ST. HELENA 197 



and Prussia to enter into treaties dictated by himself and con- 

 sequently highly favourable to his ambitious views ; the two 

 latter powers had already seen their capitals occupied by 

 his victorious armies, while the minor powers of Europe were 

 either incorporated with France or acted under his direct 

 influence. One splendid exception alone remained to this 

 hopeless scene. England was not only unsubdued by him, 

 but was preparing for the regeneration of Europe, by the 

 resistance to his invasion of the Spanish peninsula ; "and 

 the armies of England, under the illustrious Wellington, 

 first convinced the world that the troops of Napoleon were 

 not invincible. To this time his career had been one of 

 uninterrupted success ; he had never sustained a defeat 

 in any general engagement, but his reverses now commenced, 

 and he never after obtained a decided victory. He de- 

 scended even more rapidly than he had ascended. 



In 1812 he was firmly seated on the throne of France, 

 allied by marriage with Marie Therese, daughter of the 

 Emperor of Austria, at the head of 500,000 men ; and the 

 year 1814 saw Louis XVIII restored to the throne of his 

 ancestors, and Buonaparte on the road to ignominous exile. 

 One of the greatest military commanders that ever lived, 

 he stands, perhaps, a solitary instance of the most consu- 

 mate military talent, wholly unaccompanied by the generous 

 and magnanimous qualities which generally dignify and 

 exalt a military character. 



On the day of the Capitulation of Paris to the allied troops 

 he was at Rochefort endeavouring to escape to America. 

 There were two frigates which the provisional government 

 had placed at his disposal and on which, if he had not hesi- 

 tated, he might very easily have escaped. But he lingered, 

 hoping his army might recall him. 



In the meantime he was busily employed in making 

 preparations to depart. Wagons were bringing from the 

 palaces valuable articles which he chose to consider as 

 useful for his voyage, or necessary for his establishment 

 at his future residence. He was repeatedly advised to 

 embark, and boats were ready at every tide to convey him 

 to the ship, but he was irresolute. At one time he resolved 

 to return to Paris, and make a forcible appeal to his troops, 

 then he contemplated addressing the Government requesting 



