable tyrant, who was endeavouring t© overthrow the national rcpre- fentation. Secret parties were now formed by Le- pcndrc, Tallien, Lecointre, Bourdon, &c. who kne\T that their crimes mull be expofed and punithed, if they fuffered any one man to live who was fo pure and honeft as llobefpierre. About this period it was demanded, by Fouquier Tinville, the public accufer, that thefifter of tiie ci- devant King ihoulfl be given up to that fink of bar- barity and def;)otifm, the Revolutiouarv Tribunal. The Princefs Klizabctli was accordingly fcnt to the prifon of the Conciergerie on the 10th of May, and appcaro-d two days after before her unrelenting judges. The trial was of the fame fummary kind which had ever diftinguiflied this bloody court, being compofed of a few abfurd interrogations put to the prifoner, and ^he hud neither advocates nor witnelTes of any NAPOLEO.v BUON' apa a r r,. 5'jI defcriplioa whatever, but wa5 coniomneu to ilie guillotine wiihool more ceremony. Having now difpofed of all the rivals v.bich he imagined any \\\\y dangerous, and not fu(pc<fling the formidable confpiracy that was hatcliing againli him, Robefpicrre indulged his-vanity by taking the lead at a procr Dion in hononr ot the Suprenie Being. At this certmoay his Jacobin pai tifaus i'.iluted him with the cry of, Long live Kubc/pierre ! and the awk- vard exulation which he difcovered, in return for this flattery, afforded the malevolent an oppon^juity to point him out as an -ambitious confpirator, who intended to ufurp the fovereign power. Attf-mpts were fliortly afterwards made to airallinale* fome of his party, and he had the folly to exalt himfelf into afcrvant of the Moil High, by mounling the tribune to thank God that he and his party hud be«.n fuch faithful fervants to their country as to be ac- counted worthy of the dag/'jrs of tyrants. He laid it was a fpeclacle worthy of ijeaven and earth, to be- hoii the rep re fen tali ves of the i^ench people fta- lionod on the ahnofl incxhauitiblo volcano of con- fpiraci-js, pUcing with the one hand, at the feet of tlie Great ErtRNAL, the homage of a mighty peo- file, and with th..; other launching the thr.nderbolt againll tiie tyrants combined againft them. ' ■The policy of the knaves, of which the great ma- jority of the Convention confifttd, had for fome time been, to remain iilent iii their f/ats, and take no part in the bufmefs ot] the nation, fnr they had fecn through the whole progrefs of the Ucvuk;tion, that opportunities were always to be found for exciting murmurs agaiuft the a.^wa/ goverumcul, whii- ihule T OL.I. — ::f0. XI, H h 362 THE LIFE or only, who did nothing, received credit fur purily of defign. By this fullen negleft on the part of the ma- jority, tbe-a<ftive minds of Robefpierre and his friends were left ta govern the ftate according to the befl of their judgments.:— The wifdom as well as folly — the right as well as the wrong, was all their own; fur the Talliens, the Legfcndres, and the Bour- dons, were a fyUeraatlc oppofition, which refolved . to afford them no affiftance, and to watch only for their faults. The tafk'wasmoft arduous, and thelabour inceffant, that fell to the fliare of the Robefpierrians; and there is more allowance to be made for the crimes committed by them fubfequent to the death of Danton than at any period of the Revolution ; ^ov they had fo much to do, with a few hands, that ihcy could not afford the time necefiary for delibe- ration. Several attempts were made in the Convention to affix the public attention to fach meafures as were likely to be obnoxious, but the majority wertj too great cowards to effect tliftir dcilgn in a bojd and open manner, fur, though lli'-y held all tht: legitimate authoritv of France in their own hands, and could fend Robefpierre to the guillotine as eafily as the bad lent Damon and hundreds of others, they were afraid of the Jacobin Club, which was entirely de- voted to Robefpierre, as alfo of the Committee of Public Safety, for the fame reaibn. The policy adopted, therefore, was to excite jtaloufy between theCommitiee and the Club, by reprefenting the latter as an improper reftrahit upon the Government, The bait fucceeded, the Committee was flattered ' with the hope of feeing its rival annihilated in ij-j fa-»our, and Robefpierr". began -to fear that he most i n\ w i,t ti •ua" •Uljl in '! (1| JI3! fB.V Pin £0^ ^^1 i§ i 'HKKK'*'*^i % ^(^4f THE LIFE or was ixiw molt hurDiliatiiig ; for a muilitude of* oices t'ifiini'tly exclaimed, Doicn xvith the fyrant^dQwn iiitk the tyrant ! Upon this Tallien arofe, and addreffed hirijfelf to the Convention in thcfe words : " We mild now draw the veil. I fee with pleafiire that the C'iifpiratorsare unmafkeJ, and that they will foon be annihilated. Every thing fpeaks that the enemy, of th^" national reprefentation is about to fall. In the houfe of tliat guilty man, who now ftands humbted with the confcioufn< fs of detected guilt, and over, whelmed with thatdifappfobation which his infamvtis defigns againll liberty have fo juftly merited, were found thofa- lifts of profcription which have Gained with fo much blood tbe altars of rifing liberty. Happily his dcfigrs liave been difcovered before he had time to execute them, or to add to that ftream of blood which has already deluged France. His long fuccefs in villainy made him at laft lay afide his ufual caution. Was it to fubjed curfelvesto fo degrading and fo abje<ft a tyranny that we brought t6 the fcaf- fold the laft &f the Capets, and laviftied fo much blood of the French citizens! Was it to acknow- ledge fo petty a defpot that we declared eternal war againft Kings, and fwore to cftablifli liberty at tbe price of life ? No-: the fpirit of freedom is not funk fo low ; the fenfe of that duty which virtuous men owe to their country is n9t yet extinguiHied. I in- voke the fhade of the virtuous Brutus — like him I have a poni;ird to rid my country of the tyrant, if the Conventiatn do not deliver him to tbe fword of juftice." After this fpeaker hadliniflied his rant, he moved that thelitlingsof tbe Convention fhould be declared permanent till the llevolution was completed, that NAPOLEON BUONAPAIITE. 265 Robefpierre and his creatures flionld be immediately arrefted ; arid deeinicg it of the utnioil coiiieqiience to prevent the military from doing any efleiitial fer- \'ice to the caufe of the fallen idol, it was agreed that Henriot, the Commander, and his whole ftaff, Ihouid be arrefted. In defiance of all thefe dreadful accufations, and confequent decrees, Robefpierre still made another eflbrt to defend himfelf ; but fo violent were the mem- bers of the Convention now become that he was notperntitted to beheard. In this fituation Couthou and Le Uas employed all their elibrts toproted him, but in vain; and therefore, with u degree of uufhaken fidelity, which would have done great credit to a bet- ter caufe, they voluntarily requefted to he included with him in the decree of arreft. When this decree nailed the Convention, one of the ufliers was imme- diately ordered to take Maximilian Robefpierre into fafe cuftody. The uflier heiitated to obey, but, on Robefpierre's giving a iignal of obedience, he fol- lowed him out of the liall. The prii'oners were con- veyed to the Luxembourg by a few officers of the peace ; but as the adminiftrator of police was one of ■ their partifans, he refulVd to admit them, for wliich reafon they were conducted to the Hotel de Viile. After the arrell- of Henriot, he found nieaus to efcape ; but he did not find his troops liearty in the caufe, Iv-s cannoneers only excepted. He arranged them in three Jivifions ; one Lo guard the Hotel de Ville, another againll the Committee of Public Sal'ety, and a t!',ird he ordered to operate againft the Convention. Robeipierre and his aflbciates m the •Hotel de Viile formed themfelves into a- Coiivcntioa, and pionounccd th e reprefentatives of the people to ji h 3 Sto THE LIFE or be traitors to their country. This was the moft cri- tical and alarming period fince the commencement of the Revolnti'n. The moft worthy and refpedable inhabitants of Paris now imagined that their future deftiny turned upon the event of this day ; and, there- fore, taking advantage of the ringing of the alarm bell, they roufed the citizens to their aid by theory of, rive la Convenfion ! In the mean time, the reprefentatives of the people, m the hall of the Convention, were uncommonly adive ; for, on receiving intelligence of the efcape of Robf'fpierre und his afibcia'es, they declared them onilaws and traitors, and a deputation of their mem- bers was chofen to lead on the people againft the ufnipeis. Barras was appointed, /7ro tempore. Com- mander in Chief and the celebrated Bourdon de rOifr, together v/ilh Froron, Beaupire, Leonard Bourdon, Ferrand, and Rovere, were nominated his afiitiauts, A proclamaticjn was ilTued in all the diftriifts oi the metropolis, calling upon the inha- bitants to defend their liberties and national re[)re- fentation'. This anfwered their purpofe, for the na- tional guards, who had never difcovered themfelves attache'! to tlic ubjed of Heiiriot their commander, embraced this opportunity wholly to abandon him. The Pajbe'ipic rrcans lutd gndeavourt d to force the p? Os in the Caroufal by ihe affiftance of their artil- lery, but they were defeatwl, and their commanding o'Jicer was taken prifoner. On the morning of the 28th July, between two and three o'clocU, tlie oiembers of the Convention who had been nominated to the command ol the peo- ple, found iht infelves qmlified to attack th« Hotel de \Mlc wiih fuccei's, wLtrc the outlaw and his ad- NAPOLEOK EUO'APAIiTZ. ■^G'l herents had taken rtfug'-, r-ourdon de I'Oife at the; fame time made his appearauce a: the Pii'.ce de Greve, where he read the proclamation ilfued by the Con- vention ; and, on his penetrating into the hall of the commune in complete armour, the rebels were de- ferted in the moment of the grcateft danger, and in defpair, they turned their own weapons againft them- feives, preferring fuicide to a public execution, but mod of ihem were prevented from the accotnplifli- ment of their defigns. Kobefpierre difcharged a piftol in his mouth, whitii only wounded him in the jaw, while he received a wound from a gens- d'arme in his fide. His brother fractured a, leg and an arm by throwing'hinifelf out at a window ; but none of them accomjilifiied their death by their own hands, except I.e Bas, who fliot hunfelf upon the fpot. From a window in the hotel the ci-devant com- mander of the troops made a lafi but fruitlefs etl'ovt to biing them back to the defence of the -traitors; but, by defire of fome perfons in the ftreets be was thrown out of the window by Coffinta) of the muni- cipality, bccaufe he, had endeavoured to feduce him from his allegiance to the Convention. The rebels were immediately carried before the Revolutionary •Tribunal, and, as it was no difTiculi cyatter to identify " their perfons, the procf f? became lliort »arjd eafy. They were all condemned to' fuifer death in the Place 'de la Revelation, where they had thed the blood of the unfortunate Louis XVI. of his penitent contort, and of their own numerous aflbciates in wickednefs, as well as of many innocent perfons. On the 28tli July, at feven in vbe evening, they were conveyed to the place of execution, accompanied by a more pro- 308 THE LITE UF digious concouiTe of people than were ever afiemblcd on a fiiuiiar orcafiou. But no language can do jui- t;ce to llie traufnorts which were deplifted in every countenance, while the iranienfemafs ofpeo'ile were unanimous in exclttiming, ^^, the Villains ! Live the Ilepublic ! Live the Convention ! 1 he facts of Maxi- mihan Robefpierre, Couthon, and Henrjot, particu- lary attaded the attention of the populace, as they were wholly covered with blood and wounds. It became the fafiiion, immediately on theaccufation and after the death of this extraordiuary perfon, to fpoakofhim in the moll opprobrious language, and to call him by the moft offenfive names, even by thofe very wretches under whofe orders he acted, 'ihe majority of the Convention always had the power of reilrain- ing the vices of tiie people ; the decrees of that body were in no inflanre refifted fuccei'sfully, and it was impoffible ior the five men that were guillotined to have given xwore. than fivti votes upoj; any queflion. If rivers of innocent blood were Hied, as the Con- ventiotialifls fay, by thefe men, it only proves that they executed what the Convention fan(!:}Joned, for they never acted without the authority of its decrees. Was it wrong in Robefpierre to oppofe the motion for fnewing greater favour to Danton's party than had been granted to the Brillbtines, and olheis? How much v.'orfe was the conduct of the Convention, if it voted the previous queftion under a conviftion of its improprietv! The realcaufeof the overthrow of thefe men was, that they were too honeftjor their criminal col leagues, and when they fell not the leaft remnant of ho- jiour, integrity, or any quality that tnen call virtuous was left in the Convention. 'J heir crimes were great ind numerous, but thev were only the agents of the 'S-^:'CK00^^ . '/!r!.-:!.,',n-r>.' KArOLEON BUOHAPAUTI. 569 Convention, which gave them their orders. They were very ^ew in numbei-, and they had the courage to identify themfelvts with ^eir meafures, but not one meaiure that they were cenfured for could they have acGompliflied, if the cowardly Majority, who give their filent votes, had poffefTed the fmall quantum of boldnefs neccflary to fpeak its own opinion. The Convention now conlifted of cowards aad criminals, whofe confciences couviv^ed them of the bafeft crimes, "iind wlio, not poffeffing honour enough to acknowledge their own guilt, made a merit of fa- crificing their inftruments to the vengeance of the people, with the view of fecuring an aci of oblivion ' for themfelves. ^ 370 Twr uri ot CHAPTE31 XXIV. The Fate of the Netherla7ids decided. — Military Mrqftation. — Retreat of the Duke of York. — Capture of Mons.—Justrlans leave Bfn^ih. — JSieirport talen. —Singular Exprejjion of Prince Cubourg. — The Vriiice of Orange retreats. — Indiference of the Dutch. — Clai'rJ'ait defeated by Kleber at the Iron Mourdains. — jLouvain taken. — Namur evacuated. — Trench enter Antwerp and Liege. — Ij2a7id of Cadfand and Sluys taken. — General ISlichaiid defeats the Jitftrians, S)C. at Spires. — Tripstadt taken. — Tvrthur defeat of the Imperialists.— Treves taken. — General Schcrer takes Landrecy and Quefnoy.'— Valenciennes taken, and the Emigrants maj/acred. — Condefurrendets. — The Britijh retreat to Breda and Bois-le-duc.—'richegrufollc-dS the Allies. — Prince Cobourg, the Stadtholder, and the Emperor, ijfue Manifestos. — Earl Spencer and Mr. Grenville difpatched to Vienna. — The Ewperor isfub- ftdized.-— Prince Cobourg difmiJJed.~~The Austrian^ dejeated at Liege, and retreat, — Dreadful Defeat rind Lofjes of Clairfait. — Juliers taken.—-Trcnch enter Co- logne. — Cohlentz taken .'^Eraud cndal and fVonus laktn —"Bingen taken, A HE battle of Fleurus app ared to be decilhe of the fate of the Netherlands. It was fought on tiie fame ground whereon the iMench had difcoiiji'ited the Allies a century before, and Jourdan, at th° head oi Republican troops, became ihe rival of the .Marfh;v! Luxembourgh. The moft important iiitelligtiH.c Jiad been, obtained during the action by the Ire- quent elevation of a balloon, to which Etienne, Adjutant-General of the army, was alt£cLed, and NAPOLEON BUOXAPARTI. 371 wiio correfpunded with the Freiu'h General during the a6lion, and 'informed them of evtrv new pofitipn aiTumed by the enemy. He afcertained their nunrLer and defigns, and conveyed his information by means of notes faftened to an arrow. The lofs of the Com- bined Forces was very great, and the effecls of th«fe difallers were prodigious. They retreated in all quar- ters, and left Bruges, Toaruay, Mons," Oadenarde, Bruffels, and even Naraur, unprotected. The Duke of York retreated from Tournay to Ronaix, and General Wahnoden abandoned Bruges. Earl Moira, however, afforded the Briti/h Com- mander in Chief confiderable alliftance, after he had repulfed the French at Aloft, where Lieutenant Cols. Doyle and Vandeleur particularly diftinguidied themfolves, and at Malines, where he compelled them to retire,after they had fuccefsfully attacked the out- pofts of the Duke in front of the canal leading from Brufl'els to Antwerp. Notwithftanding the event of the battle, Fleurus, tlie Prince of Saxe Cobourg ajjpeared deterniinrd not to reliuquilh the ancient domain of the Houfeof Auttria without an obftinateftruggie. lie alTembled the remah.der of the army, which the French im- mediately attacked, and forced from Mons. I'he roar guard of the allies left the town by one gate, at the moment the van of the French entered by another. The Prince entrenched liimfelf at Suignics, and rendered th-: poft as formidable as tnat ol Jemappe. The French, however, braved the lire of tiie imnienfe body of artillery, and demon- tirated their excellent difcipluie by undauntedly dif- regurding the fhiughter which enfued. They ruflicd , S7J ' THE LITE OF - •with :ixod Vjayonets, up to the batteries and redoubts* an>i their victory was completed amiult a dreadful car- na;|p. 1 he Auftrians haftily retreated through Bruf- frtls; the inhabitants beheld their flight with fatis- fadion. Thev opened theirgutes to the French legion* ■with the utinoft teltinionies of joy, and immediately proceeded to proclaim their union with the Republic, whofe a'rmifs had been fu eminently victorious. Ou- dciiarde,"Ghcnt, and OUcnci joined \h thcle exulta- tions, a:.u the duininiovi of the Low Countries was loft to Aufirid; probably for ever. ■ About the lOlii of July the French armies of t!ie North, Sanibre and Mrufc, entc:ed a jundion at brufiels, and obtained an im;r!-.rife quantity of I'tores, as well as magazines, during their rapid and almoll uninterrupted Career. The I'jxuriiut crops of the Netherlands were then upon the ground ; and l!;e Republicans levied on the corporations, and pliiiUca- larly the monks, confiderable contributions of money and corn. Nieuport gallantly re/ifted till the ipth, altlujiigh, during the wdiole period af the blockade, it was dreadfully bombardeU by an army of 30,00'J men. His Royal Ilighnefs the Duke of Yor-t about this period received from tl;e I'rince of Cobourg a letter, in whicli, fpeaking of the Allied Powers, He ufes thi* memorable cxprefTion : " We are (or feem to be) be- witched.'' He certainly could not have more forcibly f xprcfTed the total want of fyftem in their co-ope- rations. Neither Ikill, courage, or experience on the jiart of the Commanders were of avail in the exe- cution of thefe iil-concertec5 operations. » 1"he Prince of Orange was Ualioned at Waterloo, NA?OLEON BUOMAlfAUTK. 373 baton account of the llrong rdnforcjmcnts which the enemy were conftantly receiving, he foon found this poft no longer ten?.ble, and, on the KSlu, he re- treated acrofs the Doyle, v.-ilKconfiderable lofs. He fixed his head quarters at Nile, where the French did not allow him to continue long. Their vii^ories, promptitude, and courage, rendered tliem invincible to the armies of the Allies. The Stadtholder in- vited the Dutch, by repeated proclamations, to give every tenth man for the fer\ice of his country,. to humble the pride of France; but which his fubjeds liftened to with much coldnefs and indifference. In the mean time, General Kleber took his route from BrulTels towards Louvain,on the 15th of July, having one divifjon under his command; to favour which movement, Lefevre, Dubois, Cbampionet, and Morlet, continued their march in the front of the Doyle. At a place denominated the Iron Mountain, General Clairfai tat tempted toftop tbeprogrefsof the enemy, but v,--as totally defeated, with the lofs of 6,000 men, in killed, wounded, and prifoners. The abbey of Florival was feizod upon by Generals Du- bois and Lefevre, while Kleber attacked Louvain, with the advanced guard of bis army, wiiirli after a gallant refiliance, was compelled to furrender. In the rapid retreat of the Auftiians towards Tirlemout, before the vidorious Republicans, under the com- mand of Lefevre, they loft a prodigious number of men in killed and taken prifoners. The defence of Namuv was ferionny intended by the Combined Powers, but the career of the enemy was foaftoaifliing(and as little n-;ind3 fciuiim untici- voL. 1.- — vo. xi. I i 3T4> ' THE LirE or pate great refults, fo unexpefted) that the executiou of their plan became wholly irapra(5licable. Namur A\^.s, therefore, evacuated in ciic night of the l6th, by General Beaulieu, and, on the 20lh, the keys of it were prefeuted at the bar. of the Convention. The armies of the Republic at the fame period, forced the famous pafs at the town of Lier, which was defended by general Walmoden ; and, they dif- patched a trumpeter to Antwerp, to announce their rapid march, and defign of entering that city. On the 2ith they obtained poffeffion of Antwerp with- out trouble or oppofition, and found immenfe maga- eines of hay, and 30 pieces of cannon, notwith' ftandiug the Combined Powers had deflroyed maga- zines of forage, prior to their departure, which were valued at half a million fterling. The retreat of the Auftrians from Louvain,left the ■ whole territory of Liege exfofed to the incurfions of the intrepid Jourdan. He prefTed the enemy clofely to Maeftricht, when his advaneed guard proceeded^ on the 27th, towards the river Jaar, at which time the Combined At-my whs ftationed before Liege, where it refifted the cannonade of the French for fome time, but was at length obliged to retreat with- Jofs. The Republicans entered Liege,while the Allies entrenched themfelves on the height of Chat-treux. During thefe-tranfaaions, the Allies were under the neceihity of abandoning Fort Lillo, on the river Scheldt, wliile General -Moreau made himfelf mafter of the inand of Cadfand, in which were found 70 pieces of cannon, one-third of which were brafs, befides a great number of tents and waggons, with a vaft quantity of military and other llores. NAPOLEON BUONAPARTI. ^i ^ General Almain fummoned ihe garrifftn of Sluys to furrend«r ; but Vanderdugan replied, *' The h(»nour of defendiixg a })lace like Sluy^s, thatof commanding a brave garrifon, and tbe confidence they repose in me, are my anfwer." This brave officer fuftained the inceffant affaults of the befiegers till the 25th of Auguft, at which period he surrendered. The whole garnfon were made prifoners, but the French Ger neral permitted them to march out with the honourt of war, in teftimony of the gallant defence they had made. l"ie arm^ies of the Rhine and Moselle had also their share of glory. General Michaud gave the Aus- trians and Pruffians battle at Spires. A dreadful and fanguinary conflia enfued, and victory, appear- ed doubtful. Early the next day the French en- gaged the Prussians with still greater viaour, and carried by affuult, after feven attacks, the important pofts which the Pruffians had fortified on the sum- mit of Platoberg, faid to be the loftieft mountain in the territory of Deux Fonts. Here the Republi- cans obtained poffeffion of nine guns, independent of araaianition, waggons, horfes, and a number of prifoners. The remainder af the Pruffian troops, coininahded by the Prince of liohenlohe, retreated to Edickhotfen. At Tripftadt, after a severe and bloody conteft, the French were completely vidori- ou3, and took pofleffion of two howitzers, with fix pieces of cannon. On the afternoon of the 15th a ftill more bril- ■ liant engagement took place. The French attacked ' every poft belonging to the enemy, from Newftadt •to the Rhine, (a diftance of about 17 miles,) along 376 7HE LifE oy the river Rebaclj. A heavy cannonade was eom- mciiced at two o'clock, and continued till eight in the evening, at which time the troops of the Em- peror retreated wittj the ut«)oft precipitation and diforder, and effected the paffage of the Rhine, while tli'i Prullians, under prince llohenlohe, retreated to- v/ards Gunterfbluai, and iinolher detachment to- wards Mentz. Keilerflauitrn furrendered to the French without any oppofitiun. The army of the Mofelle having marched iii three feparate columns, engaged to meet together ^ut Treves at the fame hour. In their joute they at- tacked and carried many poiis belonging to the Allies, fulfilling their engagement on the 8lh, by riieeting on a fpacious plain, and immediately fur- rounding Treves. The Imperial troops having de- ferted the city in the greatest hurry and confufion, one of the columns entered in the afternoon; the" magiftrates, in the infiguia of their office, presenting them, at the gates, with the keys. The R-epublicans determined to retake the garri- fons they had previoufly conquered, and which had been again fubdued by the Allies. General Scherer laid ficgc to Landrecy, but before he fired a gun, peremptorily fummoned the town to furrender, and failed not at the fame time to acquaint thegarrifon, that no terms of capitulation would be accepted. On the 15th, therefore, the garrifon, confifting of 2,000 men, complied, ftnd 117 pieces of cannon were found in the place. Quesnoy followed the example of Landrecy. It was defended by 3,000 men; and the Republicans fouud in it vafi quanti- ties of arms, ammunition, and provifious, together xyith 1)9 pieces of cannon. KAPOLEON BUOh'APAIlTE. 377 On the 26tli, Valenciennes alfo fell into the bands of the French. The Republicans here foand ira- nionVa (lores of every defcription, together with 1,000 cattle, 200 pieces of cannon, 1,000,000 pounds of gunj)owder, 3,000,000 of florins in fpecie, 6,300,000 oi'livres, and vaft quantities of oats and other corn, which, perliaps, might be eflimated at 1,000,009, Uerlip.g. iiis Imperial IMdjefty had expende<l nol i;T: than 3,000,000 on tiiC fortifications, but it trea- ( horaufly furrendercd by ctipitulation. The Allies, nj.on this occafion, delivered up near -3,000 Enii- ^■raiits to the implacable liatred and vrfigeancc of iheir countrymen! The policy is dcteftable which affords protection to men fo unfortunately circum Itanced, and betrays them in liiH moment of danger. The- furrender of Coride imniCdiatcly followed. The garrifon confided of l,6o6nien, who furrendcred as prifonersof war ; and, in addition to the vaft quau- ticies of provhion it contained, the French found lOl pieces of cannon, 6,000 niufkets, independent of thofe in the garrifon ; 300,000 pounds of gunpowder, 100,00.0 bombs, balls, and Ibells ; 1,500,000 car- tridges, COO, 000 pounds of lead, and ]f)l M'aggons with ftores and provifions. The fortificiitiuns ttood in no need of repair; and tlie garrifon had room for a much greater immber of men. T!ie Britilli army, on retreating from Antwerp, took its route towards Breda. The right column went through the city on the 4th of Auguft, and the left marched round it, for the purpofe of of.cu^ pying a JDofition, about four miles diftant, to wait the iffue of events, tiud co-operate with the garrilon I i3 S/S THE LIFE or In the mean time the Pnnce of Orange was inceii- santly err;plo\ ed in putting the town arad gairifon in the befl; (ituation for defence, which, it was reafoti- able to believe, would be powerfully affifted againft the enemy by the Duke of York's array, at that fime confifting of 25,000 men. The Duke, how- ever, retreated from Breda t«\vards Bois-le-Duc, in the end of Auguft, meetiiig with little or no op- pofition from the enemy. In the beginnmg of September, General Pichegru appeared at the head of 80,000 men. The Repub- licans forced the pofls on the Dommel and the vil- lage of Boxtel on the 24th, with their advanced guard. His Royal Highnefs retreated acrofs the Meufe ou the iGth, atid occupied a polition about three miles Asm Grave. In the attack of the Re- publicans on the above-mentioned pofls, the Dutch* ftate that the Allies loft 2.000 men, and add, that the Duke of '\"ork's retreat gave fuch an eafy pafTage into Holland, after crofling the Meufe, in the vicinity of Bommcl, that an enemy poffefled of much lefs courage and intrepidity than the French, would have readily undertaken Lt. No foonrr were the Neiherlands evacuated, than the i'rinte of Cobourg employed all his efforts, by virtue of a proclaaialii>n, to roufe the circles of Germany to make a defperate etibrt in the vindica- tion of Gc-rnianic Liberty. He frankly cojifefied that the refources of the French were inexhauftiblc, a'jd their forces innumerable. He declared that if ihey did not come boldly forward, and aflift to the utinofl of their power in repelliftg the invaders, he would pafs the Ptbine, leaving them and their pro* NAPOLEOK BUOXAPARTK. - 379 perty to be pluhdered by the Republicans. This inanifefto produced no more cffeft than a fimilar raanifefto of the Stadtholder, viho declared, that *' fuch ail erlemy could not be oppofed by fcanty contributions ; and that tlie force that fliouid be op- pofed to iherti required the greateft eftbrts," This, liowever, was not the feafon for ifiuing ma« nifeftos, after the French had been io en)i:iently victorious in almofl every quarter; but the Emperor thought himfelf under an equal neccflity to try the experiment. He acknowledged that h?s refources were wholly inadequate to the tafk of combating fuch an enemy with any hope of fuccefs. lie seem- ed to feel indignant at the coudud of his PrufTran Majsfty, in accepting a fubfidy from Great Britain, and negleding fo fnamefully to fulfil his compact. He declared, that fuch v/as the prodigious ftrenglh of the French armies, and fo inconceivably rapid their march, that he found it abfolutcly neceffary to withdraw his forces from the unavailing conteH, and employ them in defending the frontiers of his own domiinoHS. Although this melancholy pic- ture had no effect on the circles of Germany, not- withftanding they were fo near the fcenc of aiSiion, it gave no fmall degree of alarm to the Britiili Ca- binet. Earl Speijcer, and the honourable Thomas Grenville, were immediately difpatched to the gourt of Vienna, to implore the Emperor not to recede from the coalition. They were, at length, fuccefs- ful, and the prediction was veritied, thaf " the fub- ■ fidLling of Pruffia would induce other 'powers to make a dupe of this country, and only continue the war upou fmiilar conditions.'* This regulation 3oO THE LIFS OF having been effe(?.ed,'the Prince of Saxe Cobourg v.-as difmifTed from his command, and took leave of his array in a ntoft pathetic addrefs. In ths beginning of September the Auftriaiis under General Latour, were flrongl.y entrenched in the vi- cinity of Liege; and two fortified carrips were occu- pied by 18,000 n-cn_ on the right fide of the river Aywaiile, whofe banks had alfo the neut'-al deience of very ftcep rocks. The Republicans, ^vho, on the 18th, attacked, in four columns, the whole- of the encm\'s line from the Aywaiile, carried all the paf- fages at the point of the bayonet, and took polTeiruui of the camps at full charge. The lofi fuftaiucd by the Auftrians, upon this occafion, amounted to 2,000 men killed, 700 prifoners, 26 pieces of can- non, three pairs of colours, iOO horfes, and forty - ammunition waggons, togetiier with the General's own carriage, his feci ?tary, and his papers. Ge- neral Clairfait, then pofted between Liege and Maeftrich't, fent 18 battalions for the fupport of the left wing ut Latour, by v;hich opportune afllliance he was enabled, on the night of the ISib, to collect the fcattered fragments of his army. 7'hf French again gave him battle on the enfuing day, and he was under the Jieccfiily of retreating to Herve, after the lofs of all iiis artillery. General Clairfait being no longer able to maintain his pnfi lion, retreated to Juliers; and, on the 2lft,t,lie Frencli mude their triumphant entrance into Aix-iu- Chapeiie. 'I'he day prior to this event an engage- iTiPxw. took plac- between a.divifion of the Rejiub- Ijcau arm} and the Auftrian rear-guard at Clermont, which is only worthy of notice, to display one. of A'APOLJLON BUONAPARTE. 3S1- tliQse furprifingiaftances of inconfiftency difcoverod between diflercnt official accounts. According to the ftatement of General Clairfait, the French lost 2,000 men, and the Audrians only 30 killed and oOO wounded ; while the Republican CoinmilTiouer, Gillet, ftates the lofs of the AuHrians at 800 men, and their own at only nine killed, and 12 wounded^ . The pofition of Clairfajt at Juliers, was taken with that judgment and military knowledge for which he has always been eminently distinguiihed; but. the French, on the 29th,crofled the Roer, and gave bat- tle to the whole pods of the brave, but unfortunate, Auftrian Commander, whit:h extended from Rurc- monde to Juliers and Duren, a diftance of 32 miles. The conflidl between thehoftile armies was terrible, and continued during the whole of the 29th and 30lh of September, and on the 1ft and 2d of Odlobcr, but on the 3d, victory declared in favour of the Repub- licans. Clairfait being no longer able to maintain the combat, and having fufFered a dreadful lols, he took advantage of a fog, to effect his retreat. The city of Juliers immediately furrendered, the arfcnal of which was abundantly fupplied, the French found in it Co pieces of cannon, together with 50,000 pounds of gunpowder. The Auftrian General could only retreat in the greateft confuliou, fo that he loft pro- digious numbers of men in felrcnting as well as fighting. They were cftimated by tlie French at .'i, 000, including TOOprifoners ; and the Dutch official accounts ftated the whole lofs of the Allies, during the adion and retreat, at 13,000 men., Cologne was taken poffeffion of by the French on the 6th of Odober, and they were received by the .132 THE XiFJE or • ,' ■ inhabitants with every deraonftration of joy. Venlo and NiiysAlfo furrendered, and many veflels on the rivers, laden with ufeful and valuable articles, were captured.. Fifly chaflTeurs entered Bonn on the morn- ing of the 7th, who, on the evening of the fame day, were followed by 3,600 more. Col'leatz had become odioHS to the Republicans as being earliefl and moft forward iw harbouring the Emigrants. The Allies were engaged for the fpace of two months in ereftingvery formidable redoubts be- fore it. In 0;^ober General Jourdan fent General Marcciiu to Coblentz, with the diviiion under hia command, who f<'.\l in with the hu;Tars of the Allies on the 22d, when he vigoroufly engaged thern, killed vaft numbers, and took 50 prifoaers. On the en- fiyng day he carried the redoubts with his infantry, by affault, and coi^ipletely turned thein by his caval- ry, whtch obliged the Auftrians to repafs the Rhine in the greatelt confufion. The republican army of the Rhine was alfo marching from viftory to victory. Frankcndal i'ubmitted to the Frensjh on the 17Lh of Oaober, and the next day they made their trium- phant entrance into the city of Worms. 'I he army of the Mufelle bkewiie made a conqueft of Bun;en,. from which' capture the' iiege of Mentz may bccon- fidered as bct::un. VAPOLEo^sr BuoNAPAftia. ■ 5SS CHAPTER XXV. TurtherSticceJJ'es of the French Armies. '—Crevecaur and Bois-lcDuc tahn.—Pichegra permitted to retire from the Army, but pr^vioudy defeats the Duke of York on the iVaal.—'The French repdlfed at Nin:eguen. — • Allies evacuate Nimeguen .'—General Miahaud's Succes- ses on the Scheldt. — Defeat of General Latour. — Maeft- richt befieged and taken. — Proceedings of the Trenah Armies in Spain.^—Bellegarde surrenders to Dugom- tnier.-^Dugommier killed.— 'St. Fernando de Figueres„ and St. Jean de Lutz, taken by the French. — Spaniards defeated near Hoy a.— St, Sebastian surrenders.. — Fur- ther deteats of the Spaniards. — Misfortune of the Bri- tijnn the West Indies.— Death of General Dundas,— Kictor Hilgues arrives with a French SquadYon, and lands at Guadeloupe, and, after various Success., drives the Briii/h from the I/land, and destroys the Royalists. Jl HE Republicans,' in the interim, brought the greateft part of their forces to adl againll Bois-le- Duc ; fort Crevecoeur furrendered on the 27th of September. It contained 500 ftien, 29 pieces of can- non, 1,000 mufkets, and 30,000 pounds of powder- Bois-le-Duc fell into the hands of the Republicans foon after the redudion of Crevecoeur. The gar- rifouconlifled of 2,5000 men. The victors found in this place the prodigious number of 146 pieces of cannon (the whole of them, except 39, being ofbrafs,) 130,000 pounds of powder, and 9,000 fufees. After the conqueft of Bois-le Due, General Pi- chegru requefted leave of abfence from his aritiy, his 381 TUB LIFE OP health having b?er>., by irKeffani fatigue, confiderably iip.paireii. ThJs General had comm-anded during two active campaigns, " wilhuut being once beaten." ' The Convention agreed to grant his request; and, in the interim nominated General I\Ioreau to fucceed him in the cominand. General Pichcgra did not, however, iramec^iately avail himfelf of the liberty granted liim by the Convention. The Duke of York ftatcs, that on the 19if5> the Republicans attacked every advanced poll on his ri^ht wing in very great force, and that hi* poft to the left of the 37th regi- n:ent was routed, which obliged Major Hope to re- treat upon the dyke along the Waal, -v^-hicli he con- tinued to do for'fome time, wiihoTit meeting with much oppofiiion from the enemy. His Royal High- nefs then adds : "Unfortunately, however, a itrong body of the enemy's bufTars being mi ftaken for the corps of Rohan, the regiment allowed them to come on unmolefled ; when the huOars immediately at- tacked, and the n-^rrownefs of the dyke, which, on «very othtr occafion, mult have afforded a fecurity to the infaniry, in this infiance aded againft them, as tiiey were driven on it by the enemy's charge." Of - the 37th regiment, only the Major, and 50 men ef- caped the dcvall:ations of the field of battle. General Pichegru fays, that he made fiOOpiifoners, befides 69 Emigrants, and took four pieces of cannon. Three hundred of the unfortunate Emigrants were alfo cut to pieces. A large detachment of the French having effected the pafiage of the Meufe, for the purpofe of attack- ing the left wing of his army, on the 4th of No- vember, General Walmoden o/dered a fortie to be .1 b-5:J'J. HAPOLEON- BUOJfAPARTE. SS5 made from Nimeguen, under the direiStion of Major- general de Burgh, confiiling of 3,000 men, including Dutch, Britifh, and Hanoverians. By the official re- turns of the Duke of York,* the Republicans lofl about 500 men, and that of the Allies, indepen'dent of the Dutch, was 210. The, intrepid General de Burgh, who commanded the forjie, was among the number of the wounded. ' This gave a check to the- defigi'is of the French troops. A partial evacuation of the town had taken place, and was to be fucceeded by its complete defer tion, an event which happened on the evening of the 7thi of Oftober; The Hanoverian and Britifh troops found means to effect a retreat in a tolerable manner ; but their extreme hurry in demoUflung the bridge before the Dutch troops^ by which the retreat was co- vered, could reach the bridge, wa^ productive of the inoft' fatal effects to the interefts of the Allies. Find- ing it in a confla^atiorr, they endeavoured to pafs the river by means of the great flying bridge ; but they were no. fooner, got upon it, than it f Aung round# towards iha city, either owiug to the Republican Ar- tilloiy having cut th;; ropes, by which it was retained m one poliliou, or fi om a fatal miftake of the troops on the right fide of tlie Waal, who,- conceis-ed that tlie enemy were in polieffion of the bndge, fired upoh them for a conliderable time. The coniequence was, that they either peritlied by the (hot or in the river, or were taken prifoners by the Republicans, who were *" then in pufleffion of Nimeguen. General Michaud,- on the .23d of October, obtained the farrender of I'iiilippinc, on the Scheldt, as well as of Sas-de- Ghent. VOL. T. — KO.Xl. K k 386 T-iiE £irE OP The Auftrian General Latour was no lootri^i de- feated, than the French pafled the-Meufe, and Ge- neral Kleber Summoned Mentz to furrendtr on the 26th September, but vwithout efled. Notwithttand- ing two forties o"f ijie befieged, the battt'ries were' eftablifiied in lefs than two days, -together with feme ftrong work's on the Liniberg. The Republican ar- tillery was augmented on the -20th O<5lober by thirty pieces of cannon ; and on the 23d, they finifiied their firft parallel, and began the fecond. General Kleber fent the town a fecond funimons ontheSOth, and, as foon as the trumpeter departed from the gates, the befieging army poured a moll terrible quantity of fliot and fhells into the town, which they con- tinued during the whole of the night. In the whole circimit'erdnce of the ciiy it was difficult to find a fpot which couid be deemed a place of fafety ; many pub- lic,' as well as ]3rivate buildings, were totally deftroy- ed, and nothing could be heard but the difnial groans of the y.'ounded and the dying. ■, Such was the obftinacy of the befieged, that this dreadful fpeftacle was continued for three,days; at the expiration of wliich, the earneft importunities of the magiftrates and people. prevailed fo far upon the Governor, that he propofed to negociate with Ge- neral Kleber, and the city furrendered, by capitu- lation, on the 4-th of November. The garrifon we're made prifoners of war, and were not to appear in a.rms againft the Republic of France till regularly ex- changed. Daring this dreadful fiege, 200 pcrfons were killed, including the city and garriibn, and no lefs than 2,000 buildings were either totally de- molifhed, or lende.'-ed uninhabitable. During the itcge, the prodigious number of 12,000 bombs, . **■■■< XAVOt.£OK BUONAPAilTK. o87 balls, and fliells, bad been tbrown into the city, fome of the firft weighing 224lb. richer had relblved ou the very day it furreudered, to attenipt its redutflion by a general florm, which the whole garrifon would not have been able to retift, although it con lifted of 7}300men, including Dutch, Auftrians, and huffarSi At this period, .the arnmy of the Eaftern Pyrenejas claims attention. It was commanded by General Dbppet', who proceeded, on the 14th of June, from Puycerda to C^nipredon, where he fixed his head- quarters, after he had made himfelf master of Tonges and Ribes. Atjlipoll he attacked a large ftianufac- tory of arrns, which the Spaniards had eltabliflied m that place, and fucceeded in adding a vaft quantity of them to his military flores. The fiege of Belle- g^rde was inceflantly carried on,for the relief of which place CouHt de I'Uaioti made a vigorous attempt on the ISthof Augufl, after receiving a ftrong reinforce- ment of foreign battalions lately come from Africa. The Republicans atfirfl gave way; but thej return- ed to the charge, foon gotpoffefiion of the heights, from which they had formerly been driven, and accompli(hed the total defeat of the Spaniards, who left 2,500 dead in the field. The French, in this ac- tion, loft General Mirabel, together with 1S7 killed, and 600 wounded. Bellegarde furrendered to General DugommieroR the 20th of the enfuing month, the garrifon of which confifted of 6,000 men. On the 21ft, however, ■ Count de i'Union made a very fpirited attempt tore- take it, but was obliged to abandon every idea of fuc- ceeding, after having loft 600nien,and four pieces of cannon. In this quarter, the vidorious career of Otjaeral Dugommier terminated, by a memotabis -383 TIIF, XATE OF viAory which be obtained over the Spaniards er..-i Emigrants at Sopuilles. The mofi dreadful havoc!; was made of the unfortunate Emigrants ; b^Jt a tiiua- fand Spaniards r.nd Portuguefe, who furrendered, ob- tained quarter a& priibners of war.. While General Dugommier was upon the Blcick Mountain, that he might direct the Qiilitary operations in die moft ef- fedual manner, he was killed by u fliell. The 20th of the fame cionth. Count i'Union, and three other Spknifli Generals were ilain, in the vicinity of St. Fernando de Figueres. This place had cod the Spa- niOi" court a prodigious fum of money, and fix months were taken up in the ereding of nearly one hundr^ batteries for its defence, all mounted with pieces of- very hijavy artillery Their forces here were 40,000 !?.?.": whole i^ntrenchments were remarkably ftrong ; thele vail works which had required them. fix months to finifh, were carried by the Republicans in t!>e ipace of vhree hours! The fort St. Fernanda fur- rendered on the third day> although its garnYon con- iilled of ,0,107 men, who were all made prifon^.rs. In this place, the Republicans found 171 pieces of .cannon, and 5,000 liand of arms, having alfo cap- tured 12 fountlrits for the cafting of c^iunon, and a prodigious quantity of ammunition. In a few daye, another virtory was obtained by the troops in tliat quarter, 'when 600 men v.'ere taktn prifoners, to- gether witii ihe military cheft, and one brafs eannon., the only one of that metal which the Spaniards then had in their pcflefliou. The Republican Army of the Wefiern Pyrenees was equally Aicceliful ; for, at the end of July, the redoubt of Mary Louifa, th^ camp of St. Jean de Luz, and the fort yf St. Larbe, were ftormed and NviPOLEOK BUONAPARTE. , 38^ . carried, in the fpace of a day, by Deiaforde,Geneial ofdivifion. In thefe a(f]tions the Spaniards loft a. vaft' number of men killed, befides 320 who were takefPprifoners, with 200 tents, feven pieces of can- non, and prodigious quantities of ammunition and fmall arms. The villages of Bera and Leffaca like- wife fell into the hands of the French, which were a moll valuable acquifition,as they contained extenfivc granaries for the fupport of the army. An affair inU more interofting immediately happened; 6,000 French, on the 1(1 of Auguft, completely routed 1 0,000 Spaniards, who v/ere pofted near the moQn- tain of liaya, by which means they got poflefllon of immenfc magazines, 2,000 rauflcets, fix ftands of co- - lours, 200 pieces of cannon and hcwitzers, tents fuf- icieut to contain '2b, 000 men, and 2',O0P prifoners ; among whom were comprehended two whole regi- ments, who laid down their arms on the very fame day Fontarabia was taken. The next day (^d Auguft,) a divifion of the Re- publicah army,- commanded by General Moncey, • took the port of the palTage ; the day following St. Sebaiiian was ii^efted, and the next morning, fur- rendered by capitulation ; the gafrifon of which, containing 2,000 men, were made prifoners of war : Upwards of 180 pieces ofc:annon, with a large quan- tity of ammunition and Jflores, fell into the hands o^ the conquerors. No fooner was the reduftion ot thefe places effeftcd, than two Oiips, laden with powder, ball, wine, and other article*, ^^ignorant of tiie furrender of the place, entered tlie port of the paflage, and became a prey to the Republicans, who extended their advanced pofts to the gates- ©fTolofa. K k 3 oQQ THE LITE OF In thebeginning of September, the Spaniards again endeavoured to rally their Scattered forces, b\it all their attempts againft the viftorious Republicans v/ere ineflfedual, for 6,000 of them were defeated by 600 French ; at which time, however, 150 of the Walloon Guards deferted to the enemy,, a cir- cumftance which renders it extremely probable that the Republicans were, at leaft, as much indebted fo'r vidory to the difaffeclion of the Spanifh troops as to their own courage and intreipdity. They had eftabliflied a line of pofts to the extent of forty leagues, which the French attacked in twelve different places at once, without wailing to be affaulted by the enemy. Tlie Spaniards had intrenched themfelves upon the heights, and were ftrongly fortified ; but the Republicans carried, at the point of the bayonet, their intrenchment^ near Beddaditz, Cubeg, and Villaneuva, and their numerous works, which had conftituted the labours of more than a year, were mtirely demoliflied. The French General had con- ceived the delign of furrounding the whole Spanifli army ; but one of the columns deftirled to affift him in the accomplifliment of this object did not arrive in time; and the Spaniards, laking the advantage of a thick fog, retreated as far ub Sangonella, with the ferious lofs of 6,000 men. In the Well Indies, the Briti/li forces, originally too wejik for tiie fubjugaticn of the French Iflands,' were prodigioufly diminiflied by the ravages of dif- eafe, and M^ior General Dundas died of a fever at C^uadaloupe, after a few days illnefs. But this ca- lamity was nutd^fiined to terminate the misfortunes cf Britain in India. A French fquadron appeared ©ff the iflaud on the 3d of June, con filling of two NAPOLkoJX BUONAPARTE. . 391 fliipsof 50 guns each, one of 40, one frigate, and five tranfports, who feemei to meditate an attack apoa Fort Fleur d'Epee. It appears that the commandant of that place. Colonel Drumniond, was egregioufly miftaken re- fpading the adual force of the Republicans when he eftimated them at SOOmen. in confequence of this deception he complied with the earnert importunity of the Royalifts, to be fent againll them; and a de- tachment of ISO volunteers, under the commund of Captain W'Dowal, of the 43d regiment, v^ere fan- guiue enough to hope they tliould furprife them at the village of Gozier, where they had polltd them- felves ; but the firft lire made the Royalifts retreat, and it is believed that very few of them returned to the fort. The French put on fliore thirteen boats full of men on the 5Lh', and commenced an attack upon Fort Fleur-d'Epee the next day, which they carried by aflault, and obliged the Britifh garrifou to retreat to Fort Louis with confiderablc lofs; but even this place was not confidered as tenable, or affording any proper defence, on which account Colonel Drummond thought it expedient to retreat toBafi'e* terre. The Republican Commiffioner, Vidor Hugues, a man fitted by nature for defperate enterprifes, was intruded by the Convention; with <iifcretionary au- thority : he diredly proceeded to put the iHaud in the best poffible ftate of defence, ifi'ued the famous de- cree of the Cwnvention, relative to the emancipation of the negroes, furniflied a ftroifg body of them witb armour and apparel, and alfo equipped many of the mulattos, onwhofe attachment he thought he could depend. Sli- Charles Grey, on his. part, was equally 302 IHB LIFE OF diligent ; he coUcded all the ^oops he poffibly coulaf upon the (horteft notice, and fet fail frcn St, Kitt's for the ifiind of Guadaloupe, at ■which place he ar- rived on the 19th of June, under covar.of the Biitiili fleet. The braveft and beft difciplined troops cannot hope for ' fuccefs when they have to contend with vaftly fuperior numbers, inflamed by violent pafTionc : Sir Charles wascorivinGed of thia ; an'I, as the raiay feafon was already corarnenced, he determined, if polTible, to put a period to the campaign by ftriking a decifive blow, for this purpofe he difpatchcd Briga- dier General Synies, at the head of three battalions of grenadiers and light infantry, togelbrr with a batta- lion of failors, in orcjor to commence an attacic upou Point-a-Petre, and endeavoured to take it by fur]>rife. By a miftake of the guide, they entered at t!ie ftrong- eft fide, and were expofedto l-htgrape-flit)t of the Re- publicans, in a place ^vhere they could not get pcflef- iion of the fort by fcaling-Iadders. Their retreat was retarded by an incefTant firing from the houfes : the British General, and two other ofncers of rank, were wounded, and 600 inen^wcre loft in this melancholy aflair. Sir Charles Grey was obliged to fend a detach- ment of troops and feamen to cover the retreat of the unfortunate divifion.— They fucceeded in retiring to Gozier, and in embarking pajt of the forces The town and fhippir^g were attempted to be iseftroyed by batteries of heavy artillery, as well as mortars, and the gun-boats were occupied in battering the fort at Point-a-Petre and La Fleur d'Epc?. Victor Hugues had, however, made fuch able difpofitio > that al- though hewasuot a miiuary man, be acquired a de- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 3C)3 cided fuperiority. He ilfued energetic proclaraa^ tioHS, sind inflamed the cuarage and arouled the hopes of thoi'e devoted to his caul'e, and, exaggerating liis recent victory, he aiferted, that " one Republican bat-talion, two frigates, and three tranfports, had de-. feated a BritiHi Adnural, v/ith fix fliips of the line, 1'2 frigates, and eight floops of war, together trith a (general at the head of 12. battalions, an^l a horde of •' Ariftocrates ;' while not a iingle Republican had been made prifoaer during a combat of forty days." Siiccefsful rerifi;ance to a man, who had con- trived to arm both mafier and flave in one common coufe, was' not to be expefted. The Admiral, and the General, who had retired to Martinique, awaited in vain the fuccours they folicited from England, and determined to adopt a defenfive fyftem of warfare, until theyfhould arrive. They hoped that the naval force ftatigncd 2i Tb.e Salee, would render Bafleterre fecure from invafion. The watchful and perfevering fpirit of the enemy was predominant, for the vigilance of the Englifh Ihipping was eluded, and a landing effected, d#i-ing a dark, night. They ieized on Petit- bourg, and bafely put many of the iick and wounded to death, and they fucceeded fo well in annoying the Englifh pofts, and the men of war, with red-iiot (hot, that General Graham reluctantly confented to capi- tulate, and the Bnlilh troops were trflowed the ho- » nours of war. No amnelty, however, could be ob- • tained for the white and free people of colour, al- though they had taken the oath of Allegiance to liis Britannic INIajefty ; the privilege of a covered boat only was allowed, in which fome of the principal Royalifts were conveyed to a place of fafety : the remainder, who had propofed to cut their way a*)* THE LIFE OF through the ranks of their countryman, either fuffer- ed as rebels, by the guillotine, or perithed by the mui- ketry of the motley army who made them prifoners. Thus by the exertions of a lingle individual, aided by a fmall force from the Mother Country,.and a few lines, annulling llavery, Guadaloupe was reftort;d fn France; and, certainly, ii' the humanity of Viiftor }iugues had been as confpicuous as his talents, he would have been furpafied by few mtn of the prefcut times. ■NAPOLEON BUONArAllTE. 3^5 CHAPTER XXIV. State of Parties m the Convention. — Clamours egainjl the Jacobins, and other popular Clubs.'— Great Debates in the Convention thereon. — The Jacobins at- tempted to regain Popularity.— TaJlicn^ and his Parti/. »— Their Efforts to dejlroy the Jacobins. — Frequent Executions of the Terrorifts. — Freron's Ob/ervation on the Tendency of frequent Punijliments.'— Attempts is conciliate ' the infurgent Royalisls. — Temperate Mea- sures of the Convcntioil favourable to the Progress of 'their Armies. — The Dutch court a Union, with the . French Republicans. — The Authority of the Stadthold-^ er declines, and the Dutch Patriots became bolder. — Allied Armies at Arnheim dreadfully reduced by dis- ease. — The French frequently attempt to cross thc\lFaal, and repulsed.— 'The Meuse and the IVaal become fro - zen. — The French cross, and compel the British to re- cross the Waal. — The Duke of York leaves the Artnv . • — Deplorable Condition of the British Army. ' ' Jl HE ConvcDlion. confidered thenifelves bound t'> eiifura the good opinion of the people, bysorae mea- sure which lliould apparently secure the fafety of the Republic from the defign of any ambitious indivi- dual. Their difcufilons were long and tamultaous; feveral decrees were pafi'ed, and the name of the " Committee of Public Safety," was changed to that of the " Committee of Military Diplomatic Opera- tions." Factions, however, divided the Convention, even now: the Jacobin Club still continued, and were the odious partifans.of the fame lyftem tu^.i. ivobef- pierre had organized. The Moderatifts were nu- merous, but bad not energy fufiicient to preierve 3g6 the" iiFE or ^tlieir own powers. Tallien, Dubois Cratice, ami others, denounced Banere, Xollot d'Herbo?s, Bil- Jaud de VarenneSj David, Voulaud, Vadier, and ' A'TMz. Violeuf debates ensued; the charges, con- laiuing twenty-fix articles, accused them ofhaving been tlie inftrumcnts of Robefpiene, and of not having dcftroyed l)is power when thay poflelTed the means : tli-^y were feparately difcuiTed ; Collot d'Her- ^oi3, and fome'bf the othors, fpoke in their own de- fence, and the charges were declared caUuTinious. ■^tiiis dccifion ap|:eared to re-eftablifli the power of Barrcre, Sec. at the expenfe of 'JalHen, Lecointre nnd Dubois -Crancp, for a compromise was tacitly a'-^recd to between, ihe parties, and it was- deter- mined that neillier fliould inter.inpt the unanimity of the Convention hv accufing the other. This har- mony, hov.'cver, was very near being interrupted by ti)e Convinntion being informed, on the 10th of Sep- tember, of an atteuipt that had been made to kill Tailicn by a pistol-fliot, which liad been tired at, and ; wounded him. Some memhor;j moved the fuppref- fion of the Jacobin Club, bat the majority were in- clined to the motion beiug fufpended until the re- port of the political ftate of France rtiould be made, und it was ordered that in the interim, a report of the health of Tallien ihould be read every day, and In-^ fei'l.C'-i iii the indietin. Ahhoui^h Rarrere pronounced a ftrbng panegyric on the Jacobin CIuij, and otl)er tuinultuousfocieties, their influence vifiiily declined; tlie people of thede- partmencs qnited their clamours to thofe of the p€o- i)Ie ol' Paris, and addrefTes were daily prefented to the Convention, and fatirical pamphlets publifiied against tlie Jacobuis. Cambaceres read • an addre fs in the . ////'//'/>■ NAPOLEON BUON'APAKTE. 397 Convention, which slrongly urged thenecessity ofthe people rel)ingon their representatives. It was mo- derate, but iirni, and called on the people to shun those who talked continually of blood and the scaf- fold ; who, after enriching themselves v/ith the spoils of the Revolution, sought for impunity in anarchy. It invited them to search out those modest men, who did not court public employments, but who practised the Republican virtues, without ostentation. This Address, which was adopted by the Convention v/ith unanimous applause, was ordered to be printed, and sent to all the armies, communeS; and popular so- cieties of the Republic. 'i'he discussions relative to the clubs became fre- quent, and, on one occasion, Tallien declared, that all who dared to raise a jjower to rival the Government, should bei)unished; that he had never been anxious to abolish popular societies, but to be useful they must bepurified, and not serve as leaders to those who tiim at establishing their own power by deceiving the people. Tliesc debates were frequently interrupted by deputations from the departments of Paris, Mar- seilles, &c. which expressed their approbation ofthe Address of the Convention. The farcicality of the Revolution sliil prevailed, and the Convention al- lowed the citizens ofthe " National Institution of !Music,''toenter their hall, and perform several pieces of music, composed by Jean Jacques Rousseau. These musicians seem to have been of no ordinary talent, for they prevailed on the Convention to follow them in a procesion, and to celebrate a festival in honour of the citizen of Geneva. The Jacobins seemed to leel that their stren2,th VOL. I. — NO. xu. L i 3<}^ THE i.TFK or was going from tlieiu; they were resolve(i, however, on making one effort for the recovery of their as- cenriancy. The day before the Comuiittee that had been appointed to inquir« into the stale and influence of the ])opuhir societies presented their report, the " Society of Defenders of the Republic, one and indi- visible,'' sitting. It the ciderant Jacobins, rendered lio- mage to the Addres? of the Convention to tlie peo- ple, congratulated it on the destruction of the reign of terror, and added, that in taking their present name, they aimed to co-operating in enlightening tlie opinion of the people on their rights and duties. The Convention gravely ordered honourable mention of this, and insertion in the hullttln. The Jacobins scarcely expected this, they looked to the rejection of their A<ldre£S as being likely; but, at any rate, they b(>pe(] now to stand well in the opinion of the people. 'J'he Convention on the next day {)reparcd to receive the report on the societies. The gaihries and hall U(.:re crowded, and the avenues and streets were strongly guarded and paraded bv patroles. '1 he re- jiort was presented by Delmas, who stated me means, whicli the societies and clubs had obtained and pre- served their ascendanev, and i>roi)OS"d as a decree, that all afliliations and eorrc.spondencic'', in a collec- tive name, between societies should be pi-obibited ; that no petitions or addresses should be made in a collective name, but tjiat thev should be individually signed; that those, who, as presidents f)r secretaries* should sign addresses orpetitions in acollective name should be imprisoned as suspected }iersons, and that descriptive lists of the m(?mbers of eac h society should be presented to the diticrent municipalities. The de- cree passed, and the popular societies ought, Irom .N Ai'01-KON' BUONAPRTE. S^O thenceforth, to be considered as Ugally abolished. The Jacobins neither obtained credit lor the sincerity of their addres to the Convention nor obtained any considerable number of members to speaic in their lavdur. 'i'allien had earnestly bent his n:ind towards ths drstructi()n of the Jacooin clubs, and he left no mea- sure untried wliicli was likelv to ctTect his object, 'ibis man, who revelled in the spoils of the Revolu- tion, and who aimed at a refinement of luxury, and displayed an expense of houshold that would have ri- valled the establishment of any of the ancient no- blesse, could not feel himself safe while any of that party existed, wlio had proposed to enquire into the property o( every person throughout the Republic, not merely for the purpose of exacting a tax, but to judge at the same time of the probable means of in- crease of so many rapid fortunes that had been made during the Revolution; he could not associate either with the Jacobins, who were desirous of acquiring power by straight forward and openly avowed mea- sures; for aUhough these measures might save the independence of the Rci)ublic, the promoters would acquire honours that, if he even were allowed to share, he could not long preserve, in conjunction with themj and with thoae, who, " by their spirit of in- trigue, and their restless agitating activity, were of a force l"ar superior to their nuuibers," and were incapa- ble of being, governed : I'allien, whohadacquircd'as much wealth, atid as much popularity as he v.'ished, v.- as no longer desirous of connection : he was at the. h.ead of a party which v/ere not less Jacobins hi rir.r'd than those v.diom they stigiiiatiscd by the name, ■t!!'J ngu;n:>t whom 1';py arravcd the::?:-*: 'v<"3; they 400 THE LIFE OF were not less intriguing, not less restlrss, nor were they less active tlian their opponents; but they were wealthier, more venal, more voluptuous, and more unprincipled. Tallica and h-is party were of thai class of men, wliose enterprising talents, as an elo- quent statesman has observed, revolted against the property of their country ; v.'.io formed themselves into associations for the purpose of d( stroying its pre-e.xistent laws and instituiions ; v.ho secured to themselves an armv, by dividing amongst the people of no property the estates of the ancient and lawful proprietors. I'rance— therefore, when it iccognised their acts; when it did not make confiscations for crimes, but made crimes for contiscations ; when it had its principal strength, and all its resources in such a violation of property; when it stood chiefly upon such a violation ; massacreingby judgments, or otherwise, those who made any struggle for their old legal government, and their legal hereditary or ac- quired possessions. — France, when it did tliis, esta- blished Jacobinism ; and we need only cast our eyes over some of the preceding pages to be assured of the fact. Notwithstanding Tallien's declamation and his clamour, and the decrees of the Convc ntion, the Jacobin Club continued their sittings, and the re- presentative, L^quinio, declared in tlie Convention, that the Jacobins would conduct themselves as they ought to do, if the representatives were no longer to attend their club; hf, therefore, moved, that th.e re- presentatives ol the people should b< prohibited from being members of any political society whilst the Convention continued to sit, and wliich motion v.-as avoided by the order of the day, The Jacobin Club NAfOLEON' BUONAPARTE. 491 cilso pn.sented a petition, stating " that a represen- tative of the people, whose words had great weirht, had denounced a correspondence between the Ja- cobiiis and a C'ommittee of emigrants in Svvitz^'rlanu ; that !i;e J;iC(;bins ought not only to be pure, but ac- knowledgefl to be so; they desired, therefore, that a report niiglit be made upon this suljject, in order that the guilty, if any of them were guilty, might he pu- nished." On this p't'tilion, lujwevcr, the Conven- tion alio passed to the order of the day, on the ground, tliat no citizens hud a right to call for aa account of what mend^ers said in tiieir places. The Jacobins, were eager to save Carrier, lespecf ing whoni the report of ihe co;iin)issioners, t!ppoi;:i>;i to enquire into Ins conduct, was knowii to be ready: they assembled at the Thuillcrics, the Palais iloy,,', and other public i)laces ; a violent contest eLi-ued be- tween them and the people; and they proceeded U/ blows. TIic people assailed the hall of the Jacobins, exclaiming " No more Jacobins 1 no more of thosrf men of blood, who constantly oppose the representa- tives of the people." This event occasioned a vio- lent agitation ni the Contention, and several avticlei were proposed, which, if they had been decreed, would have in effect anrdhilated the Jacobins and every other club throughout France, In the mean time tlie Convention were occupied with other important concerns. Altnough Robes- pierre with upwards of 70 of his immediate adhe- rents, had been consigned to the executioner, ii was judged proper to adopt measures for the extinction of those factious spirits, which still alarmed tlie welj disposed part of the Parisian populace. Execu' hjns Lis' 402 THE LIFE OF upon charges, which originated in the Convention, were frequent, and were received wiUi unuiixed approbation, for tliy were inflicted on thoic terri- ble men, who had succeeded in filling the minds of the people with the most fri-htfal ahuins, and who had, under pretence of destroying the enemies of the Republic, spread devastation, jnabsaere, and ruin, throughout the land. Allliough the motives as-igned by the Convention for their conduct was satisfactory to every candid and virtuous mind, yet the timid and the irresoluie, and those who weic secrctiv disposed to the faction, v.djich they -aw hinking bout ath tlie inflictior^s of the national vengeance, declainu d a- gainst the severitv oi these iiieasurt s. The language of Freon, on the occasion, is riot, however, devoid ot truth. " Tl;e terror of })unishment," says lie, "is lost in its frequency; to make death be feared we jnust sf.'ldom inllict. It is not the axe which is al- v.a\s tailing, but tlie axe which is always ready to fall, on uhicli tiie imagination and the eye dare not fix, Multi;/.;ed ])unishinentB, by rendering criminals more df.sjxTate, may destroy, in the n)iud5 of a uhole people, tliat exquisite feeling of humanitv, wiiich is the pnnri)>le, the end, and the perfection, of all the social virtues." The Convention next proceeded to investigate the cause of tlic horici cruelties wliich had been perpe* trated in La Xene'ce; they discovered that it ori- ginated in the ambitious and sanguinary conduct of the Robesplerrean faction, and the representative Carrier, wlio he.d been denounced, and executed, together with two members of the Revolutionary Committee of Nantz. The defence of this bold man waa ingenious and urgunjenta,tive, an honourable tes« N.lPOLEOX BUONAPAKTE 403 timony of his abilities, but an atrocious inpmo'ial of the cruelty of his heart Other individuals were • tried and acquitted. Justice was even ten^pered with mercy. A proclamation of pardon was olfered to ■ the insurgent Royalists, if liiey laitl down their arms within a month, in their respective connnunes. Coni- niissio;;ers were appointed to visit the various depart- ments in a stute of rebellion, tor ti,e pin-poso of ettec- tuating the olijeets of tlie.proelaiiiation, and the po- licy of conciliatory measures v-as strongly marked by the naost promising consequences. The ir.tiuence of th's policv was not merely bene- llcial in the interior, ii extentied itself beyond the territories of rraiico, and tl;e Convention daily re- ceived accounts of ih.c aid it afforded to the French armies in their progress. The Flemish and Gerniaa cities opened their gates to those v,lio conquered ni the name of the lle;ndj!ic to extend the blessings of ■ liberty, and wliose victories were intended to promote the union of all nations, in one common sentiment of freedom and happiness. The snbj(T.ts of those ga- X'ernti'.ents which were at war v.itb the Republic re- joiced in the downfal of the horrible system of revo- lutionary tyranny that had enslaved France; for al- though its armies had ccnqitcrcd, diiriugihai sangui- nary period, yet not a city or a town belonging to the Allies, which possessed the means of defence, had surrendered without being reduced to the last ex- tremity. The extension of dominion, which had been encouraged v/itb so much zeal by eacii party that had ruled, bad never beer, abandoned, and the milder disposition of the party which nov; prevailed, favour- ed the project. The people whom they must, under ilobespitrre, have forced, as conquerors, now court- 40 i " TiJE Lll'E OF cd their approach; aacJ hailed them as their dohvcr- ers and th.eir brellfren. Jn the month oi October a resolution was adopted by the states of Frieihinih to acknowk-due the lie- publ;c of France, to discontinue thtir former con- nection with Great Bntam, and sign a treaty of peace and aliiaiiee with the Conv< iiiion. Li other pro- vinctsalso many hold H:Sohjt;c.-ns '.vtjre passed, clearly inimical to the p^erpc tnily oi llie Stacitlrjldt.r's -^u- vernment. llepublieun ;t' ntirnents began to shew throiselves s(; un; qu'.vocall .', even m A;r.ilerdani, tiiat tiie go'vermnent ot lie.'ii.i:; !, on l';je ITlh, po- sitively prolubited idl jiopaihir discussions on noiiueal suljjecls, and tiie jjresentnig ol v.ititions or inen/.o- rials on any pretext whatevi.r. Soon after tiiis Ma- nifesto, the Stadtholder went to Amsterdam, in dis- guise, in ord<:t to ascertain, with preeisio!i, the true state of the public minth The situation (.f the Prince of Oran::e was highly d!itrcs<^ini:. lie had publislied inanv animated addresses to the people, but he v.as una'ule to ius'pire them wiih a sp'irit of resistance. The Anti-stadtholderian party wt.re willing to subject the country to a foreign goverr:ment rather than to join in any measure to secure its independence. A spirited petition w;'.s drawn up, bvmany respecta- ble citi?eiis of Amsierdam, :^.n(\ presented to the ma- gistrates in the beginning of November. It complain- ed of tlie unexpected appearance of the hereditary Prince of Orange and the Duke of York in that city, winch, the petitioners affirmed, could have no other objec-t in view than to operate as a check on the de- liberations of their High Mightinesses, to persuade them to receive British troops, and to agree to a grand inundation, by opening the sluices. The petition re- XAPOLKON' ELTON' APARTK. 40j pnib.Ucd sach measures, anci if, therefore, they were not desirous of receiving the i-'rencli, they by no means were inclined to prevent the subjugation of Holland by the only methods that could be efiectually adopted with that view. The petition was successful ; the magistrates would not vetiture to attempt the in- undation, and several of the petitioners, who iiad been arrested, were releasetl from prison in triumph. Military operations were in a state of torpor during the month of November; for though the Ilepublicaiis did not advance with their wonted rapidity, the Com- bined Powers found it extremely difiicult to act upon the defensive. Vast numbers of thein were cut off by inveterate disease, v/hile the hospitals were des- titute of medical assistance and suitable medicines. The military was destitute of clothing and shoes, and the rapid changes of the weather, at this cala- mitous period, occasioned a putrid fever, which made the most terrible devastation. While the position of the British forces was at Arnheim, 20 or 30 men were buried in a day; and few who were conveyed, to the hospital, ever returned from it, but to be numbered with the dead. The Republicans, on tlu; 7th of December, made an inet!ectual attempt to cross the \Vaal, from Nime- guen, upon four rafts, two of which were sent to the bottom bv tp.e British troops, another drove towards that side which v.-as occupied by the Dutch, and the fourth got back in safety. Four days afterwards, they tiied the passage of ilie river above Nimcguen, botli in boats and on ral't?, to tb.e amount of OjOl'D men, 200 of whom surprised an Hanoverian piquet, stationed at Panneren, took possession of a i.aLttry, spiked tiirec pieces oi cannc n, and threw another 406 THE LIfE OF into the river, without Io?ing a single man. But ano- ther detachment of French troops, was permitted hy the Austrians to reach the middle of the river Emmerick, when they opened upon the boals a dreadful fire from their batteries, by which they drowned the greater part of the troops. On the I5th, however, tlie French were seconded by th.e setting in of ii most intense frost, which rendered both the Meuse and th.e ^^'aal passable on foot, in the space of a week; and the adventurous generals of the French Republic marched a strong column across the Meuse on the 27th, near the village of Dnel. The right wing, which extended from Nimegucn to fort St. Andre, was destined to keep a watchful eye on the movements of the Combined Powers, and the centre took possession of the Bommel Waertand Lengstraal, while the left wing succeeded in forcing the lines of Breda. Tl;e fruits of this single day were I'.'O pieces of artillery, 1,(J00 prisoners, tv,u stand of colours, and 300 iiorsrs. The Dutch beiiig unable to retain the pos5e;s:on of Boinnu-!, endeavoureci to cro^s th^; W ual ; but the ra;j)u'r,l;';;tns overtc-ok and dciea'.ed theui. 'The i;e over tie Waal was so prodigi-juslv strengthened ih.it heavy ariiilerv could bt- conveyed across it w:ih ease an'i sati'tv. Tlie repaijkca'.:-, therefore, initaiitly procee(L-d to take jiOiscssKiU of the Tieler Wtiert, betwoen the \\-dd\ and 'die L-ck. The Allies, alarm- cri for the saiety of Cul'":i:berg aiid Gurcum, se- leeud the foilov.in_; troops : 10 battalions of Brit- ish infantry di.ided n-.to brigades, sn\ squadron3 of of lighl cavah-y,and 150 hr.ssars ('f Rohan, und gave tr.e (ii.rf cr,mtn:.d to 3Li;or general David Dun- das; w.'.h i\iC"J', :::;K^iu.".i'.i.; in a;; to ab'jut (^,500 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 407 infantry, exclusive of 1,000 cavalry, the Allies drove tlie French from Wardenberg on the 30th, and iin- niediaiely proceeded towards the Thuyl, which post they attacked with dreadful iinpetuositv, and notwith- standing it was defended by the batteries of Bom- in(d, whereby the approach to it was flanked, with a considerable uuniber of m( n who had been sta- tioned for its imaicdiite defence, the British forces carried it at the point of the bayonet, and obliged the French to retreat across the rivei-, with the loss of four j)ieces of cannon, and a considerable number of men. A strong reinforcement of Austrian troops, induced the Allies to try their strengtli with the Republican army. But General Pichegru opposed to them too fui'midable aforce for the successful accom- plishment of their views, and all their reinforcements were inaciecpatite to ensure to them the victory. On the bill of December the Duke of York quitted the command of tlie Britisli armv, and returned to London, which evinced that the Court of St. James's considered the conquest (jf llolhuui by the French as unavoidable. While the Duke of York retained the chief command, the army was in a miserable condi- tion, and it was vol to be expected that its situation wouid be bettered, when under the command of a fo- reigner (General Walmoden.) Patriotic subscriptions were entered into in England, to supply the army with flannel vests, and other necessaries, essential to such a dam[) situation as they were in; but, many of the soldiers are said never to have received any benefit therefrom. The melancholy situation of the sick and wounded became hopeless and appaling; and it was proverbial through the army, on a mau being conve\ed to the hospital, " that he was sent to the shambles." •1(;S THE MFE OF Tiie sickness of the solciiers increased daily with rlif? cxlreiuc scvtiity of the weather; and the total inattention to ther comforts and convenience ren- dered their situation pitialjle in the extreme. Invalids ^vcyr. constant!', sent to the general hospital at Ilhen- en, without ari\' tiievious orders liaving been issued to prepare lor tinir recepticn, so that no proper ac- coniniodations could possibly be provided for tliem. Tlu y were usiiallv conveyed in bylanders (a small kind of vessel, down the Riiine from Arnhciai, with- out evt n a sullicient supply of provisions; and it is a notcjrioub fact, tluit, at i-ne time, a'oout iOO misera- ble objects were enib.i:ked, with only a single hos- valal mate to attend th.eni, with scarcely any cover- ing, and with a verv scurity allowance of straw ! An eye-w)tness of these heart-rending scenes exhibited at llhenen, one morning, counted fortv-two dead Ijodies, on the banks of tlie river, of men who had perished on board the bylaiuUis, where they had beeii left, because, as he was told repeatedly, there were then no quarters for ihtni in the towr- ! ^ K A r L r O N B U X A X* A R T K . 400 CHAPTER XXVII. Retreat of the Cornbined Forces frum the Lozu Court' tries. — The French advance rapidly, under General Fi- chegru, and take Utrecht.^-The Stadfholder and his Fa- mill/ quit Holland. — The French take FoJ/eJj]on of Am- Jierdam, Leyden, Harlacm. Flashing, Middlebnrg^ Breda, and all the principal Tovonsin Holland. — Their acquisition of Supplies. — Regulations of the New Dutch Government. — The Britifi Arniij sujfeis dreadful Dif- trcfsinits Fcctrent. — Proceedings of the French Army on the Rhine. — Progress of the French Arms in Spain.—- Carnot's Fftimate of the' French F'idories. — Action be-' txcecn the Blanche and La Pique Frigates. — Partial Engage?nent bct-vcen the Fleet under Admiral Hotham and a French Fleet.— Admiral Cornxvallis chased by a French Fleet, ichich is afterxvards engaged bv Lord TU'ldport, and beaten. — The Duke (f Tuscany concludes a Peace with France, Jl liE Duke of York having quitted the Britifli army, and tlie army iti'elf having retired as the Re- publicans advanced, the Allies called a council of ^var on the 4th of January, 179^, at which, it was determined to defert their pofitions on the river Waal. They hallily fpiked all the heavy cannon which they Could not remove, and deliroyed vufc quantities of aninuuution. On the oth, however, a fliirmiuh took place between the troops under General Dundas, and, during the courl'e of the day, 'he BritiLli and iM-ench rc'puUed each other no lefs than four times. (General Pichegru, on the 10th, croffed the Waal VOL. I. — NO. >:u. M in 410 THE LIFE OF at differr'nt places, with 70,000 men, and attarkod the pofition, which was occupied ijy General Wul- moden, between Niineguen and Arnheini. The Allies were everywhere defeated. Equally un])rc- pared for effe(5tual reiiftance, or for flight, tiiey were under the neceflity of taking flielter in open flied?, or in the open air, at this inclement season, and in their retreat vast number.? of men, women, and chil- dren, were frozen to death. The French took pos- session of Utrecht without opposition, for the troops' in the pay of Great Britain, had deemed it prudent to retire, by tlie way of Amersfort to Zutphen Ivot- terdam surrendered on the iSth, and Dort foUovvtd the example on the succeeding day. The rapid advances of the French, when an- nounced at the Hague, excited consternation and dismay. The Princess of Orange, with the younger female branches of the family, escaped on the Ijth, with the plate, jewelt:, and whatever other tilings of value they could possibly carry off. The Stadthol- der, and the hereditary Prince of Orange, did not de- part from Holland till the l^^h, the very day on which Dort surrendered to General Picljegru. His Serene Highness went into an open boat at Scheveling, hav- ing only three men onboard wich him who wore ac- quainted with rowing, but he had, nevertheless, the good fortune to arrive at Harwich on the 21st, in safety. The Stadtholder did not quit the Hague without much diiiiculty and opjiosition ; for the French party insisted that he should be made respon- sible for all the calamities and troubles of the coun- try. He was solely indebted to the invincible fidelity of his horse body guards, and a icgiment of Swiss, for his escape : th*^y fired upon the populace, and his NAPOLEON BUON'Al'AUTE. 411 fiigbt was secured at the expense of ihe lives of some of the most forward patriots. Dr. Kraayenhoff, wlio had been sent into banish- ment for bis Anti-stadtholderian sentinuuits, arrived at Amsterdam on the 17th of January, v»'ith a letter from the Republican Commander-in-Chief, in order that tlie people might be prepared for the reception of the French army; and on the li)ih, that valuable city was taken possession of by no m.ore than 30 hussars. In every spacious square belonging to the town, the French planted the tree of liberty with- out delay, and decorated the hats of the Dutchmen with three-coloured cockades. The supineness oi the common people was on this occasion surprising. They were content with the Anti-stadtholderian par- ty, which was composed of those ambitious men, who have since filled some of the chief officers of magis- tracy under the French, should manage the country as they pleased. The inhabitants stood at the doors of their houses when the hussars galloped through the city, as unconcerned, as though they had been na- tive troops; they smoked their pipes with as much sangfroid, and retired to their beds, and arose in the morning with as much composure, as though no un- usual event had taken place. The Dutch Republicans established a revolutionary tribunal, or committee, composed chiefly of those persons whom the old go- vernment had cast into prison on account of their ])etition in favour of peace, and for execrating the project of an inundation. On the 20lh General Pi- chegru made his triumphant entrance into Amster- dam, at the head of 5,000 men. A proclamation had been issued the day before by the Revolutionary, Connuittee, declaring to all t.he world, " that the 412 THE LIFE or Uuited Provinces were free and independent!" it recommended the choice of a new magistracy, con- sistingof several persons that it named, among whom were M. Schimmelpinninck, and they were iiccord- ingly chosen provisional represeatalives of thcdillc- rent states. The surrender of Amsterdam to the French Vv-as instantaneously followed by Ltyden and Ilarlaem. On the 00th of January, the French likewise took possession of Flushing, iMiddleburgh, and the Island of VValcheren, By positive order from the states, Breda and Williamstadt o};ened their gates to llie Ilepublicans, by whom they v.erc besieged. 13ergen-op-Zoom was garrisoned by 4,000 men, ia ^hich was included the 87th regiment belonging to Great Britain; but the proclamation of the States- General, which ordered every garrisoned town to submit to the French, in C(;nsequence of the Stadt- liolder's aljdication, produced its innriediate capitu- lalion; the Governor, however, requested tl:at the British regiment might be permitted to return home. With this the French General refused to comply, and they were detained prisoners of war. The en- tire province of Zealand, shortly alter, submitted to General Michaud. During the ;ieriod in which tliese events occurred the French Generals requested a large sujiply of jiro- visions and chnhing for the soldiers, and the French Republic pledged itself f(jr the ]iunctual payment of the value. A proclamation, issued bv the Slates-Ge- neral at the Hague, declared that the requisition was i^ot made in the language of a conqueror, but that of an ally. It was by the prudence, tlie v.isdoui, and the humanity of General Picbegru, that these changed NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 413 in Holland were effected with so much peace, order, and tranquillity. Tne French entered the city of Amsterdam in small divisions; and the whole way from the river Waal to that city was covered with ofiicers and men, who liad more the appearance of travellers than that of warriors. I'lie Dutch themselves, from their systematical caution and prudence, made every preparation for their a})proaching subjugation. The magistrates, who had acted under the old government, were per- niitlcd to lesign without being either impeached or punished, for the people v.-ere too keenly occupied with their more immediate concerns, to give way to a spirit ()f revenge. The municipality of almost every city and town of any innjortanc;, had undergone a radical change of its internal government .and police before the arrival of the R/Bpublicans ; and messengers were dispatched to the French, in order to procure the most favourablecondilionsor terms of surrender. l"hc people of property volunteered their services to prevent tumult or insiirrection, but the phlegmatic dispositions of the people in general rendered such a jH'ecaution unnecessary. It must, tliercfore, have been wholly owing to a want of discipline and good order m the conquering the arn)y if riot or confusion Lad ensued. Tb.e provisional representatives of Holland met on the 27th of January; Pierre Paulus, tlieir president, delivered a speech upon the occasion, wheiein he considered the sudden frost, by which the French were enabled to enter Holland, as a manifest interpositior>. of Providence. At this sitting, the sovereignty of the Dutch people was decreed, and the rights ofjr^*;* .M m 3 41'1- THE LI7E or ileclared ; the Stadtlioldership, and the offices of Admiral and Captain-general of the united Pro- vinces, witli all their appendages, were abolished ; all the citizens and inhabitants of Holland were re- leased from their oaths to the old constitulion ; the ancient authorities were suppressed, and committees of public safety, military affairs, and finance esta- blished ; the right of shooting on his own property was restored to every individual; the taxes hitherto levied were provisionally continued, but measures were afterwards to be adopted for dimiimhiiig them, and for placing such as remained on a more equal footing. A courier was dispatched to Paris, for orders to set aside the authority of the States- Ge- neral, and an inquiry was made into tlie Bank of Amsterdam, and it was found lliat the debt and credit would balance each other. Whilst these changes were tfl'ected the British army was closely pursued by the Rej)ublican army, consisting of more than 30,000 men. General Ab(.r- erombie undoubtedly conducted the retreat with hu- njanity and vigilance, but his troops were in a most wretched conditiDn, and in want of almost every thing they should liuve posse.isech The occasional thaws rtlardec! his progress, and rendered his situa- tion still n)(iredt'j,hirabU%for his half-fanushed troops were frequently obliged to wade througli mire and ■water th<.t reaclu d iieaily to their knapsacks. Vast mmibcrs of the sick were left b«;hind in their route; and it is su})]iot( d that frcun IS.OOO men, (;f which the army consisted at the commencement of the re- treat, it was reduced to one half thai number intlie hv- cijining of F<.bruary. In the march from Amersforr, 3<)0 men were frozi^:. to dealh,e.\clu£ivt'of gieat uuui- NAPOLEON EUOXAPARTE. 4 ! ,S bcis of women and children. It required iGO waggons to remove the sick, and there were ],600 wretched beings accompanied the flying army. Many, who were so cut and mangled as to be incapable of bein<^ removed, were left behind. At leflgth, on the 12Lh of February, the army crossed the Emms at Rheiue,and were enabled to prosecute their march without inter- ruption till the 24th of the month, at which time the posts of Nienhuj-sand Velthuy?, piincipally de- fended by Emigrants, were forced by the Repub- licans. The division of the British army, under the command of lord Cathcart (who had iake;i a more westerly route) was doomed to suffer much greater hardships, his rear beingcontinually harrassed by the advanced parlies of the Republicans. He everv- where e:q)erienccd losses and disappointments, from the unpopularity of the Orange interest. The re- mains of the Briiish army arnv.ed. at Bremen on the 27th and 28th of March, and continued there till the 10th of April, when they embarked for England. During the progress of tliese events in the Low Countries the campaign on the Rhine exliibited nothing very brilliant. The Republican troops r3- niained a considerable time in a state of torpor and inactivity ; they, however, collected, in the neigh- bourhood of Mentz. a prodigious quantity of heavy artillery, and took Fort du Rhin, which protected Manheim. The surrender of Manheim, which was in a flourishing condition, saved it from the destructive horrors of a bombardment. Tiie troops, which had been engaged at Fort du Rhin, were marched to re- inforce those before Mentz; but a regular siege did not commence till the ensuing summer. in :he mean time the Freuch penetrated into the -i\6 " THKT.irEOF north. cast pari of the Bisliop: ick of Munster, and, after a fierce and ifrribic ei:^ :-■ ni<-nt. ilipv made themselves masters (jf Benlbtiin. On tiicol^t March ihey defeated the Austrians with iir(;at loss, and sta- tioned ihemselvfs at Biiieii. from thi.- period llie Combined Powers s-eem to have lost all their spirit and energy, whilst the intrepidity and success of the FreiK h were unlimited. In Spain, the Republican armv was equally vic- torious, meting with few other obstacles than tlie bad roads, and the dreadful mountains, over which the Generals had to march their forces. The French deemed the port of Rosas, in C'ut.donia, an object of the utmost importance; but, ])rior to the reduc- tion of this ]iort, it was absolutely necessary to be- come masters of Fort Bouton, by which the bay was commanded, and tbiO naval force checked; an object which the Republicaiis accomplished with the utmost valour and intrepidity. The uncommon floods, which the melting of the snow had occasioned-, increased by incessant rains, retarded the operations of the besiegers, and they were obliged to continue inactive for the space of twenty-three days. Finding it impossible to o])en the second parallel, the Repub- licans erected a strong battery on the 30Lh of Decem- ber, which mounted eighteen pieces of cannon, each 24- pounders, and on the 3d of January they eom- menced theit attack upon the city. On the hrstshot being fired, tlie volunteers requested permission to mount the walls, which already appeared to be da- maged, and the garrison embarked during the dark- uess of the night, leaving no more than 5 fO men for the defence of the city, who instantly surrendered. On the oth of May, 3,000 :^paniards having mudt KAPOLtON IJUON'APARTE. 4-17 their appearance on ihe side of Sistellia, and disco- vered an intention to surround the Republicans, were totally routed with very great slaughter. About this time Carnot, a member of the Com- mittee cf Public Safety, gave in the following list of victories to the Convention, all of which were achieved in IJ months: Victories, including eij,ht pitched battles 27 Actions of less note - — - 120 Killed of the enemy - - - 80,000 Prisoners _ - - . - 91,000 Strong places and cities taken - 5 ii5 By siege or blockade - _ - 30 Forts and redoubts - - . 230 Cannon 3,800 Muskets 70,000 Powder .... lbs. 1,900,000 Pairs of colours - - - . 90 This splendid list was ordered by the Convention to be printed, hung up in the 'lall, and transmitted to all the armies of the Republic, as a stimulus to future exertions. The account is very highly exaggerated, but the progress of the French arms during this pe- riod was surprising and overwhelming. To esti- mate the advantages resulting to France from these astonishing conquests is almost impossible. They found in Ootend alone stores and granaries to the amount of 10,000,000, and 25,000,0fK) in specie were imposed upon the Pjelgic provinces. The PvC- publican troops v/ere enabled to subsist for the space of eight months on what was procured from the concpiered countries; and tlieir future subsistence ■vvas secured by wliat tl;e United Pioviivjes were bound to furnish them with. But if Franco was -^18 THE LIFE OF victorious by Ian.], she was not so by sea. Tlie de- slruction of tlie Freiub shipping at Toulon was ai5 irreparable loss, Jiot merely on account of the vessels, but the seamen, whom it was impossible to replace; and the tyranny of Robespierre had a most power- ful tenflency to weaken the marine force of the Re- public. In the preceding and present year, 17^5, the French efiected nothing brilliant by sea. Several frigates were captured by the British during this year, some of them surrendering vvithout the smallest opposition, while others made the most desperate re- sistance. On the 4th of January, in particular, an en- gagement took place, off Martinique, between the British frigate Blanche, of 32 guns, and La Pique of Si, which lasted without intermission for the space of five hours. The French frigate had her masts car- ried overboard during the action, in which 30 men perished, besides 76' killed and 110 wounded. The loss on the part of the Tji-itish frigate was eigiit men killed, including Captain I'alkner, and 12 wounded. On the 14th of March an interesting action was fought in the Mediterranean, between a British fleet, under the command of Admiral llotham, consisting of 14 sail of the line and three frigates, and a Re- ]mblican fleet of 15 sail of the line and three frigates. Ou the 12th, the hostile fleets had come in sight of each other, when Admiral liotham made a signal for a general chace the next day, when one of liie French line-of battle ships, was seen wanting her topmasts, a circumstance of whicli the Inconstant availed herself, and began to attack, rake, and har- rt.ss h.er dreadfully, till the Agamemnon came up, when the Freiich thip was very much damaged, and N^iPOLEOX BUOiVAPART.F,, 4.];i completely'disablcd. But as the British vessels wer? at a great distance from their own fleet, they were obHged to leave her, v/heu they perceived more of the enemy's ships coming to her assistance. Admiral llotham, on the morning of the 14-th, discovered the disabled ship, towed by another, to be so far to leeward of their own fleet as to alTord a strong probability that they might be cut off. For the accomplishment of this object notuiog v.-as leh unattempted, and the French were reduced to tb.o necessity of giving tliem up for lost, or of coining to a general engagement. The latter did not appear to be their wish, although they made a feeble attempt to support them: they were cut otTby the Bedford and Captain and immediately deserted by die main body of the fleet. The captured ships-were the Ca-ira of SO guns, and Censeur of li. The English had 75 men killed, and 280 wounded : there are no accounts of the actual loss sustained by the French, but it was certainly greater. The Illustrious was so much disabled during the action, that she had to be taken in tow, but was afterwards separated during a heavy gale of wind, cast on shore, and lost near Auenza. The loss sustained by Ijoth fleets may be considered as on a par, since they both lost two ships of the line. One of the French ships, if not both of them, captured at tliis time, were stated in the London Gazette as being among the number which were de- stroyed at Toulon. Admiral Cornwallis, when cruising oiF Bellei^Ie, witk live ships of the line, and two frigates, fell in, on the 7th of June, with a fleet of merchant ships, under convoy of three ships of the line, and six frigates ; and although the ships of war effected t'de:r escape, he had ibe good fortune to capture 420 THE LIFE OF eight of the mcrcl)antme.'5t, all richly laden with wine and military stores. B>it, on the lO'lh, while standing ill wiili thsj land, near Penmarks, he received a signal Irom the Phccton, that an enemy's fleet was in sight, ■which they soon found to consist of 13 sail of the line, and two brigs, besides a cutter and several fri- gates ; a force, whach it vrouki liave been madness to .-itiernpt to face. At this critical period the wind slnfted in favour of the enemy, so that by nine o'clock the iiext morning, th(^ ships, in front of the encniy's line, b( gar. to lire upon the Mars, who kept i;p a running fire the whole dav, as well as the rest of ihti I'lritish fh;et. Admiral Cornwallis efiected his es- cape from tiiis perilous situation bv an excellent ma- nanivre, — i;e threw out signals expressive of a large fleet of British ships being at hand, on which account the Trench Admiral did not deem it prudent to pur- ■-ue him, and he consequently escaped with very little loss. 'I'ljis fleet from which Admiral Cornwalli^ ef- fected bis escape in such a' singular manner, v/as destined, on the 23d of the same niontli, to be at- tacked by Lord Briijjjort, wlio commandf'd a fleet of ] I sail of the line and eight frigates, with superior r.^etal to tliat of the enemv. On the 22d, about day- break a signal was given by the Nymjjh and Astrea, that an enemy's fleet was in sigiit ; but the British Ad- miral perceiving that they had no design to bring hini ti) action, he hove out a signal for chacing the enemy with lour of the swiftest sailing ships m the whole fleet which they continued to du the whole dav and the eusumg night, bat there was so little wind to favour ihem, that ihey were almost becalmed. They came up v. iili the Republican fl- et on tlie n-orning of the 2.'3rd, svhun an action couuneuced at six o'clock, NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. ^21 and coiitiuued, without intermission, till three in the afternoon, when the Biitish Admiral got pos- session of the Alexander, (formerly belonging to England) tiic Formidabie, and the Tigre. Being almost close in with the batteries on shore, his Lordshlj) was not only unable to extend his con- quest, hut even found it attended with conside- rable dilliculty to retain the possession of those he had already captured. The re,maining part of the enemy's squadron got safe into I'Oiient. The loss sustained by the British during this actior:, i)as been stated at 31 men killed, and 11.5 wounded; the loss ou the part of the Republicans is un- known. The month of February produced an event of the greatest importance to the interest of France, and no less fatal to that of the Combined Powers ; for on the 10th it was announced to the Con- vention, that the Committee of Public Safety had concluded a treaty of peace with the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Three days after, the Convention (U)tered ou a discussion of the merits of this trea- ty, wheu some members of the violent INIountain party disputed the competency of the Commit- tee to negociate a peace without the consent -of the Convention ; but it was at length determin- ed, that every thing which tended to obstruct the establishment of peace was highly impolitic, and repugnant to the prosperity of the nation. The competency of the Committee v,'as acknowledged almost unanimouslv, and the Treaty itself was ratified amidst the thundering plaudits of the mem- bers and spectators. V OL.l. — NO. XII. N 11 4C5 THE LIFE OF CHAPTER XXVIir. The Convention aUo~xs Quarter to be given to the En- glish Soldiers, Jyc. — Annixersary of the Death of Louis XVI. — Decree of Freedom of Worship. — Barrere, 4'C. condemned to deportation. — Prussia negociates, and concludes a Peace •tcith France. — Spain, Sj-c. also make Peace. — Foucquicr 'Finxille. cj-c. tried and executed— Their horrible Cruelties.— Insurrections in Paris,— In- surrection at Toulon.'— Death of the Dauphin.— The Princess exchanged by the Convention, and sent to Ger- inanxf.—The Convention decree a next Constitution. Sanguinary and unjust measures against a rival, whose power it is impossible to destroy, are in- variably impotent, and their consequences often re- coil upon those by whom they are occasioned. Cruelty can never be exercised without fear of reta- liation, but upon the weak. The disguised assassin may destroy a hero in the midst of his camp, and he may effect his escape m safety •, he may murder the statesman in his chamber, and flight may prevent his detection; but he cannot complete either of these purposes, without t!ie certainty of punishment, if he does not previously shroud himself tVom observation, and secure his retreat by secret means. — But if orie individual openly persecute another, who is as strong us liimself, and v.ho stands well in the estimation of the world, he must be weak, as well as wicked, if he imagine that the public opinion will aid the destruc- tion of his opponent; it will rise up against hun at the judgment; he may hate, but lie wdl only have the power to harass; be may vex, but he will hiuisclf NAFOLEON BUONAPARTE. ¥23r- cxperience vexation, and, ultimately, suffer disappoint-- ment: so if one of two countries in a state of open war, should adopt a barbarous species of hostility, un-- sanctioned by the law of nations, and should prose- cute an unusually inhuman warfare, the bad policy- of such a vindictive spirit would be evinced by the measures of annoyance that the other power would be justified in taking in its own defence, and also by. the execrations and protests of other governments against usages repugnant to the liberal principles ■which should actuate all civilised belligerent states. It was some of these considerations which induced the French Convention, on the last day of the year 1 79^) to consider a decree which had been passed, that no quartei' should be given to British, Hanoverian, and Spanish troops, and which consequently would not allow the French troops to accept the surrender of any soldiers of those nations, but consigned the individuals, who sued to the Republicans for mercy, to cold and deliberate butchery. The Convention, had passed this decree in the full persuasion, that Ihey should be able to exterminate, as well as sub- due, their enemies; but notwithstanding the exer- tions of the commissioners, who were with the ar- n)ies, the decree was approved by very f(;w of the soldiers, its execution was partial, and it operated no extraordinary eftect in favour of the Republicai^ arms. The same Convention, therefore, in which this decree originated, and by whom it was unani- mously declared a lav,-, finding that, as they had no means of compelling it to be enforced, they profiled nothing from its standing on their records, took ad- vantage of its falacy to regain their credit for huma- nity, liy repealing it. i^ome of the members made 424 THE LIFE (;F long and vf ry animated speeches on tlie occasion, arid the repeal of the law was decreed'amid as 1-oud and as general plaudits as it liad passed. On the 21st January, 1795, the anniversary of the death of the King, was celebrated by a festival in the Thuillevies. A scaffold was erected before the great basin, bearing the statute of Liberty : the President of the Convention pronounced a speech; the populace exclaimed, " Vive la Jlcpubliqnt / Vive la Convention/ a general discharge of artillery concluded the cere- mony, and the cold being excessively severe, all the people went home. At night the theatres were open gratis; an effigy was burnt in the yard of the Jaco- bins, intended to r( present tyranny and royalism: it was previously brought to the door of the Conven- tion, to make an amende honoruhle to the people, and its ashes were gathered in a pot de citarfibve, and deposited in the common sewer, amid the mostcxtru- vagant applauses of the mob. In February, Boissy d'Anglas, in the name of the Committee of Public Safety, &:c. made a Philoso- phical report on the wisdom of giving religious li- berty, and obtained this decree in the Convention— " Every form of worship may be exercised without molestation; the stale allows no salary for the exer- ».ise of any worship, or dwelling for its minister : no external signs of worsliiji shall be affixed in public filaces, or on the roads, or offered in any manner to tlie view of citizens. No inscription shall point out the place which is employed tor the exercise of pub- lic worship." Long and tedious debates agitated the Convtntion on thech,arges against Barrcre, Collot d'lierbois.and Billaud N'arennes, and they were, finally, adjudged to NAPOLEOX BUOXAPAaXE. 42 5 be doported to Guiana, in South America. About this period a disagreement, which had long subsisted between the Prussian and Austrian cununanders, and also between their troops, arose to a great height, and was not a little increased, by a report industiiously circulated through Switzerland, by a Prussian agent, that the court of Berlin had actually concluded a treaty of peace with the French Republic. 'I'his re- port gained credit; and it was either so generally applaucU tl, or '-■o little censured, that a negociatioa v,as seriou^lv openeti at Basle,; bv three offical agents from the King of Prussia, and afterwards by a pleni- potentiary, publicly avowed as such, whom M. Bar^ tl:e!emy met at Basle. The personage to whom the management of this important negociation was committed on th.e part of Prussia, was Baron Goltz, wlio had formerly been an ambassador at Paris, and wdiose diplomatic talents were very considerable. But, unfortunately, while the negociation was still pending, the Baron was seiz- ed with a distemper of such a violent nature, as termi- nated his existence in the space of a faw days. Somo time intervened between the death of Baron Goltz and the nomination of a successor, but the nego- ciation does not ap]^,ear to have been stoj)ped on that account; for the jjrincipal secretary of the legation went to l^aris, and, after diflerent interviews with the Committee of Public Safety, he returned to Berlin, Every thing led the Committee to believe, that the terms proposed as the basis of a definitive treaty, would be finally accepted. In such a state of for- wardness was this business after the death of Baron Gollz, that his successor, M. Hardenbcrg, found >f n 3 426 THE LIFE OF little more to do, on his arrival at Ba^lp, than to put his name to the treaty. It is believed that this negociation would h.avc been coiisidera'olv retarded, if not totally broktjii olT, had not the Committee.cf Public Safetv conse-uted to the admission of secret ai'ticlcs. Alter a v.urni discussion by both parties, the treaty was fi.iully signed — a treaty advantageous to France, s:nce that country obtained by it every lh!ng it desirt'd To the King of Prussia it v/as not so favourable, since he thereby lost the opportunity of lakir.g tiie k-Lid in adjusting and aria/jging the affairs of i!:e Coii- tincnt. Whether the interest of tl:e Combined Pow- ers was still predominaivt in the court (;f Hi rlin^ after the coalition was dissolved, or v.hatever occa- sioned the v.ant of a decision on the part of Prus-ia, is undeterniiriCd, but it is certain, that llie fortunate crisis was neglected, and that time was afforded to Austria and Britain to regain the ascendancy. Hesse Cassel, indeed, made a treaty of peace; Saxcar/. and Sonne other pov/ers, v. ithdrev,- ihcir quota of troo;-L. froin -the assistance of tiie Allies, v.ljiie tiie Duke of Wirtemberg began a negociation ; but, by tlie re- verse of fortune, which the I'rench experienced on the eastern side of th'.' R'aiiie, evei y attcinjit to ncgc- ciate was abandoned by all parties, except llesse Cassel ar.d IlanoTcr. The ];cace wjrii Prussia, was alinc;st immedia'cdy followed by a trca'.v of peace with tl:e court of Ma- drid. Prussia having receded from the coalition, the troops of the Frencli K< public were rapidly marching towartls the vcry'capiUl of the Spanish dominion-, fur which reason the Spanish cabinet deemed it i;e- ees;ary to i.yder al. D'Vniine to con.e to immediate NAPOLEON EUOXAPARTE, 4C7' terms with the entsmy. With such astonishing dis- patch was th;s business conductucl, that a treatv of peace was concluded between 31. d'Vriarte, and M. Darthclemy at Basle, before General Sprvan from the Committee of Public Safety, und M. d'Iranda iVom the court of Spain, hivd tin^e to have a single inter- view at Bayonne, the place where the}' were appointed to meet, ll was signed by .M. Barthelemy and M. (I'Yriarte, vn tiie 20d of Ji;Iy ; by viitue of which the French aave up ail the conepiestb (hev had made on the territories of S|!a;n,und restored all the cam jc a and ammunition they lound in the conquered towns, cities, or garrisons; arjd Spain restored the caniion and anuniinition, together with their possesdoijs in the i:rla:;d of St.' Doiidngo. The I'rench Repuijlic also consented that the Iving of Spain should become a mediatoi' for Portugal, Sardinia, Naples, and t!:e Duke of Parma, with all the cither pi-:;;res belonj.._lri<; to Italy- The Dutch Repn!)!:c was likewise com- prei)fcinied in tlie treaty, by wiiicli means a s^'verc blow Wiis :u.ucci at thepov. erof Great Britain in ih'^ West Indies, and its naval operal'ioiiS in the Metilicr- ranean were much obstrucf^d. Switzerland preserved a neutrality durijig the va- rious stages of the French PievoluUon, and the war consequent upon that memorable event; but many of the cantons evdnced a disposition by no means friendly to the Ptepublican cause. I^^isle did not ac- knowledge France till the definlt.ive treaty was signed between it and Prussia; for, from the 10th of August 1792, till that period, 31. Barthelemy v.asonly i^nowu in that country as a piivate indiviilual. The chan- cellor of Ba!>le, M. Och's took an active part in bringing about an amicable xeconciliLition b^ t'vecn 4^8 TiJE i.ifE or France and Prussia, and in his house the trcaly or peace- with Spam was signed. , The rapid progress with which the forces of the Republic proceeded from victory to victory ha 1 a power' ul effect i;i changing the political tenliaients of the Swiss can- tons, many of .which iinmednitvly expressed their attach.. neat to the interest and views of France. In the ni.onth of Mny }.l. Fouquier Tinville, the President of the late llevolutionary Tribunal, witlr three of the Jiidges, tiie Public Accu er, and eleven of thcTurors of that dreadful cMLiine of huuuii. butchery^ v.'ere found guilty of the most atrocious injustic(,' and cruelty, (hiring the exercise of th.eir functions, and they were all executed in the Place de Grcjvc. '1 hese horrible men had drav.'n out lists of proscription, which were daily delivered to those v.hu executed theirorders, and Vvho instantly repaired to bringiu all tlie persons named. If the jMUSon marked lor destruc- tion was not to be tound, the; impatiency of the mes- sengers, and the promjiitutde of the revolutionary system, precluded the possibility of delay ; some one, whose name was similar in sound, or who had some relation or connection v.dth him, supplied iiis place; it was in vain to remonstrate; " We were ordered to take ten, twidve, or tlfteen persons from this house, and will not go away without our number; you may as well take this act of accusation as not, for you will have one sooner or later." Tiie Revolutionary Committee of Nantz, seized all who were esteemed rich, and all men of talents, virtue, or humanity. They at one time ordered the shooting and drowning of between four and fivehundered cliilch'cn, the oldest of whom, were not more than 1 1- years of a^c ! ' >iAPOLtON liUON ArxVUTfe. 4'29 George Thomas, a witness, related, th:U " having re- etived an order to visit the Entrepot, to certify as to the pregnancy of a number of women, he fciuad, on entering the place, a great number of dead bodies strewed the floors. " 1 saw," says he, " several iiifa:)ts, some still pal- p'tating, and otiicrs suffocated in tubs of human excre- ment. I hurried along tliis scene of horror : my terrified aspect frightened the women ; they had i)een accustomed to see none but their butchers ! 1 encouraged them, and addressed them in the language of humaniiy ; I fcurti that 30 of them were pregnant, some seven or eight, months gone with child. A few days afier, 1 went again to see those unhappy creatures, whose situa'ion ren- dered' them objects of tenderness ; but," adds the wit- ness, with a f.iultering voice, "■ ihall I tell you, they were all murdei'ed. The farther I advanced," con- tinued the witness, "the more was my heart appalled:- ^tliere were 800 luomcn, and us vnuiy children in the pri- sons Entrepot, and in the Miisilicre there were neither beds, strav/, nor necessary vessels ; ilie prisoners were in want of every thing. Dr. Hollin, and myself, saw five children expire within four minutes — I accuse," continued he, " the Comn.itice in general, of the murder of seven prisoners, whr.m, from want of time to examine them, liiey had hewn do\\n v/uli sr.bres under the windo'V of their hall. Carrier, the Representative, as well as the Committee and their underlings, turned the drov,'nings into jest; they called them immersions, iiaiioriul baptisms, lathings, &." Debourgcs, a witness, says, " I fiave seen noth,ing but (drownings, guilloiininns, and shooiings. Being once on ga;;rJ, 1 commanded a detachment ;hat conducted the fourth e// jnassc of women to be shot at Gigan. When I arrived, 1 found the dead bodh-scf7j wor.ien already stretched on (he spot; tl;ey were qu-re nikcd. 1 w-as i.-.iuimod tliat they svere girls from .5 to to 13 years of age. V> hen th.ey iiad the misfortune ne-t to fall ecad after the ihot, they v,-erc dispatched with sabres'" 430 THE LIFE OF Labenette, a witness, says, " I huve been an eye-wit- enss of several drownings ef men, women with child, girls, boys, and infants, indiscriminatelv, I have a!so seen people, of all those descriptions, shot in the public squares, &c. I was physician to one of the prisons, and was near being displaced, because I v.-as too humane." The Widow Dumey, a Vv'itness, says, " that she is the widow of the late keeper of the Entrepot; that she saw 50 priests brought there, robbed of all their effects, and drowned, with some women and little children. A child of 14 years old was tied with others to be drowned ; his cries for his father would have pierced the heart of a tiger; Lambertye tied him, however, and drowned him with the rest." The witnesses on these trials were numerous, and the facts they attested were dreaifiil. Seven hundred women were confined in one house, which, even as a prison, was too small for 200; 40 were crammed into one little chamber: for seven months this hou^e had no infirmary, the sick and the dead were often extended an)ong the living. Women were dro.vned in liiihleis, with infants sucking at their breasts. Numbers of naked women v.ei-e seen lying by the sides of the Loire, throv/n up by the tide : the heaps of hinuan bodies which had been slaughtered were partly devoured by t!ie dogs and birds of jsrey. Five Imiidred persons v/ere often drowne^l at one time; nun, women, and children were all stripped naked, and, whiibt sinking in ll^e railed lighters their cries were j.r.crnis, and th-y ]">ut tlicir arms througl the ra;Iii;g, which w.. I'o often hacked ofl'by the sabre': of the attendants. OiiC wituiss, Bonrdiii, giving an account of "•; vtral si] 'Otirijs. sav: " the }.;'rl that 1 -a"-' wus '.■ NAPOLEOX BUOXAPARTE, 431 .SS women; they were shot, stripped, and after- wards exposed for three days. Vv hen the shootings €11 masse first began, the prisoners retained their cloths till they were dead ; the old clothes dealers followed them whilst going to execution, bargaining on the way with the soldiers for their garments ! but they discovered, that the clothes being shot through, and often clotted with blood, decreased their value; the soldiers, therefore, afterwards stripped their pri- soners naked before their execution." The women with child, after being placed in the lighters to be drowned, were sometimes delivered amongst the water and mud; the groans and shrieks occasioned bv their lamentable condition, excited no compassion, aiid they were drowned with their new- born infants. The soul sickens at these scenes of horror, at this indiscriminat-e slaughter of the inno- cent, and the guiltv, of every rank, age, and sex— at this terrible waste of human life! About a foitnight after the execution of these ruf- fians, a violent insurrection was organized in Paris; the streets had been posted with bills, which charged tlie Convention with keeping bread from the people. At seven o'clock on the morning of tlie 20th May, the Generale beat to arms; the Convention assembled at their posts, and the most tumultuous scenes ensued. Tlie insurgc nts burst even into the hall of the Con- vention, and the galleries were filled witli clamour and uproar; Ferrand, one of the representatives, was assassinated, and his head carried about on a pike. Nearly all the members fled from these hor- rible scenes; the few who remained behind were the friends of the Jacobins, and immediately at the re- quest of the triuiophaut faction, passed several de- 432 THE LITE OF crees against the moderate party. In the afternoou ho\vev«-r, ihe armed force ot' Paris drove out the in- surgents. The Presidt^nt thanked llu; ritizer.s for liavuig saved the Convention, and the first business thev prciCceeed to was, to repeal the decrees ex- torter' during the tumult, and to adopt iinn)ediato inea^Mves fo;- llie pani:hment of the conspirators. In the interim :t was decreed, that the deputies Bour- hottc, iJuqnesnoy, and Duroi, who had actively fa- voured ilie insurgents, should be arrested. Tlie J '"ubin?, lu.wt^ver, were not subdued; the man wi.u . id mu.'dercd Ftrrand was taken, and condemned to aeath. On lii; way to ex(,:cution, lie was rescued by the Stuis Culottes of the Fauxbourg cie St. Au;c;iirj. An armed force marched against the suLurbi, aiid a conflict ensued; the military ■were at f.r.e period compelled to retire, but, at length, tliey forced liie inhabitants to surrender tlie assassin, and to give up llieir arms and cannon. A military conmnssion i,avii:g been instituted, many of the leaders were tried and executed. Iiisurgeney was liOt, liowever limited to Paris; an ii.surrecLion bruke out at Toulon, and the insur- gents With .j.COU mei:, and ab(jut IC })iect3 of can- non, took their rcuie towards Marrciih.-. They were intercej.'ted, however, by the treops uiuier ti.e com- mand of Generals Cliarton and Pactod, who carried 300 Touionese jirisonera to Marseilles. The result of this event obtained tiie < ntire- Submission of ^'oi:- lon, ara! aUached it to the in'.! rests of the Picpublic. During tiua yea.r, died an individual who had a just claim to the commiseration ul every humane mind; — tiie unfortunate son and heir apparent of I^uis XVI. Ever since the autumn of 179- he had NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 43-J been dotalnod a prifouc-r in the Temple, a fituatioH peculiarly i)ernicious to his valetudinarian (late of health. His dreary contineuient brouglit on a rwell- ing in liis knee and left writt, the probable caufe of that fever which terminated h.s exiftcncc on the Uth uf June. It has otten been reported that l;e wa< jMjifoned by order of llie Convention. Medical cd'- fiftance, however, was afforded him during his iil- nefs, and it is hoped tliat this evil does not lie to their charge. The Convention, foon after, volun- tarily offered to liberate the Princei's, ttie only lur- viving branch of that unfortunate family, in lieu of the Four Commilhoners uho had been arrefted by General Durnourier. 'i'he I''mperor of Gcrn'any complied with the propofition, and the Princefs was delivered at Bade to the Auftrian Envoy, the Coni- iuilhonerf, at the fame time, being reftored to their country. The unfettled ftate of France about this periud, tlie difturbanees by which Paris had been lately cua- vulfed, and the factions and divifions v.hicii were ap- parent, even in tlie bol'om of the Convention, feeni- ed to imperioufly demand a regular f'.Ueni of gu- vernment, the executive power of winch niigiit be fo energetic as to be able to triumph over oppcifitioii. and ftitlc infunection in the bud. The (Ajuvenliuu ■were inccffantly employed in the formation of a iie\» eonftituti ;n, and, on the 23d of June, it was piu- feuted Ijv the Committee of Elevea, vvhon ai! the arti- cles were I'ejiarately difcuOed in a long, al'h". and ar- gumentative manner. Suuie of thcui we'.': referred back to the Comuiiltee for their furihcr and more dehl-erate cxaminatiou. The Convcnuun rcO:ort-4 VOL. I,— XO. Xlli. O O 434 THE LIFE OF jniniary all^mblies ; and the whole fabric might be laid to Ijavo been radically changed. Al'ur two months dil'cullion, invelngation, and amciidir.t nt, tiic C'onveiition dcciar>,d, on the '23d of AuLiif', !l;>it I'lic conUitution >vas comj)leted, and ihey traiduii'.ifd it to the })iiniury alH-aiulies fur tlulr acce;:'u,i.ce aiici » Qn*irnial!on. This coiiftitution conilfted of 1-i idiapters, with aii pxr)r(hi'. in or introd!ic:;on,refncctin;T tiic ril:'ill^ ol inan, (liilerin'j; in no ni.::tri;d pcii'.l fn^m tiiat \\ljich\va~i pvt fixed ti; tiu iiru conuitution. Tiic fii'.^t chapter oontuiiu (i .,M account oi the ierritoi'ial poffi iiionsof the llcpLdjiic:; 1-1.1.1 ir^d;^:flOii into cf. py.rtrfU'nts, cantons, ar.d ccjnunuiK^^. '1 he fjcond ciiapl<T d< fined the po- i;nc;.ii '•late of citizens, and dechuvd every man bojii, end rclidini; in Trance, wliofe na:p,e h.ao been in- ■crii,^ d in the civic re_i-ter. (ir whij Ic.d l;vtd one vcar (■n the; iciiitory td' tiie iU public, and v, ho had paid a dircft contribution, a French citizen. Tlie for- !c:tnre of this privilege was eillier by the comniilTioii <A' mfamoL'.s erin;es, or being Jiaturaiized in anv fo- ;-r;ign co'intry. d lie thirii cluij)tcr contained a deh- .i.ifii.n ol' tb'j j)Ower to Itf exercifcd I'V tiie prunarv ii( liibliri. 'lii', V wey to m( el aimuadly, on the 21sl ( f .Miirch, v.illi fall p>o«-cr to (dett, \vi;en nccelTar}-, rdic mtmberi of the olcctnral alicmhly, the justice oi r-care and !iis adetlbrs, and the jnelident of the mu- jiicinal adraiaiitration of the canton, or the nuuii- cip;d officers of tiie communes which contained .;un-e than .j.OOO inhabitants. I'be power of tiie (de6toral affemblies was defined bv tiio f'jvtrlii tide or chapter; in wiiicli it was de- • barrd tlatt thev flioul I clioole, wdicn neceflury, tiie mi.nii-.;; ■ l' ihc :c-il]ati\ : body, of ih'; trnnuial of un- NAPOLEOX BUONAPARTE. 4oo milmcnt, the high jurors, the admiuillralors of the ch jiartuji-nt, the prefident, public accufer, and rr- i-ilter of t!ie crnninal tribunals;' and, finally, th(^ judges of the civil tribunals. The fifth article made the legiflative body confift of a Council of Ancients, and a Coe.ncil of Five Hundred, who were botii to relifie in llie fame commune. The Councii of An- cients confificd of 250 members, one third of whom vcre to be anniiailv renewini ; and, cunfeqiientlv, each i.i.'nn! cr retained his feat for the Ipace of three years. 'J'he povver of jjropofing laws belonged exclulively to the Council of Five Hundred ; but the Ancients migh-t rippr(;vi; of or rejeft tbeui, according as. they j)lcafed. It was enacted by the fixth title or chapter, that the Executive Power fliould be delegated to a Directory, of five members, to be chofen by the legiflative body, to be 40 years of age at leafl, and either formerly ntembers of the legiflative or general agents of exe- cution. It was to have one new member elected an- r.ually, and w-as to provide for the internal aiid ex* tcrnal fecurity of the Republic ; to dlfpofe of the armed force, choofe generals, and fupei intend the execution of the laws and the coining of mone}^ The Council of F'ive Hundred was to draw up a lift of fifty members, by lecret fcrutiny, from among which the Council of Ancients were to elect five members, to compofe the Direftory. From this conftitution the moft fanguine hopes were entertained. The Republicans confidered it as a defence against the encroachments of po 'jr^ul individuals on the hbcrties of the j'eople, and -nn fc- cuiing the enjoyment of every poUucai privilege. 4jO THt LIFE or chaptj;r XXIX, .^^' HISTORICAL AND I) ES C I, I PT I V E SKETCTl OF THE ISLAND OF CORSICA, THE B I K T H-F L A C K OF NAPOLEON B U O N A F A F^ T F . .llJURING the time that tiie Frencli arms wcrr vu'torjous in every part of the continent of Europe to wijjch ih(.y Iiad been borne, aiiti v/hilst tliey wcvr " roiKiueriiig peace," ^vith FruiTia, Spain, lleffe Cafj'e], and Hanover; when cverv cuutincntal power \vith whom thjcy warred feeiaoci cither panilized by imbecihty or ni::u(U-ned to exertion l)y frerizy, and France herlt-lf was daily acquiring jmmeiifc phyfical flrength, and adding new trates tu her doj%nit)n ; whiht the Republican troo; s wore taking poffedioij of the Low Countries, the Sladtholdt r and his fa- mily flying for refuge to the Britifli fliores, and tha Britifli army retreating before the I'rench, who pur- lucd them througli Holland, the Enghfli cabinet were decj ly engaged in dirt-cf^ing the conqueft and aiincx- aiiou (jf the lilaud oi Coiiica to the crown of Great Biit;'.in. Seven cities diljnited for the honour of having giverx birlh to Homer. '1 he favoured city ani i's remom- branceare alike ft pvdtered by the u; eru;ii : - oi lime ; and the cnJuifiafi of ancient poefv l.ini- i.t-, Jiat he knows not wlure to rl ic e his focjt, and lu exclaim with certainly, " liert was born ihe Father of Greek poetry, and tlie iHoft exailed genius that the world bath feen." The reverence and efteein A\hich we •nttrtain for the wife and the good, our admiration •f the hero, and our Iwve., of llie patriot, our vcnc- NAPOLEON BUONAPARTi:. 457 ration of the moralift, and our refpeft for the phi- lofopher, attach us to the localities that are marked by lome peculiar circnmftances of their career. Their birth-place, tlie fcenes where they fpent their youth, or where they declined in their age, the apartments in which they were cradled, or the tombs vhich received their remains, exceedingly intereft our feelings, and excite the fond ft lemembrances. So alfo our hatred of the bad, our deteftation of the tyrant, and our contempt for the weak and the foolifli, induce in. us correfpondujg fenfations, on beholding any ob- ject which recals their wickednefs, their crimes, or their vanity, to our recollection. The inconfiderable ifland of CorfiCa has many claims to the notice of the philofophical hiltorian j he that would record events for the inftruftion of pofterity mult not merely narrate their occurrence, he mult inveftigate the origin of tyranny and of treafon, of fuccefs and of defeat, in the. council^ in the fcnate, and in the field. The means by which the few controul the many, and by which the ]»eople ire transferred from one niai'ter to another; the- po- licy which enfured thtir effeftual reliftance, of their final fubdunl ; the genius, the talents, the arts, the manner^;, and the literature of a country, are to be dif- pailionutely eftimated, compared, and realbnedby the liitioriati, or fu'.ure gf^ncrations will. receive no adv;i'it;ige from his in''ultry. A itate may be hnall, bat lilt:' },eepleni.iy 1 egre=:t; it may have l.t tic power, . but much p: niciplc ; be liable lo great oppreiiloi:, und yet pofi'cfs inucli inde', ei;d! nc;'. A great and a pow- erful ftale miv be cempofed if a flavilb, depraved, and unciUigh;eneJ ; eopje, without urt-s und wiliiout o c 3 438 THE Lltii 01' ir.duftry, its political ftrerigth may be greater tlian tire former, whilft its moral advantages are Icfs. Corfica affords an ample illuftration of thefe remarks ; and, •were it allowable to inveftigate hiftory in this \Vcrk, admirable examples of the virtue and the patriolifm of its natives might be adduced; that ifland is only conlidered of importance here, and its hiftory will be fketched,and its prefentfituation be defcribed, merely' to gratify the curiofity which is naturally excited re- fpecling that country which gave birth to Napoleoii Buonaparte. Corfica IS an ifland fituated in the IVIediterranean fca, and ftj)aiated fiom the ifland of Sardinia by the strait of Bonifacio ; it is about 17O miles East of Toulon, 100 miles South of Genoci, and SO miles Soutli-west of L(\ghorn. It is 150 niihs in length from North to South, and from 40 to 50 miles in breadth; it is about 500 miles in ciicuuiflrcnce, and is bordered by many bay? and promontories. The atmofphere is pure and healthy, and it is or.e of the moll tenij^erate couutiies in the South uf Eurove. The harbours are very numcrou;;; on the JS'orth it has C%)Lti!ri; on the \Vest St. Fiorcnz:), Ifula, KoiTa, Caivi, and x\jaccio ; on the South roniiacjo; and on tlu' llasc Porto Vecclio, iiiiftia, and .Jacinajo. A clrin of n:ouncains rifes beyoiid Aleria, strc tching U' :''if'» "he iTand f:')m Ku^t to \V'(.st, Ijut not diviJmg it in < qu;d pavt:-, although the great diviflon of (."u)'lica is init> ih'- Di ijUa u(i .\'u/;(i, thccouutrv en lid- fide tl'c mouiitams, and die J)i lu del Monti, the coinitry • >n the i.i'd'Ci- (ide the moun';".i:.s, nckcniiig ;> 'in .i?ci^tiH : die C';-ist is d:\erfdi<,d i_,y iiiOL:nii:i!;Oc.i; rocky hi'l , .-^cer. d uitli vines, ciives, ai'd nudb^^rrio ;ind i)y J h.ir.s and rich vaMn^ la^di, abounding with NAPOI.EOJT BUOTTAPARTE. n. ■ , corn and palluragc: the province of Ralagna may be ciiUed the garden of Corfica; near St. Fiorenzo, however, are fome low marfliy ground?, wh'uh render that lown very unhealthy: the interior of the idand is, in general, mountainous, but interrj)ei-l{'d \vi;h fruitful vallies and large traoh of iniiahited wood- land, Tlie farmeiS live in viUages, fo that there is- iLarcelv a detached farnihoufe to be feen. •» The island is extren^ii ly w(^ll watcied; it has many lakes and rivers, but'none of the rivers are navigable, for theirciirrenls are extremely rapid, and fometimes the torrents, after great rains, bring down fragments, from t!ic moui tains largo enoiigh to dafl] a vefTel to pieces: their ] re-duce is c(^nf:ned to trout.s and eels but Oil the eoaf't are fomul' fturgeons and pilchards of exqnilile taflej ar.d renu-rkably fine oyfters. The animals of the iflJiiKl arehbrfes of a very fmallbreed, ver\- r.milar to fin hies; ades, and mules, very fmall but urong, and black cattle, which are larger in pro- portion, tut d.ey give very litle milk, and their flefli is tough: tiie n itives hie ofl inflead of butter, but niaki-, in fcmie parts, a good deal of cheefe. Goats browfe on the lulls, and the fiieep are very line, the pafture being better adap^^ed to tlie fmaller ani- mals. Tne f >reris alHumd with deer, and an animal rcfembling a flag, vdth horns like a ram; it is wild and called a mufioli. Thf" Coificans delig'it in hunt- ing the wild bo;\r, for which they have a breed of dogs peculiarly excellent : they hav/ hares and foxes, but ncitiicr rabbits r:cr wolves; they liave jdentv of biids and gan:e; and no ])oifonous animals. The fo- refls are extei'five, with every kie.d (d iovrft trees; j)omegranate reis grew to great pericv^ion, as well ess the muibeiry, and 440 THE LIFE Oy " The arbutus rears his fcarlct fruit Luxuriant, mantling o'er the craggy fteeps." *rhe grain is wheat, barley, rye, and millet: honey is obtained in vaft quantities, but the tafte is ratliey bitter. In the island are mines of lead, iron, cop- per, filver, alum, and faltpctre ; granite, porphyry, jafper, and rock chryftal are very abundant, and great quantities of coral are fiQicd up on the coaft. Baftia, which is on the Eaft fide of the island, is conh'Jered the capital of CorfK:a; it has a noble ap« pearance from the lV,a, being built on the declivity of a hill; it has a cafUe which commands the town and harbour: its cathedral is not remarkable, but the church of S. John is a fine building; the port, how- ever, cannot be entered by ihipsofwar. C( rte is in the centre of the island, and is properlj/ the capital : it is fituated partly at the foot and partly on the de- clivity of a rock, in a plain, farrounded by moun- tains of a prodij^ious height, and at the confluence of the rivers Ta i^nano and lleftonica. Upon the point of a rock which nfes above the reft, is the cafiie, wttich has only one winding pafTage to rliinb up to it, and v.dv i ,• oiUy twu p'Crfons can go abreaft : ■ this town has a imiverdty. Ajactio, which is on the Wf ft fide of the islr.nd, and is th'- handfomeli to-.vn, cl ai..-. ihu d;riinftiou '•( having .^iven birth to Naj.'oleon I'.Konapartc: it has m;'.riy good fireet^ and i-c uulf.i! v, alk.-;, with acila'l'd CiU'l a p;dat e. 'I he inh.d)'.". u. ts of Ajaccio i:.ie the moft genteel and vt 'l-brMi reo))le in the island : it CO!. '..ins the ren-aii.s o. a redony of Gr'^ek?, who io'i'..- ..\ a fcttleaient th-.-.e in 1077. Tr/- har m r ij ^vj'-.., fafe, aiid coaiuiodious, and l:a;. aii .excellent mole. XAPOI.EON BUONAPARTK. 441 j Calvi, [ituated on the Weft fide ot the iiland, has Jiolhiiig rcnuukabic but a large and convenient har- iiour. Corfica has numerous ollifr towns, but thoie rJrcady mentioned are the principal. The Greeks called this idand Callifta and C's'r- nus ; the Romans knew it by ils prefent name: it was lirlt inhabitt^d l)y a colony of Phenicians, and afterwards by the Piioceans, the Etrufcans, and the Carthaginians fuccelhvely : then came the llonnins, who fettled two colonies here. After the fall of the Pvoman empire, it paffed through tiie hands of the Goths, the Greek Emperors, the Lombards, and ths Saracens. In the eighth century Corfica was conquered by Charles Martel, wiio prefented it to the fee of Rome, by whom it was afterwards transferred to the Pifans, and from wfiom it was conquered b\ Genoa. The Genoefe treated the natives i'o tyrannically that they were often in a ftate of infurgency, which, for want of a leader, was foon I'upprefiTed. Henry II. of France, alhfled by Solyman, the magnif^ent Luipen^r of the 'iuik-, mvaded the ifiand in the year lo.'o, '.nd tbey wprej(,ir.od oy the infurgent inha'dtanis; but the Genoefe, awi'led \-y Charles V. of Spain, j p v<. nt •(] th; ir iuccels. The war was terirdnuted by ai: accou'modation hon;,ur- able to tlie Coriirans. The oomijioa of the Ge- noefe was iutoh lai I'- : they cx' rciled all the rigour that arbitrary power conld nflict, anrJ pracfilcd eveiy fpecies of extortion and cruelty: they degraded the noble families, lent niultitu'les ef luitives to the gal- lies for trifling oifei-.ces, prohibited ail foreign trade with the natives, and puc over theiu needy adventurers for governors, whole defperate lortiines rendered them l^aughty, avaricious, and tyrannical 4-42 THE LIFE OF The Covficans were delpiA d, opprcfud, ami ]>iiin- dercd until the year 17 '2.9, when a poor ohh^rly wo- man being unable to pay to a GenoeiV colhnnor a Paoli, a piece of monf^v of abov.l the vahu: of five pence Enp;land currency, liereffefts were fei/ed. 'ihc iidiabilanls eagerly cfjioufed her caufe, a conllict en- lued, and they became niafters of die capital, and pr!K:ccd(;d to elecl: n;ilit'irv chiefs. 'I'he G<n<)t-k\, uri- alde to fubduc t[;<ni alm.e, ielicited, and obt;;ir,ef!, th(! poweiful afiiaauce of tl;c F.mperor Charles Vi. 1 heCorfican; were once r.iore conifjelled to eiif; r into an accommochition with their tyra)its; on con!ii(iof>, iiowevcr, that the Ihiiperor wouldguaranlcc the treaty, wliith was accordingly figntd in 17 oS. Tiiis treaty was violated the next year, by the •Genoefe, and the Corficans refumed their arms. They eleded for their general, Giafferi, one of their ir)i!itary chiefs in the laft infurreftion; and with him they alTociated Giacento Paoli, a gentleman of good family, of diftinguiflied merit, and the father of the celebrated General Pafcal Paoli. It was during this war in tlie year 1736', that Theodore Baron Neuholt anpcai-ed in the illand, with affurances to tlie Corfi- ■cuns of verv powerful ahlftance. This fingular per- fon was of the county of -Marok, in ^Vellplialia. lie bad his education in the French fcrvice, and h.ad travelled, in purluit of dilh^rent projeds, into Eng- land, the Netherlands, and Italy. He v.as a man of abilities and addrcfs; and having conceived the d<>- fign of becoming king of Corlica, he went to Tunis, \vhere he found means to obtain a fupply of money, arms, and ammunition. He then repaired to Leg- liorn, whence he wroti; ;u letter to the Corficari chi»!fs, GiatTeri and Paoh, oll'ering confiderable al- 'iltnuce to the naliou, on cuiidition that they would N'\?OLEON BL'OMAPARTE. 44-3 elcft liiai their king. In confcqacnce of ihe favour- aijh; inanuer in whicli liiis application was received lie landed in Coriica, in the ipring of 1730". lie ivas a perfou of a very {lately ai-)})earauce, and tiie Turkifli drefs, wluch he wore, added to the dignity of Lis niie'.i. lie brought with him about 1,000 ze- chins of Tunis, befidcs arms and amuuuiition. Mis manners were Id engaging, and his jjromifes of fo- reign aliiftaiice fo plaufdjle and magnificent, that he was immediately proclaimed kin:'. 1 ie allunied evorv iiiark of roN'al dignity, had iiis guards and officers of Itate, conferred titles of honour, and coined nione}-, b.;lh lllver and copper, ile innuediately Liloeked up tiie (k'i;.'.)cfe forthications, and was nellher inacfive nor uniiu.'cersful in ins warlike ojjerations ; but thc^ pow- erful afiiftance he had promifed not having ai rived, the Corfjcans exhibited marks of dii'approbation. la about eight months after his eleiftion he founil it expedient to leave them ; aiTuring them that he would g<j in perfou in fearch of the long-exj)efted fuccours; and, 1ki\ ing formed a plan of adminiftratioii in his ab- fence, lie cjuitted llie ifland in November. The courts of (ircat Ijiitain and France had forbidden their fub- jeds, by proclamation, from furnifliing any kind of ailiftance to the Corhcans. He repaired, therefore, to Holland, where he procured credit to a great ex- tent, from feveral rich merchants, who Irufted hiui witii camion, and other warlike Itores, under the chai-gc of a fupercargo. With thefe he retui'ned to C'.riica in 17-)9; iind, on his arrival, fays the Hiftorian of Corrica, *'' he put to death the Super- cargo, that he might not have any trouble from de- mands being mad;; upon him." — The French, hov.- <:vcr, became io powerful in the illaiid; that, although 44-4 THE LIfE OF Tlipodore threw in his I'upply of warlike iioros, he (iurft not venture his jieri'on, the Genoelu having fet a hi::h [)iice upon his head. lie cijole, therefore, to relincjuiih his throne, antl lo fdcrihce his ainbiciun to liis fcifety. In a word, after e\[)eriencing grtiat vicif- fitiuies of fortune, he came to England; but his htu- ation here, by degrees, grew wretched, and he was reduced to fuch diUrefs as to be feveral vears before his death, confined tor debt in thi.> ifland of libertv. The late Horace Walpoie, Earl of Orford, greatly interefied himfelf in procuring a fubfcription in fa- vour of the unfortunate Tlicodore: " How nuitl I blufli for n>y countrymen," fays he, '• when I men- tion a monarch, an unl)appy moiiurch, now aciually flitTered to languifli for debt in one of the common jjrifons of this city! A monarch, whofe courage raifed him to a throne, not by a fucceflion of ambitious bloody acts, but by the voluntary elec'tion of an in- jured people, who had the common rigiit of man- kind to freedom, and the uuconmion refolution of determining to Ije free! Tliis prmce is Theodore, King of Corllea ! a liian, whofe claim to rcjyalty js as indifputable as the mott ancient titles to any monarchy can pretend to be ; that is, the choice of his fubjeHs; the oiily kind o\ title allowed in the ex- cellent Gothic comiitutions, from \\ hence we derive our own; the fanie kind of title which endears the prefent roval family to Englifhmen; and the only kind of title, againlt which, perhaps, no objedioa can lie. " This prince," he continues, " after having bravely expol'ed his lite and crown hi defence of the riglits of his fubje£is, mik;anied, as Cato and other patriot hcroea did before him. l"or many ycau N A POL F ON nUONAPAUTE, 44^ !!e struggled with fortune, and left uo means untried, which iudcfatigahle policv or solicitation of succours could attempt, to recover his crown. At last, when he had discharged his duty to his subjects and him- self, lie chose this country for hia retirement; not to indulge a voluptuous inglorious ease, but to enjoy the participatiosi of those blessings, 'which he had so vainly endeavoured to fix to his Corsicans. Here for some Miunths he bore, with more philosophic dignityt the loss of his crown, than Ctiarlos V, Casimir of Poland, or any of those visionaries, who wantonly resigned theirs to partake the sluggish indolei:ice, aufi at length the disquiets, of a cloister. Theodore, though resigned to his fc^rtunes, ha,d none of the contemptible apathy, which almost lifted our James n. to the supreme hon.our of monkish sa,inthood. " The veracity of an historian obliges me not to disguise the situation of his Corsican ^tlajesty's reve- nue, which has reducetliiim to be a prisoner for debt in the Kir.g's Bench; and so cruelly has. fortune exercised her ligours upon him, that, last session of parliament, he was examined before a Committee of the House of Commons, on the hardships to which the prisoners in that gaol had been subject. Yet let not ill-nature make sport with these misforrunesi His Majesty had nothing to blush at, nothing to pal- liate, in the recapitulation of his distress. The debts on his civil list were owinfji; to no misapplica- tion, no improvidence of his own, no corruption of liis ministers, no indulgence to favourites or mistress- es. His diet was philosophic, his palace humble, his robes decent; yet his butcher, his landlady, and his tailor, could not continue to supply an establish- VOL. I. — NO. XII. P p 4-1-5 THE LIFE OF tnent, which had no demesnes to support it, no taxes to maintain it, no excises, no lotteries, to provide funds for its deficiencies and emergencies." Mr. Walpole proceeds with some other observa- tions, in the same strain, and then proposes " a sub- icription for a subsidy for the use of his Corsican Ma- ieslv," — Tliis actually took place, and a very hand- some sum was produced. Some' gentlemen waited upon him with the amount of the subscription. His lodging was in a garret: an arm-chair under the tester of his bedstead, was the only slate which mark- ed t!ie reception of the deputation, lie w:is, at last^ freed from prison by an act of insolvency, in conse- quence of which he made over h.s kingdom of Cor- sica for the benefit of his creditors, a,r.d which was actually registered accordingly, lie died soon af- ter, arid was buried in the churclivard of St. Anne's, S'.-'iiO, where a plain monument is erected to him, with the following inscription: Near this place is interred Thcodort-, Kir.^- of Corsica, v.'ho d-.td in tlii, parish, December 11, 173«, imnaediaiely after leaving the King's Bench Prison, bv the benefit of the act of insolvency; in consequence of which he re- l^istcrcd his kingdom of Corsica for the bencnt of his ♦feditors. The Grave, great Teacher' to a level brings Heroes, and beggars, galley-slaves, and kings ; But Theodore this moral learn'd, ere dead: Fate pour'd its Bestow'd a kinj this moral learn'd, ere dead: -j I lesson on his livinn head, V igdom, and deny'd him bread. 3 Theodore left a son, who lived maiiy vears in tliis «ountry, under the name of Colonel Frederick, and who shot himself in the year iryo, in great distress NAPOLEOX BUONAPARTE. 4iV of mind, occasioned by the indigence of his cir- cumstances, under the portal of Westminster Abbc}^, 'J'he Colonel Lad a son, an oftlcer in the British army, uho was i-;iiled ia the American war. The Genoese iKv-.v had recourse tr> the French King, wl'o sent an iiriny into the island m 1733, and, in 17-iO, etiecHiully reduced U. At the end of the year 1741, the I'rf nch having more important objects in view, withdrew their forces from the island, after having put the Ge- noese in complete possession of it. But the momtnt that the French had lel't the island, the Corsicans re- sumed their arms; and, from that period, the war continued, under different chiefs, till 1755, when Pas- cal Paoli was elected to tlie chief command. Great Britain had forbidden her subjects to give any assist- ance to the Corsicans; but, in 1745, in consequence of a revolution in the political connections, some En- glish ships of war, with a Corsican chief on board, were sent into the ]Mediterranean,as auxiliaries to the King of Sardiriia. These ships bombarded Bastia and Fio- renzo, of which they put the Corsicans in possession. At the peace, however, in 1763, a severe proclama- tion was issued by the British court, in which these brave islanders were styled rebels. Paoli had tlie ad- dress to engage all ranks to exert themselves in pro- viding what was necessary for carrying on the war with spirit, and soon drove the Genoese to the most remote corners of the island. He rectified innumera- ble abuses, and formed a regular system of adminis- tration, lie civilized the manners of llie Corsicans, established a university, and settled schools for the instruction of cluldren in every village of the king- dom. He induced the Corsicans to apply to agri- cilture, comiricrce, and civil occupations, which 448 THE L1!E OF had been interrupted, to ilie ruin of industr\-. by tie long continuance of tlie war. The nation became firm and united; and l)ad not the French again in- terposed, the C(;rsican£ would have entirely expelled the Genoese froUi the island. iJut, when Paoli was on the pioint of succes'ifullv terniinaling the war, ii.e Genoese, in 1704, conehuicd a treaty v.:ih the French, by uhich ti;j latter cnga^rd to garrison the fortified towns of Corsica for the term of four years. In IjGj, the Genoese sold tb.eir claim of sovereignty to the Frcr.ch King, who that very year, in addition to the garrisous already in Corsica, sent another powerful body of troops, under the com- mand of the Count de A'aux. Flattering manifestoes vere published, in on.er to induce the-Corsicans to become subjects of France ; but, fired by the love of liberty, they defeated the French in several en- gagements. Frcsh troops being sent from France, the contest at length became too unequal j the na- tives, weakened t^y their victories, were obliged to submit; and, in June I7i^ii, the b'rave Paoli, com- pelled to aijandon hiseountry to its fate, embarked on board an English ship, l.-.nded at Leghorn, and, repairing soon after to London, lived there iiiany years, protected and sup>ported by the British court. Corsica being thus subdued, the French com- jnander proceeded to new model the government of ihc island, which was placed under the jurisdiction of the parliament of Provence. In the mean time, the natives abandoned their country in great num- bers ; while the most intrepid of those that remained took sheltf,r' iii the mountanious jjarts, whence lh(y seized every opportunitv of failing upon their enc- Hiies, v.-hen separated into iinall parties; and they NAPOLEON BUONArAR.TE. 4-19 put to death, vv-itbout nieicy, all the French that fell into th.'ir hands. As nothing -could subdno the unconqiierable spirit of the natives, (lie most shocking cruelties were, at lengtii, exercised upon all of them who were made prisoners; and by the year \77'-^, when the IVench King, wlio had enslaved these islander^:;, declared himself the protector and guardian of the liberties of America (an interference, which, in the event, proved so t'atal to himself) the poor friend- less, and deserted Corsicans, were nearly extirpated. The memorable revolution of Prance in 1 7S9> produced, at last, an unexpected change in the po- litical aspect of Corsica. From the period in which it was conquered, this island had been retained in. subjection by the strong fetters only of military des- potism. They had never ratified the infamous con- tract by which a nation was transferred, like a flock of sheep, from the dominion of Genoa to that of France. The meeting of the States General at Ver- sailles had revived, within the bosoms of these brave men, the unsubdued spirit of liberty, and the hopes of being reinstated in their rights. These hopes vere succeeded ijy a sinister rumour, that they were once more to be ceded to the detested dominion of Genoa; or, at least, that they were to be stdl retained as a servile appendage to a land of freedom. In such a state of douljt and perplexity the passions of the multitude are ea:;ijy excited, 'i'hey proposed imme- diately to form a i;ati(nial guard; the citizens oT Bastia assembled for that purpose in the chuich of St. Jtdin : (he army marched to disperse them, and in the contest some lives were lost. In tiii; SL.Ue of ferment the island remained, when deputies (among 450 THE LIFE OF whom was Pascal Paoli, who, at this important crisis, had revisited his native country) appeared at the bar of the National Constitutant Assembly, entreating, in the name of the people of Corsica, that they niiglit be irrevocably united, by a decree of the legislature, to the French nation, as a con&titutent part ot ihe empire. Such a request v,-as too reasonable and too flattering to the Assembly not to be instantly com- plied with ; and Corsica was decreed to be an eighty- tiiird department of France. This was followed by a raotiou of the Count de Mirabeau (who lamented that his youth had been disgraced by participating in the conquest of this island) to restore all who had emigrated, except on account of civil crimes, to their rank, their riglits, and their property. The illus- trious Paoli, who had so often appeared as the Ge- neral in Chief, was now content to be commandant of the national guard at Bastia. In the year 1790 Buonaparte received the com- mand of a battalion of national guards at Ajaccio, and remained on duty in his native town, until he re-entered the corps of artillery to which he. had for- merly been attached, and for his services at Toulon, received llie rank of General. This instance of wis- dom and liberality in the first National Assembly of France (who, at the time iliat tliey solemnly renounc- ed all views of war aiid conquests, ap;)earcd desirous of establisiiing. throughout their empire, theblessings of real liberty) seemed to promise an inseparable connection between France and Corsica. But, on th.e dissolution of this assembly (ihe virtuous members of which had imr.rudently disqualiiled themselves frorA bc-ing rc-f!io-,e'.i in ilio next) their successors v.'cro .r:'.'i of v. 'v ':;:'erior '.'deats aiid cliuracterr, and ec- / ;/.■. ' /V///'/ VAPeLEOX BUONAPARTE. 4,.i,i teated by less enlightened views. The events which followed the revolution of the JOth of August 1792 ^vere not such as were calculated to ensure the attach^ mentof the Corsicans to the new Republic. Dissatis- faction with the measures of the French Convention, and particularly with those which evinced an inten-' tion to overihrow all religion, became so manifest that It soon excited to suspicion, and roused to vio- leace. On the 2d of April ] 793, the popular society of Tou.on accused General Pacli to the Convention, as a .upi:orter of despotism. They alledged, that the (xeneral, inconcert wit4i the administrators of the de- partment, had inflicted every kind of hardship upon the patriots, and at the same time favciured the Emi- grants and the refractory priests. They demanded that he should fall under the avenging sword of the law. The Convention decreed that General Paoli and the Attorney-general of the department of Cor- rica should be ordered to the bar to give an accent oUheir conduct. On the 4th of Mav, however, the Convention re- -ceu-ed a letter from the Coinuiisioners sent to Cor- ■s.ca, to arrest General Paoli, that they thought it un- ^=a..e to attempt thai measure for the present; and on •the l()ih of the same mcmth, a letter was road from he General, regretting that his extreme old age, and oodily infirmities, rendered it impossible for him to cross the sea, and afterwards travel 200 leagues by iano, to appear at the bar of the ConTcntion,^but o^^- ^er.ng to retire from his country, if it were deemed necessary to the safety and peace of Corsica. In October, however, Paoli sent a pressing request to Lord Hood, tor a few ships, to co-operate with him against the Freach in the idand, and to attack the 45^2 THE LIFE OF BUONAPAUTE. rt-doubt of Fornill (a poit about two ujiles dislaut from ihe town ot' Fl^i fuze.) Ciijitcuii Liuzt-e, how- ever, liiilid, tioin false intL-lligf nc-. being given him, rcsp etMig a range ()f caniici, y.l^.d. Aiinoved hinti from the t.)v,n, and al-o tVom the want cf ardv/a, on the part of tlK-( 'orsir-ans, who ha'i p: >.•'!!-.(.■ ; to L-torm the pnsls f'n tlu- 1 inti ;ide, liiougb tht:v,riC-\ c' made the smallest nidvemci;'; to (nVci ,Iu:'! •■■vw-v. flu aig the whole of [he action, trod by v/lj:-.-, •i-.vh-le force of the (-nemy was c.ir- ,.■■: ■ ..;, i ■. ■, -oiiish. In May 1794, Lord Hooo- o. ■! . , , -■ ; . , .rndnrot the town and citidil of ihis i ■ 'S . ; i 'iio com- mandant, and in July ihe union '_] o. . \\r\ui C^r- sica to the crown of Cireat H.u;oo i^ Ir. Uy con- cluded. General I'aoli assisied in ..tl'i ■ on'j Uos mea- sure by a very spirited and patri.; ic ;!>! h"('s> to tlis people. I'he town of Calvi sarri:ndci( u i o 'l.o lOth of August, after a siege of 51 da\s. Sir (-'Ibci t HlhoL ■wns appointed viceroy, and incl the lij:;t pariiamenL of Corsica on the;}lh of Febi uary ] 7.'j5. Thus WV..S the country, wdiich !..;.ve f rib to Na- poleon lUionoparLt trai^sferred to the dwn.inion of Great Britain, at a period when lh( whoie world was confounded by the j.n-ogrcrs 'of the riench arn)s ; when the plans of the British govei 'Unent itseii v,ere frustrated by the subjugation of ] ajlland, a:id almost every country on the continent uisires-sei ia its means and resources. £?il> OF VOL. I. x.^. THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST E STAMPED BELOW. sm-?:Tim-4 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A A 000 168 671 6