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 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
 
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 ^(^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.^. 
 
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