"We felt assured that the relations of peace and amity which had been so recently entered into by your Royal Highness, in the name of our beloved Sovereign, could not be maintained with this daring usurper, who had repeatedly manifested that no treaty was held sacred by him longer than suited the purposes of his ambition or revenge; who had constantly evinced the deepest hatred of the British name and character; and with whom his Majesty's Allies had unanimously declared the impossibility of making any engagements in the relations of peace and concord.

"Under these difficult circumstances, we beheld with the highest satisfaction the wisdom of your Royal Highness, in appointing to the chief command of his Majesty's armies on the Continent that Illustrious Hero who had so often led them to conquest and to glory.

"It is with the most heartfelt joy we contemplate the late victory, as affording another leaf to the page of history, by recording further magnificent deeds to enhance the honour and grandeur of the British Empire; in which will be seen, that a greatly superior force of the veteran armies of France, commanded by a Napoleon Buonaparte, could not withstand the irresistible bravery of British heroes, when guided by a Wellington aided by a Blücher.

"It is with the deepest sorrow we lament the fall of a large portion of these brave defenders of the liberties of Europe; and particularly of an Illustrious Member of your Royal Highness's family, who had ever evinced the characteristic gallantry of a Prince of the House of Brunswick: but we trust the issue of this great event affords a well-grounded hope that the power of the Usurper will be destroyed, and the peace of Europe established upon the most solid foundation.

"We shall continue to place our humble reliance on the Divine Goodness that these results may speedily take place, and that the glory, the peace, and the prosperity of this United Kingdom, under the government of your Royal Highness, and a long line of succeeding Princes of your Royal Highness's illustrious House, may endure until the latest period of time.

"We have only further to entreat your Royal Highness to be assured of the continued zeal, loyalty, and affection of his Majesty's faithful Citizens of London to support your Royal Highness in bringing this great contest to a speedy and happy termination.

(Signed, by order of the Court,)

" HENRY WOODTHORPE."

To which Address his Royal Highness was pleased to return the following most gracious answer:

"I receive with the greatest satisfaction this loyal and dutiful address.

།

"By the favour of Divine Providence the first operations of the Allied armies on the Continent have been attended with the most signal and decisive success; and we may confidently trust, that the high military reputation which this country has acquired by the undaunted valour and consummate discipline of our troops, and the transcendent genius and heroic example of the great Commander who has constantly led them to victory, will afford one of the most important securities for the future tranquillity and independence of Europe.

"I deeply lament with you the extent of private calamity occasioned by the loss of many valuable officers and men in the late unexampled contest; and I feel most sensibly the manner in which you have adverted to an illustrious member of the House of Brunswick, who closed on that memorable occasion a career of honour with a death of glory.

"To the surviving relatives of those who have fallen, it must be a soothing reflection that they have perished in a just and noble cause, and that the memory of their splendid and inestimable services will be cherished with admiration and gratitude to the latest posterity.

"I have a perfect reliance on the steadfast loyalty and public spirit of the Citizens of London, and on your assurances of support in such exertions as may be necessary to bring this most important contest to a speedy and happy termination.'

They were all very graciously received, and had the honour to kiss the hand of the Prince Regent.

ABDICATION OF BUONAPARTE.

This is one the consequences that resulted from the brilliant victory of the Duke of Wellington. Never, in the history of the world, did one battle produce an event so important. The fate of Buonaparte and of France has been decided at a blow.

"Paris papers of the 22d and 23d have been received. Buonaparte returned to Paris from the army on the 21st. On that day there were very tumultuous debates in the two Houses of Representatives, on the necessity of Buonaparte's abdication. On the 22d he sent in his abdication in favour of his Son, as NAPOLEON THE SECOND. This abdication was accepted simply without any condition in favour of his son, and a Provisional Government appointed, consisting of Carnot, Fouché, Caulincourt, Grenier, and another, to treat with the Allied Generals for peace.

"It was attempted in debate by the Ministers of the Interior,

to show that Soult had rallied 60,000 men on the northern frontier; but this was denied by Marshal Ney, with warmth, who asserted that 20,000 men was the utmost number that could be mustered, and that the Allies could pass the frontier, and be at Paris in six or seven days."

DECLARATION OF BUONAPARTE TO THE FRENCH.

"Paris, June 23.

"Frenchmen! In commencing a war for maintaining the national independence, I relied on the union of all efforts, of all wills, and the concurrence of all the national authorities. I had reason to hope for success, and I braved all the declarations of the Powers against me.

"Circumstances appear to me changed. I offer myself as a sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of France.-May they prove sincere in their declarations, and really direct them only against my power! My political life is terminated; and I proclaim my Son, under the title of Napoleon II. Emperor of the French.

"The present Ministers will provisionally form the Council of the Government. The interest which I take in my son induces me to invite the Chambers to form, without delay, the Regency by a law.

"Unite all for the public safety, in order to remain an independent nation.

(Signed)

"NAPOLEON."

"Malmaison, 25th June, 1815.

Napoleon to the brave Soldiers of the Army before Paris.

"Soldiers!-While obeying the necessity which removes me from the brave French army, I carry with me the happy certainty that it will justify, by the eminent services which the country expects from it, the praises which our enemies themselves have not been able to refuse it. Soldiers! I shall follow your steps, though absent; I know all the corps, and not one of them will obtain a single advantage over the enemy, but I shall give it credit for the courage it shall have displayed. Both you and me have been calumniated: men, very unfit to appreciate our labours, have seen in the marks of attachment which you have given me a zeal of which I was the sole object.

"Let your future successes tell them that it was the country above all things which you served by obeying me, and that if I have any share in your affection, I owe it to my ardent love for France, our common mother.

"Soldiers! some efforts more and the coalition is dissolved; Napoleon will recognise you by the blows which you are going to strike.

"Save the honour, the independence of the French. Be to the last the same men that I have known you for these last twenty years, and you will be invincible.

(Signed) "NAPOLEON."

[Napoleon reigned 100 days, in which he spent 600 millions, and lost 150,000 men. France ravaged by civil war, and its capital besieged by two armies!]

Admiralty Office, July 25, 1815. Captain Maitland, of the Bellerophon, to J. W. Croker, Esq. dated in Basque Roads, the 14th inst.

"For the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty I have to acquaint you, that the Count Las Casses and General Allemand this morning came on board his Majesty's ship under my command, with a proposal for me to receive on board Napoleon Buonaparte (who had been secreted at Rochefort), for the purpose of throwing himself on the generosity of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent.—Conceiving myself authorized by their Lordships' secret order, I have acceded to the proposal, and he is to embark on board this ship to-morrow morning. misunderstanding might arise, I have explicitly and clearly explained to the Count Las Casses that I have no authority whatever for granting terms of any sort; but that all I can do is to convey him and his suite to England, to be received in such manner as his Royal Highness may deem expedient.”

That no

From Viscount Castlereagh, dated Paris, July 17, 1815.

Foreign Office, July 21. "Since closing my dispatches of this date I have received the accompanying communication from this Government:

(TRANSLATION.)

"I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that Napoleon Buonaparte, not being able to escape from the English cruisers, or from the guards kept upon the coast, has taken the resolution of going on board the English ship Bellerophon, Captain Maitland. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) "Le Duc D'OTRANTE.'"

666

"To his Excellency Lord Viscount Castlereagh.''

BB

Paris, July 17. Measures had been taken to prevent the escape of Buonaparte. It will be seen, by the following extract of a letter from the Maritime Prefect of Rochefort to the Minister of the Marine, that the result has been such as there was reason to expect:

"Rochefort, July 15, ten o'clock at night.

"To execute the orders of your Excellency, I embarked in my boat, accompanied by Baron Richard, prefect of CharenteInférieure. The reports from the roads, of the 14th, had not yet reached me: I was informed by Captain Hilibert, commander of the Amphytrite frigate, that Buonaparte had embarked on board the brig Epervier, armed as a flag of truce, determined to surrender himself to the English cruisers.

"In fact, at break of day we saw him manœuvre to approach the English ship Bellerophon, commanded by Captain Maitland, who, seeing that Buonaparte was coming towards him, mounted a white flag at the mizen mast. Buonaparte was received on board the English vessel, as also the persons in his suite. The officer whom I left in observation had informed me of this important news, when General Beker, who arrived a few moments afterwards, confirmed it to me.*

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH FRANCE BY SEA.

"Paris, July 27th, 1815.

"Faithful to the principle of the alliance formed between the Powers of Europe, and only directed against the man who, usurping anew the supreme power in France, made all the evils of war re-appear, his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of England, who has shown himself so constantly animated by the noble desire of terminating these evils, has been informed that Napoleon Buonaparte had given himself up to the naval force of his Britannic Majesty, has hastened to cause all hostility on the coasts of France immediately to cease. His Excellency Lord Castlereagh has made an official communication of these orders to the Minister of the King, and the following note to that effect has been addressed to Prince Talleyrand:

"Note.-The undersigned, his Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has received orders from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to inform Prince Talleyrand, for the purpose of its being communicated to his Most

* For an account of Buonaparte while on board the Bellerophon, vide p. 127.