History. 
A.D. 1814. 
eS ee 
—_- 
FRANCE. 
it was the deliberate consequence’ of a concerted plan’; 
for, whoever has studied his campaigns, must know 
that he often obtained success, by doing those acts, 
which, by their very boldness and rashness, so astonish- 
ed and pepese his opponents, that, from the effects 
which they produced on them in this respect, their 
success in a great measure originated. In this case, 
the tea & Bonaparte, if his measure was preconcert- 
ed, which most probably it was, was to get into the 
rear of the allies; and threaten their communication 
with Germany. It may be urged that his force was not 
ea to destroy the communication ; but it must be 
recollected, that he could receive reinforcements from 
the garrisons of the towns on the frontiers, provided 
nothing occurred to prevent ‘his’ rea¢ them. It is 
not likely, however, that he would have abandoned 
Paris to its fate by thus getting into the rear of the 
allies, and leaving the road to the capital open to them, 
had he not believed that the measures taken for its 
safety were perfectly ; for he must have known, 
that whoever aris possessed France, so much 
influence does the capital possess over the provinces. 
The defence of ‘this city had been entrusted to Mar- 
mont, under whose command the national guards, and 
such other as could be spared for this object, 
were placed. allies, disregarding the position of 
in their rear, resolved to strike a d and 
decisive blow, by advancing in a body to Paris. There 
can be no doubt, that in it they had a strong party; 
even some of Bonaparte’s fayourites and former ad- 
visers, iving that their lives and all they had gain- 
ed in his service were put in extreme jeopardy, by his 
rashness, resolved to abandon him and court. the fa- 
vour of the allies. The mass of the lation too, 
were at least indifferent about him; they did not, there- 
fore, regard the or probable entry of the ak 
lies as any evil or disgrace ane consequently resolved 
not to oppose it, ially as their ition would 
have been fruitless. ‘The of the allies, which ad- 
inst the capital of France, amounted to w 
wards of 200,000 men. On the ni ht of the 24th, 
three divisions of the French arrived at Vitry, in the 
of joining there ; but were imme- 
itely attacked ‘by allies, and eytedtgre: This 
is one proof among many others, of the imperfect 
intelligence which the Freneh possessed, even in their 
own country; and indicated,” , a8 much as any 
other circumstance, the decline, not only of the autho- 
rity, but of the popularity of . In conse- 
of similar want of intelli , both respecting 
situation of Bonaparte, and the advance‘of the al- 
lies, aiconvoy, consisting of 5000 men, who were pro- 
teeting a large quantity of provisions and other neces- 
saries of the utmost importance to Bonaparte, were 
met by the allies, and after a gallant resistance, com- 
pelled to’surrender. ~~ 
By this time Bonaparte’ had reached St Dizier, but 
there learning that the allies, unintimidated by his 
throwing himself into their rear, were still pushin 
on for Paris, and being moreover ill provided wi 
many necessaries for ‘his army, he? resolved to hasten 
back to the capital as quickly as possible. In this 
march he was ly followed and constantly harassed 
by Winzin with 10,000 horse and 40 pieces of 
cannon. the 28th and 29th of March, ie allies 
crossed the Marne near Meaux. On the night of the 
29th, Mortier entered Paris, where he found about 
8000 and 30,000 national guards, under the 
<iliiel eofemaand of Joseph Bonaparte. This force 
663 
took up’a strong position néar the city, with their right History. 
A. D..1814. 
on Belleville, and their left on Neuilly. As soon as the 
allies approached Paris, a flag of truce, with a procla- 
‘mation, stating that the object of their march was to 
‘otect and benefit, not to injure France, and that they 
‘oped to meet with the good wishes and concurrence of 
every Frenchman in their endeavours to destroy a go- 
vernment, which had occasioned so many evils, not 
a to the rest of Europe, but to France itself ; they 
‘did not come to revenge their own wrongs on French- 
mien, nor to imitate the conduct of Bonaparte in every 
country which he had invaded ; they hoped, therefore, 
that the people of Paris would follow the example of 
the citizens of Bourdeaux and Lyons, both of which 
had deserted the cause of a man who had been the 
curse of France. The flag of truce, however, was re- 
fused admittance, and it was’ therefore resolved to at- 
tack the enemy on the heights above Paris. In the 
centre of the position of the French army on these 
heights, there were several redoubts, and on the whole 
line, 150 pieces‘of cannon. It was snore a that. the 
grand army should attack the heights at Belleville; 
while the Silesian army directed its attack against Mont- 
martre. Marshal Blucher made his own dispositions 
for the attack. 
After an obstinate resistance, the heights of Belle- 
ville were carried; and 43 pieces of cannon and a great 
number of prisoners were taken. 
martre, from which the French were also driven with ™ 
the loss of 20 pieces of cannon. Marshal Marmont, 
seeing no chance of saving the capital, now sent out a 
flag of truce, ing an armistice for two hours, and 
intimating a Nedra to receive the propositions of the 
allies, at the same time agreeing to abandon all the 
sitions which he retained without the barriers. To this 
proposal Prince Schwartzenberg agreed; and the next 
day, the allies entered Paris, amidst the acclamations The Allies 
of the populace, by whom they were received as pro- enter Paris, 
tectors and liberators. 
Before these events took place, Bonaparte, who had 
arrived at Fontainebleau, sent Caulincourt to the Em- 
peror of Russia; but the Emperor absolutely declined 
receiving a message from him. On the 2d of April, 
the French Senate, which had been assembled on the 
day before, at the desire of the Emperor Alexander, by 
Talleyrand, in his character of Vice Grand Elector, pas- 
sed a decree deposing Bonaparte, and absolving all per- Bonaparte 
sate to him as their sove- deported. 
sons from their oath of all 
véign. ‘The command of the national guard was en-~ 
trusted to a French general ; but General Sacken was 
appoi to the military command of the city. A pros 
visional government was established, consisting of Tal- 
leyrand, Montesquieu, Jaucourt, Bournonville, and the 
Duke of Dalberg. -As soon as this provisional go= 
vernment was formed, they published an address to the 
army, telling them that they were no longer the sol- 
diers of Napoleon. : : : 
The Emperor Alexander, on his entry into Paris, had 
issued a proclamation in the name of himself’ and_ his 
allies, promising that the conditions of peace, ‘which 
they were willing to grant to France, should be now 
much more favourable than they would have been if 
the le of Paris had adhered to Bonaparte ; and that 
the limits of France, as it existed previously to the Re« 
volution, should be scrupulously preserved. This pro- 
clamation concluded with calling upon’ the provisional 
government to prepare a constitution, which would suit 
the French people, A constitution was soon framed, 
Nearly at the same Battle of 
time, Marshal Blucher commenced an attack on Mont- Montmar- 
