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ANNUAL REGISTER, 18U. 



those Frenchmen who wish spee- 

 dily to deliver the territory of their 

 country, and preserve the national 

 honour transmitted from their fore- 

 fathers, ought to take up arms and 

 repair to the camps." Gn Jan 22, 

 a decree was published in the Em- 

 peror's name, ordering the forma- 

 tion at Paris of twelve regiments of 

 volunteers, six to be of voltigeurs, 

 and six of tirailleurs of the young 

 guard. At the same time a pro- 

 clamation was issued by the muni- 

 cipal body, calling upon the Pari- 

 sians to fly to tile assistance of the 

 invaded provinces, and stating as 

 the object of their exertions " an 

 honourable peace, which shall 

 maintain the integrity of France in 

 its natural limits; and above all, a 

 speedy deliverance of the French 

 territory." The difficulties under 

 which the finances laboured, was 

 testified by a resolution of the ge- 

 neral committee of the bank of 

 France, limiting its payments to 

 500,000 francs daily from the 20th 

 instant. A favourable statement 

 was given of its capital, and an in- 

 crease of payment vras promised in 

 proportion to the realising of the 

 bills in its portfolio. 



Prince Schwartzenberg, in order 

 to secure the important passage of 

 the Vosges mountains, advanced in 

 force upon Langres, which town 

 was occupied by a body of French 

 guards under Marshal Mortier, 

 who, on his approach, retired to 

 Cbaumont. Langres whs entered 

 on Jan. 17 by Gen. Guillay, who 

 took in it some cannon and pri- 

 soners. Marshal Blucher at this 

 time was in possession of Nancy, 

 the keys of which city he sent to 

 the grand head-quarters. The 

 Emperor of Russia on receiving 

 them, kept two for himself, and 

 sent two to the King of Prussia in 



token of equality of alliance and 

 co-operation. The third corps of 

 the Prussian army under General 

 Bulow, was acting with Sir Tho- 

 mas Graham in Flanders ; and on 

 Jan. 13 they joined in a recon- 

 noissance upon Antwerp, into 

 which place they drove the enemy 

 with considerable loss. On Jan. 

 25 Napoleon left Paris to put him- 

 self at the head of his armies. He 

 arrived at St. Dizier, on the Marne, 

 on the 27th, and directed an at- 

 tack upon a body of the allies, sup- 

 posed to be the advanced guard of 

 Schwartzenberg, who were obliged 

 to retreat, and in the evening the 

 French army was at Vassy. He 

 afterwards advanced on the rear of 

 the allied army at Brienne, and af- 

 ter an action on the 29th, magni- 

 fied bj'some of the French accounts 

 to a considerable victorj', took pos- 

 fession of that town and its castle. 

 The presence of the French Em- 

 peror in the field drew the allied 

 commanders from different quar- 

 ters round his position, which 

 would necessarily become the scene 

 of the most important conflict. I 

 Blucher, whose head-quarters on ' 

 the 17th were at Nancy, ordered 

 Toul to be stormed, but the troops ■ 

 posted in it avoided that extremity 1 

 by a capitulation. That part of his 

 army which consisted of Sacken's 

 division and part of Langeron's, 

 took a position on the 3lst near 

 Trannes, his right being in com- 

 munication with the Prince of 

 Wurtemberg. Schwartzenberg, 

 who from the borders of Switzer- 

 land had traversed all the great de- 

 fences on that side of France, had 

 formed a junction with Blucher's 

 armj' ; and Guillay, with his divi- 

 sion, marched from Bar sur I'Aube 

 to support it. Gen. Wrede had 

 advanced to Dourlevent. Napo- 



