The life of Napoleon Buonaparte, emperor of the French. By Sir Walter Scott.

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 729
abdication was insisted upon. Lanjuinais and Ben- the council of the government. The interest which
janin Constant supported the sentiments of La I take in my son induces me to invite the Chambers
Fayette. But the emperor appeared gloomy, dissa- to form, without delay, the regency by a law.
tisfied, and uncertain, and the council broke up "Unite all for the public safety, in order to
without coming to any determination. remain an independent nation.
For another anxious night the determination of (Sigied) NAPOLEON."
Bonaparte was suspended. Had the nation, or even
the ministers, been unanimous in a resolution to de- The republican party having thus obtained a
fend themselves, unquestionably France might have victory, proposed instantly several new models for
been exposed to the final chance of war, with some settling the form of a constitution, in the room of
prospect of a struggle on Napoleon's part; though, that, which, exactly three weeks before, they had
when it is considered within how short a time the sworn to in the Champ-de-Mai. This was judged
allies introduced, within the limits of France, an something premature; and they resolved for the
armed force amounting to 800,000 effective men, it present to content themselves with nominating a
does not appear how his resistance could have even- provisional government, vesting the executive powtually proved successful. It would be injustice to ers of the state in five persons-two to be chosen
deny Napoleon a natural feeling of the evils which from Bonaparte's House of Peers, and three fiom
must have been endured by the nation in such a that of the representatives.
protracted contest, and we readily suppose him un- In the meanwhile, to preserve the decency due
willing to have effected a brief continuation of his to the late emperor, the Chamber named a comnreign, by becoming the cause of total destruction to mittee to wait on him with an address of thanks, in
the fine country which he had so long ruled. Like which they carefully avoided all mention and remiost men in difficulties, lie received much more cognition of his son. Napoleon, for the last time,
advice than offers of assistance. The best counsel received the committee delegated to present the
was, perhaps, that of an American gentleman, who address, in the imperial habit, and surrounded by
advised him instantly to retreat to the North Ame- his state officers and guards. Hle seemed pale and
rican States, where he could not indeed enjoy the pensive, but firm and collected, and heard with a
royal privileges and ceremonial, to which he was steady indifference the praises which they bestowed
more attached than philosophy warrants, but where on his patriotic sacrifice. His answer recommended
that general respect would have been paid to him, unanimity, and the speedy preparation of means of
which his splendid talents, and wonderful career of defence; but at the conclusion he reminded them,
adventure, were sowell calculated to enforce. But that his abdication was conditional, and comprenow, as at Moscow, he lingered too long in form- hended the interests of his son.
ing a decided opinion; for, though the importunity Lanjuinais, President of the Chamber, replied,
of' friends and opponents wrung fiom him the re- with profound respect, that the Chamber had given
signation which was demanded at all hands, yet it him no directions respecting the subject which Nawas clogged by conditions which could only be poleon pressed upon. " I told you," said he, turnIimade in the hope of retaining a predominant interest ing to his brother Lucien, " they would not, could
in the government by which his own was to be not do it.-Tell the assembly," he said, again adsucceeded. dressing the president, " that I recommend my son
On tile morning of the 2'2d June, only four days to their protection. It is in his favour I have abafter the defeat at Waterloo, the Chamber of Re- dicated."
presentatives assembled at nine in the morning, and Thus the succession of Napoleon II. came to be
expressed the utmost impatience to receive the act now the point of debate between the abdicated
of abdication. A motion was made by Duchesne, emperor and the legislative bodies. It is certain,
that it should be peremptorily demanded from the the appointment could not have been rendered acemperor, when this degree of violence was rendered ceptable to the allies; and the influence which Bounnecessary by his compliance. It was presented naparte and his friends were likely to have in a
by Fouch6, whose intrigues were thus far crowned regency were strong arguments for all in France
with success, and was couched in the following who had opposed him in the struggle, uniting to set
terms: aside his family and dynasty.
Upon the same 22d June, a strange scene took
"Frenchmen!-In commencing war for maintain- place in the Chamber of Peers. The government
ing the national independence, I relied on the union had received intelligence that Marshal Grouchy,
of all efforts, of all wills, and the concurrence of whom we left on the banks of the Dyle, near
all the national authorities. I had reason to hope Wavres, and who continued his action withl Thielfor success, and I braved all the declarations of the mann, to whom he was opposed till deep in the
powers against me. night, had, on hearing the loss of the battle at
"Circumstances appear to nie changed. I offer Waterloo, effected a most able retreat through
myself as a sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of Namur, defended himself against several attacks,
France. May they prove sincere in their declarations, and finally made his way to Laon. This good news
and have really directed them only against my encouraged Carnot to render a brilliant account to
power! My political life is terminated, and I pro- tl;e Chamber, of Grouchy being at the head of an
claim my son, under the title of Napoleon II., Em- untouched uarmy of upwards of 60,000 men (GI'roperor of the French. chy's whole force at WVavres having been only
"The preselnt ministers will provisionally form 32,000)' of Soult collecting 20,000 of the Old Guard
VOL. V.