51S 
PARIS. 
The duka and duchefs of Angouletne were at Bour¬ 
deaux. The inhabitants of the maritime towns had fuf- 
fered molt by the protradled wars of the revolution. 
Their population had been thinned, their commerce had 
been deftroyed, and they were almolt driven to defpair. 
They therefore welcomed the return of the Bourbons 
with the utmoft enthuliafm. The duke of Angouleme 
had lately vilited all the fouthern provinces, and had in- 
fpefled the fortifications of Bourdeaux ; and the Bor- 
delefe had expreffed great anxiety to fee among them the 
daughter of their former revered fovereign. On the 2d 
of March the duke and duchefs arrived at Bourdeaux. 
They were received with cries of joy, and with the ardent 
benedictions of a countlefs multitude which had poured 
in from every neighbouring town. On the 5th a fete was 
given by the merchants. In the midft of the feftivities 
a courier arrived, with difpatches for the duke, contain¬ 
ing the fearful intelligence of the landing of Napoleon. 
His royal highnefs was unwilling to throw a damp on the 
public joy, and concealed the purport of the letters, de¬ 
ferring until night his departure for the fouth, where he 
imagined his prefence might be neceffary. At midnight 
he quitted the city. In the morning the duchefs com¬ 
municated the news to the magiftrates, and in the courfe 
of the day the intelligence was made public through the 
city. On the following day all the civil and military au¬ 
thorities came, uninvited, to offer their proteftations of 
attachment, and to renew their oaths of fidelity. The 
national-guards were called out. Places were appointed 
for the enrolment of volunteers, and almoft the whole 
population of the town demanded arms, fome to defend 
their native city fliould it be attacked, and others eager 
to march to the mod diftant department againft the inva¬ 
der. The officers of the troops of the line declared that 
they would anfwer with their heads for the garrifon of 
Bourdeaux and the neighbouring forts. 
Meanwhile the news became more difquieting. Bona¬ 
parte had advanced unrefilled to Lyons. The national- 
guards and volunteers were more eager in their profeffions 
of ardent devotion; but arms and ammunition were 
wanting, and only a few hundreds could be regularly em¬ 
bodied. As the progrefs of the invader became known, 
the zeal of the troops of the line evidently cooled, and 
cries of fedition began to be heard in fome of the barracks. 
The fuperior officers, however, daily waited on the prin- 
cefs, and renewed their alfurances of loyalty; but ffie re¬ 
marked that the commandant of the fort of Blaye, an im¬ 
portant out-poll, had not appeared during fome days. 
Orders were lent to require his attendance. Two days 
pafled, and he came not. A general was then difpatched 
to examine the Hate of the fortrefs, and report the difpo- 
iition of the garrifon. He returned, and reported that 
the place was in an excellent (late of defence. “But why,” 
alked the duchefs, “ did he not obey the orders which 
were tranfinitted to him feveral days ago, and repair 
hither ?”—“ He did not anfwer me on that point,” faid 
the general; “ but he will be here to-morrow.” 
On the morrow he appeared. He offered a flight apo¬ 
logy for his apparent difobedience; and, being required 
to renew his oath of fidelity, muttered fome indiitin6t 
and unmeaning founds, with which the duchefs, un¬ 
willing to proceed to extremities, thought it prudent to 
appear fatisfied. She, however, confulted with the go¬ 
vernor of Bourdeaux on the propriety of removing the 
prefent commandant from Fort Blaye, and replacing him 
and his troops by others on. whom lhe could rely. The 
governor acknowledged that this was definable, but hinted 
that it was abfolutely impraflicable. He was ordered to 
attempt it. 
To have difpatched a battalion of the line to difpoffefs 
their brethren, would have afforded them an opportunity 
of Ihowing that difaffedlion which he fufpedled they fe- 
cretly cherilhed. The affair was therefore committed to 
fome national guards, a fufficient number of whom were 
fent to occupy the fort fora Ihort time, but not enough 
to attempt the reduction of the place, fliould the garrilon 
attempt refiftance. This prudent mealure prevented the 
effufion of blood, and probably preferved the city from 
deltrudlion. The national-guards were refufed admittance 
to the fortrefs, on which the tri-coloured flag was now 
lioilled ; and they returned peaceably to Bourdeaux. 
General Claufel, commanding the troops of Napoleon, 
now approached. Picquets were fent out to guard the 
bridges which were lituated on the principal roads ; but 
fome of them fled after a Ihort refiftance, and the reft went 
over to the enemy. 
The duchefs fummoned the governor in great hafte ; 
and, willing to fpare the town from the horrors of a bom¬ 
bardment or a fiege, declared her refolution to march out 
at the head of the garrifon, and attack the foe. Againft 
this the governor warmly remonftrated, alluring her that 
he could not anfwer for the fidelity of the troops. “ Then,” 
replied (lie, “ the national-guards and volunteers are fuf¬ 
ficient : they are eager for the combat, and on their good 
refolution I can furely rely.” It was anfwered, that, if 
the national guard and volunteers paffed the river, the 
garrifon would follow, and, placing them between two 
fires, cut off every man. The duchefs helitated : “ Is it 
then,” faid (lie, “impoffible to employ, or even to rely 
on the neutrality of, that garrifon, for the fidelity of 
which you pledged yourfelf fo lately?”—“Impoffible.” 
—“ I will fatisfy myfelf,” laid the heroic princefs : “ af- 
femble your troops in their refpe&ive barracks.” The 
governor in vain reprefented the danger of this proceeding. 
“I did not alk you, fir!” faid lhe, “if there would be 
danger; I only require you to obey my orders.” 
She alighted at the barrack of a regiment of infantry, 
and, placing herfelf in the centre of the fquare, addreffed 
the troops. She painted in lively colours the chara&er 
and. defigns of the invader, and the dangers which 
threatened France. She reminded them of the oath which 
they had taken, and urged them to lhare with the na¬ 
tional guards in the honour of combating the rebels. A 
mournful filence fucceeded. Again lhe addreffed them ; 
“ Will you not fight for the daughter of your king ?”— 
“ No ! no !” refounded from every rank.—“ Will you 
then remain neutral if the national-guard and volunteers 
advance to the attack?”—“ No!” they again replied. 
The princefs burft into tears. “ Will you then betray me, 
and give me up to mine enemies ?”—“ No !” faid they; 
“ but we do not wiflt for a civil war, and we defire you 
to quit France.” 
Although foiled in her firft attempt, the princefs would 
not defpair. She proceeded to the barracks of the other 
troops; but her eloquence was exerted without effect; 
her tears flowed in vain. Seeing that refiftance would 
now be unavailing, her next care was to preferve the 
town from pillage. She hallily returned to the quay on 
which the guards and volunteers were affembled. They 
received her with enthufiaftic Ihouts, and eagerly demanded 
to be led againft the foe. Silence was at length procured, 
when flte thus addreffed them : “ Swear all to obey me !” 
•—“ We fwear;” was the unanimous reply. “Brave 
Frenchmen!” lhe continued, “faithful Bordelefe ! I en¬ 
treat you to think no longer of defending the city : you 
are not fupported by the troops, and your efforts will be 
ufelefs.” 
The troops of general Claufel were at this moment drawn 
up on the other fide of the river. The guards and volun¬ 
teers, as if aftuated by one impulfe, fired on them a volley. 
Fortunately it did no execution, and was not returned. 
“ You have fworn to obey me,” exclaimed the duchefs: 
“ remain faithful to your oath : if there be any difgrace, it 
will fall on me: I will be anfwerable to the king and to 
France : the facrifice which I require of you is as terrible 
to my heart as to yours; but it is the only means of faving 
the city.” With difficulty lhe was allowed to depart; 
and ffie returned to the palace. She had no fooner quit- 
