552 
PARIS. 
troops had To long been accudomed to refpeft. There 
was alfo reafon to fear that the decree of his forfeiture 
might be made the pretext of an infurreftion ; the capi¬ 
tal might become the fcene of ferious troubles, and the 
country be involved in a civil war. Itappeared necefi'ary, 
therefore, in order to avoid thefe evils, that the abdica¬ 
tion of Napoleon fliould proceed from him Self, and be 
confidered as a voluntary aft of devotednefs for the coun¬ 
try. To obtain this objeft, I employed the means of 
perfuafion which appeared to me bed calculated for fuc- 
cefs. After an hour and a half’s con verfation, Napoleon 
at lad yielded to my urgent recommendations. He ap¬ 
peared touched with the franknefs and energy with which 
I (poke, while, at the fame time, I preferved the refpeft 
which was due to his rank, and dill more to his misfor¬ 
tunes. In a word, I left the emperor with the affurance 
that he would tranfmit his aft of abdication ; and I ar¬ 
rived at the chamber of representatives before the for¬ 
feiture, which was then under confideration, became the 
fubjeft of pofitive decree.” 
The fitting, that had been fufpended for onehour, being 
again refumed, and the chamber cleared of all drangers, 
except the officers wearing the uniform of the national- 
guards, Lanjuinais informed them that he had received 
from the-emperor, by the duke of Otranto, an important 
document, which he read as follows : 
“ Frenchmen! In commencing war for maintaining the 
national independence, I relied on the union of all efforts, of 
all wills, and the concurrence of all the national authorities. 
/ had reafon to hope for fuccefs ; and I braved all the decla¬ 
rations of the powers againjl me. 
“ Circumfunces appear to me changed. I offer myfelf as 
a facrifice to the haired of the enemies of France. May they 
prove fmcere in their declarations, that they really directed 
them only againjl my power '. My political life is terminated; 
and I proclaim my Jon, under the title of Napoleon II. Em¬ 
peror of the French. 
“ The prrfent minijlers will provifonally form the council 
of the government. The interejl which I take in my Jon in¬ 
duces me to invite the chambers to form without delay, the re¬ 
gency by a law. Let all unite for the public fafety, in order 
to remain an independent nation. Napoleon.” 
The chamber of representatives immediately refolved, 
“ i. That the prefident, with his bureaux, fhall repair to 
Napoleon for the purpofe of expreding to him, in the 
name of the nation, their acknowledgments, and the re¬ 
fpeft with which it accepts the noble facrifice which he 
has made to the independence and the happinefs of the 
French nation. 2. That there fhall be named, without 
delay a commiflion of five members, of which three fhall 
be chofen from the chamber of representatives, and twrn 
from the chamber of peers, for the purpofe of exercifing 
provisionally the functions of government; and that the 
nvinifters fhall continue their refpeftive funftions under 
the authority of this commiflion.” 
Thefe resolutions were immediately afted upon. 1. 
Napoleon (no longer emperor) received the deputation as 
gracioufly and as firmly as could be expefted, and made a 
Suitable reply. 2. The prefident having returned to the 
chamber, the members for the provisional government 
were then chofen ; and the choice fell on Carnot, Fouche, 
and Grenier. The fitting, which had been declared 
permanent, was next day refumed at eleven o’clock, and 
the debate turned wholly upon the acknowledgment of 
Napoleon II. 
One member moved, the fufpenfion of that difeuflion 
until they could be informed of the refult of the nego¬ 
tiations. 
General Duvernet infilled that the chambers fliould 
proclaim Napoleon II. as the foie means of encouraging 
the military. 
M. Manuel replied, “Gentlemen, opinions are divided 
on the queftion which occupies our attention. Some 
think that it is necefi'ary immediately to proclaim 
Napoleon II. others believe that political circumftances 
require delay, and that the chamber ought not to explain 
itfelf till negociations fhall have acquainted us -with our 
true interefts. The powers who have already once declared 
that they will not treat either with Napoleon or with his 
family, will they confent to fee his Son reign ? Such is 
the objeftion made. But, in thus publifhing our fears 
before all Europe, in a difeuflion which may be regarded 
itfelf as a real calamity, have we not fhown that they 
may require fuch a facrifice ? Is there need of enlarging 
on this point ? I love to believe that in this aflembly 
there is but one objeft—that of faving the country. But 
gentlemen, Since this difeuflion has been opened, it is 
necefi'ary, it is urgent upon us, to recognize Napoleon 
II. emperor. At the fame time, it is fit that France fhould 
know the motives which influenced us in the nomination 
of the executive commiflion ; and that, in compofing it 
of wife and upright men, we intended to form a council 
of regency. If the foreign powers refufe to acknowledge 
Napoieon II. there will ltill be time to come to a deter¬ 
mination ; and no one will balance between one man and 
twenty millions of men.” 
This Speech made a lively impreflion on the chamber, 
which immediately decided that the difeuflion was clofed ; 
and, according to the propofal of M. Manuel, pafied to 
the order of the day on all the motions prefented to them ; 
the order of the day being grounded on this, that by the 
conditions of the abdication of his father, and by virtue 
of their conftitutions, Napoleon II. was proclaimed em¬ 
peror. As Soon as this refolution was pronounced by the 
prefident, all the members rofe up, crying, “Long live 
the emperor!” A deputation was then direfted to pro¬ 
ceed to the ex-emperor to inform him of this refolution ; 
at the fame time it was decreed, that the members of the 
provisional government faould take an oath of obedience 
to the conftitutions of the empire, and of fidelity to 
Napoleon II. Emperor of the French. This done, the 
chamber adjourned. 
In the chamber of peers Similar meflages were received 
and difpatched, and Similar meafures took place. The 
houfe then proceeded to choofe the two members for the 
provisional government, and the choice fell upon Caulin- 
court and Quinette. Thefe two, with Grenier, Carnot, 
and Fouche, now formed the government that was to 
rule over and to Save France. Of this conclave, Fouche 
was prefident. 
The provisional government, being appointed, im¬ 
mediately commenced its funftions. A decree was pafied 
authorizing the government to procure, by means of 
requisitions, Supplies for the army, and tranfports for 
the troops. Another decree was palled, calling out the 
remainder of the confcription of 160,000 men for 1815, de¬ 
creed in 1813. 
The next ltep u\as to name commifiioners to treat for 
peace with the allies : the perfons appointed were— 
General Sebaftiani, the count de la Foret, M. de la 
Fayette, Benj. Conftant, and Monf. d’Argenfon. Thefe 
gentlemen repaired to the head-quarters of the Pruflian 
army, which was in advance of that of the duke of 
Wellington, and prefented a note to marflial Blucher; 
explaining the objeft of their million. The Pruflian ge¬ 
neral refufed to grant a 1'ufpenfion of arms; but, after 
much altercation, he gave them paflports, which, having 
received, the commiflioners proceeded immediately to the 
head-quarters of the allied Sovereigns. In addition to 
the deputies Sent to the allied armies to folicit peace, a 
mefl'enger was difpatched to England ; but he was ordered 
to return ; and Monf. Otto, who was Sent on a iimilar 
journey, was forced to remain at Boulogne for want of 
paflports to proceed acrofs the channel. It was generally 
fuppofed that his million related to negociations concern¬ 
ing the perfonal fafety of Bonaparte, and to receive palT- 
ports for him to proceed to America. 
In the mean time, Wellington and Blucher were ad¬ 
vancing with rapid ftrides towards Paris ; and both armies 
entered the French territory on the 21ft 3 the Pruflians by- 
Beaumont, 
Ar 
