FRANCE. 39Q 



to the throne of France, had always been a favourite idea with 

 people and government of England, and their minister at the con- 

 gress, lord Castlereagh, used all his influence to prevent their treat- 

 ing with Bonaparte upon any terms. The views of the emperor of 

 Austria were different. His family alliance made him disposed to 

 uphold the Bonaparte dynasty ; and he had prevailed upon the other 

 continental allies, to offer the French emperor the same terms which 

 had been twice before rejected. The English ministerwas, howe- 

 ver, resolute ; and soon gained over to his side Russia, Prussia, and 

 most of the German states. The matter was at length compromis- 

 ed, and it was determined to leave the thing altogether to the French 

 nation ; the allies giving them a fair opportunity of expressing their 

 sentiments. The negociations at Chattilon, with Bonaparte's minis- 

 ters, were accordingly dropped on the 18th of March. As soon as 

 he had entered Paris, the emperor Alexander issued a proclamation, 

 declaring, " that the allies would treat no more with Napoleon Bo- 

 naparte, or any of his family ;" and negociations with the French se- 

 nate were immediately commenced. This body passed a decree on 

 the 2d of April, declaring, that Napoleon Bonaparte had forfeited the 

 throne. On the 6th, they passed another, declaring, that " the 

 French people call freely to the throne of France, Louis Stanislaus 

 Xavier de France, brother of the late king, and after him the other 

 members of the house of Bourbon, in the ancient order." On the 

 12th, the count d'Artois, brother of Louis, arrived in Paris ; and was 

 immediately placed at the head of the provisional government. On 

 the 3d of May, the king himself arrived from England, and took 

 peaceable possession of the throne of his ancestors, amidst the ac- 

 clamations of his people. Bonaparte having resigned his pretensions 

 to the throne, was banished by the senate to the island of Elba. 



Small as were the whole forces of Bonaparte, in comparison with 

 those of the allies, he was obliged, during all the campaign, to keep • 

 his best troops in the south, to oppose the progress of lord Welling- 

 ton. 



This general having driven marshal Soult to his intrenched camp 

 before Bayonne, entered the French territory early in November. He 

 did not deem it prudent to attack Soult in his present strong position, 

 but determined by advancing to draw him from it. Two divisions of 

 his army under general Hill and marshal Beresford crossed the Nive 

 on the 9th of December. On the morning of the 11th, marshal Soult 

 marched his whole army out of the intrenched camp, and attacked 

 the corps of generals Hill and Hope. He was repulsed with loss. 

 On the 12th, the attack was recommenced on lord Wellington's 

 left, and was continued till afternoon, when the French marshal 

 withdrew his troops entirely within his intrenched camp. Dur- 

 ing the night he passed a large force through Bayonne, with which, 

 on the morning of the 13th, he made a most desperate assault upon 

 sir Rowland Hill, and was again repulsed. For the remainder of the 

 month of December, the armies remained quietly in their positions. 

 On the 3d of January, the French having collected a considerable 

 force on the Gave, obtained some slight advantages over the advance 

 posts of the allies. On the 6th, the allied army advanced on the 

 Gave. The French retreated without contesting the positions. Whilf 

 the right wing of his army was advancing on the east of Bayonne 5 

 lord Wellington pushed his left across the Adour between Bayonne 

 and the sea. On the 25th, the French armv was assembled at Or- 



