privately departed at midnight to arrange the defence of the southern provinces. The departure of his royal highness was deeply regretted by the loyalists. He had always been regarded as of a mild, inactive, and pliant disposition, and as entirely subservient to his consort and cousin, Maria Theresa, the daughter of Louis XVI. But his demeanour at Bourdeaux, and his subsequent conduct in the south, displayed a degree of prudence, spirit, and energy, which could not have been expected from a prince who had lived so passive a mode of life. He is one of those persons who rise to the level of the circumstances in which they are placed, and should he succeed to the throne of France, he will probably be distinguished by vigour, combined with moderation; neither oppressing the people by severity, nor incurring contempt and insult by ill-timed lenity. The duchess is eminently qualified, by nature and education, to become the partner of a throne. To the most exemplary piety, and the most diffusive charity, she unites the courage and presence of mind of an ancient heroine. Her early years were passed in misfortune and distress. Before the age of 14, she was imprisoned in the Temple at Paris, with that part of her family which remained in France: with her father, mother, brother, and her aunt, madame Elizabeth. After the execution of the king, the queen, and madame Elizabeth, the dauphin and his sister, Maria Theresa, remained in confinement, but in separate apartments. The former, who, on his father's death, became Louis XVII. did not long survive; but the manner and time of his death have never been publicly known, or authenticated by any satisfactory documents. Madame Royale (her title at that period) was liberated at the expiration of two years, and exchanged for the members of the assembly who had been betrayed by general Dumourier to the Austrian government. She then proceeded to Vienna, from whence she joined her uncle the present king of France, then residing at Mittau, in Russia, the ancient capital of Courland. The exiled family of Louis were continually assailed by the distressed emigrants, but were without the means of affording them pecuniary aid, such as their necessities required. On all

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occasions Madame Royale displayed a sensibility honourable to her sex, and parted with her jewels, her trinkets, and her watch, to administer relief. The feeling, the heroic, and the admirable manner, in which this young lady attended the death-bed of the Abbé Edgeworth, the confessor of her father, and his companion in the last moments of that unfortunate monarch, will never be forgotten in the history of female excellence., The disease of the Abbé was of the most dangerous kind, and was supposed to be infectious to a high degree; his attendants declined administering to his relief; but no intreaties and remonstrances could prevent the princess from attending him as a nurse, and inspiring him with that consolation, in his last moments, which he had given to her father.Soon after the occurrence of this melancholy event, she was married to her cousin the duke d'Angouleme, in compliance with the dying injunction of her father; but her health and youthful vigour had fallen a sacrifice to extreme grief and early adversity, and there are no hopes of any fruits arising from the marriage. Until the course of events called Louis the XVIIIth. to the throne of France (on which, had the Salic law been abolished, she would have sate as queen) the duchess remained in comparative obscurity, but the re-appearance of Buonaparte presented an opportunity of displaying all the excellencies of her character. Her heroism did not consist in merely assuming the appearance of personal courage. There was a decision of mind, and propriety of conduct, in all her efforts to support the interests of her family, rarely to be found in the females of a court, and she possessed a readiness of expedient, and a versatility of resource, unexampled in the history of her relatives.

On the morning after the departure of the duke d'Angouleme, she communicated the landing of Napoleon to the magistrates and the inhabitants. The intimation was received with enthusiastic professions of attachment, and the most soleinn assurances of fidelity. The national guard were called out, and the officers of the troops of the line pledged their honour and their lives for the loyalty of the garrison. The population of the town demanded arms, and volunteers without num

ber lined the streets. Ammunition, however, and the implements of war, were totally wanting on this sudden emergency, a circumstance which unhappily occurred at many of the towns which would otherwise have been defended in their favour. The superior officers of the line daily paid their respects to the princess, but she remarked that the governor of the fort of Blaye, an important out-post, had not waited on her levee for several days. Orders were sent to command his attendance, and no answer having been received, after the lapse of three days a general was dispatched to examine the state of the fortress, and report the disposition of the garrison. He returned, and reported that the fortress was in an excellent state of defence, and that the governor had evaded all enquiries, but would attend to-morrow. He offered, on his appearance, a slight apology for his disobedience, and the princess, while she discerned in his deportment the evident indications of treachery, received his excuse with an appearance of satisfaction. She immediately dispatched a body of national guards sufficient to occupy the fort, should they be received as friends, but too small in number to attempt the reduction of the place, should they be refused admittance. This judicious and considerate measure prevented the effusion of blood, and probably preserved the city from plunder and conflagration. The national guards were denied an entrance to the fortress, on which the tricoloured flag was now hoisted, and they returned peaceably to Bourdeaux.

This event had scarcely occurred when Lainé, the mayor of Bourdeaux, arrived, and published the following proclamation :

"In the name of the French nation, and as president of the chamber of deputies, I enter my protest against the decrees by which the usurper of France pretends to pronounce the dissolution of the chambers. I declare, in consequence, that all the proprietors are released from the payment of contributions to the agents of Napoleon Buonaparte, and that every family is forbidden to assist him in raising an armed force, whether by means of conscription or enlist

ment.

"After so atrocious an attempt on the li

berties of Frenchmen, it becomes the duty of all to maintain individually their rights. Long ago released from their oaths to Napoleon Buonaparte, and bound by their vows and their oaths to their country and king, they will render themselves opprobrious in the eyes of the nation and of posterity, if they use not every means in their power to oppose and to defeat the invader. History, by preserving the lasting memory of those who, in every country, have refused to bend to tyranny, covers with shame and disgrace the citizens who, forgetful of the dignity of human nature, submit to be the miserable agents of despotism.

"In the persuasion that the French are sufficiently impressed with the importance of their liberties and their rights, to impose on themselves the most sacred of all duties, I have published the present protestation, which, in the name of the honourable colleagues over whom I have presided, and France, whom they represent, will be deposited in the archives, to be produced when necessary to the confusion of the tyrant.

"P. S. Having read in the hall of sitting the proclamation of the king on the 20th of March, at the moment when the soldiers of Napoleon Buonaparte entered Paris, I am arrived at the department which deputed me. I am at my post, under the orders of the duchess of Angouleme, occupied in preserving the honour and liberty of one part of France, and anxiously waiting until the rest shall be delivered from the most odious tyranny which ever menaced a great nation. I will never submit to Napoleon Buonaparte; and he, who has been honoured with the situation of president of the representatives of France, aspires to the honour of being the first victim of the enemy of his king, his country, and liberty."

Encouraged by the spirited assistance of M. Lainé, the princess redoubled her efforts, and, mounted on horseback, rode every day through the ranks, and displayed a courage worthy of heroic times. But general Clausel, commanding the troops of Napoleon, was approaching, the piquets abandoned their posts, and the troops of the line, encouraged by the expected arrival of their companions, greeted her with shouts of "Long live the

Emperor." In this emergency she ordered a general to conduct her to the Chateau de Trompette, where the troops were assembled in their respective quarters. The general hesitated, assuring her that she would be in danger. "I do not ask you, sir," said she, "if their would be danger. I only order you to conduct me." She rode up to a circle of officers on the esplanade, whom she harangued, exhorting them to fidelity, and to the renewal of their oaths of allegiance, in presence of the enemy. Observing their coldness and hesitation, she exclaimed, "I see your fears. You are cowards. I absolve you from your oaths already taken." She then appealed to the troops. "Will you not fight," she exclaimed, "for the daughter of your king?" "No! No!" resounded from every rank. "Will you then remain neutral, if the national guards and the volunteers advance to repel the enemy?" "No," they again replied. The princess burst into tears. "Will you then betray me, and give me up to my enemies?" "No," said they, "but we do not wish for a civil war, and we desire you to quit France." She proceeded to the barracks of the other troops, but her eloquence was exerted without effect, and one officer alone obeyed the call of loyalty and of honour. "This is too much" said he, and sheathing his sword, he placed himself by the side of the duchess, exclaiming, "I'll follow you every where." Finding that resistance was unavailing, she turned her horse, and immediately embarked on board an Eng lish frigate. The inhabitants of Bourdeaux followed her to the sea shore with fond enthusiasm, with lamentations, and with tears. Every one wished to obtain some gift that might be preserved as a relic of her misfor tunes and her virtues; she gave her shawl, her gloves, the feathers of her hat, which were cut to shreds, and distributed among her followers.

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She left behind her the following proclamation:

"Brave Bordelais!

"Your fidelity is well known to me. Your devotion unlimited does not permit you to foresee any danger; but my attachment for you and for every Frenchman directs me to Frenchman directs me to foresee it. My stay in your city being pro

longed might aggravate circumstances, and bring down upon you the weight of vengeance. I have not the courage to behold Frenchmen unhappy, and to be the cause of their misfortunes.

"I leave you, brave Bordelais! deeply penetrated with the sentiments you have expressed, and assure you that they shall be faithfully transmitted to the king. Soon, with God's assistance, and under happier auspices, you shall witness my gratitude and that of the prince whom you love.

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(Signed) MARIA THERESA.”

General Clausel, who, with a moderation honourable to his character, had refrained from entering Bourdeaux, that the princess might have the opportunity to escape, now advanced into the city, amidst the enthusiastic acclamations of that very multitude which had loudly cheered the arrival of the duchess d'Angouleme, and had witnessed her departure with exclamations of regret, and tears of affected sensibility.

The operations of the duke of Angouleme, in the south of France, were for a while successful, and on every occasion he displayed the utmost judgment and intrepidity. But the loyalty of his troops was of that deceitful and fickle character which had distinguished every corps, except those of the national guard and the household troops, since the landing of Napoleon. Surrounded on every side, and no longer confiding in the fidelity of his soldiers, yet retaining a force sufficiently respectable to ensure honourable con ditions, he surrendered to general Gilly, on condition that the lives and property of his followers should be secured, and the duke received safe convoy to Cette, where it was agreed that he should embark for Spain or England. Gilly had scarcely acceded to these conditions when general Grouchy arrived to assume the command, and refused to accede to them, alleging that the former officer had exceeded his powers. It was the object of Grouchy to grant those stipulations as a favour which the duke had demanded and ob tained at the head of his troops as a matter of right, and whether he actually concealed the truth from his imperial master, or the views of the emperor and the general were

in unison, the following letter may enable the reader to determine:

"Count Grouchy-The ordinance of the king, dated March 6, and the declaration, signed by his ministers on the 13th at Vi enna, might authorise me to treat the duke of Angouleme as that ordinance and that declaration proposed to treat me and my family; but adhering to the views which induced me to order that the members of the Bourbon

family should be permitted to leave France freely, my intention is, that you should give orders for conducting the duke of Angouleme to Cette, where he shall be embarked, and that you watch over his safety, and protect him from all bad treatment. You will merely take care to recover the money which has been removed from the public chests, and to require the duke of Angou

leme to bind himself to the restitution of the

crown diamonds, which are the property of

the nation. You will also make known to him the enactments of the laws of the na

tional assemblies, which are renewed, and which apply to the members of the family of Bourbon who may enter the French territory. You will, in my name, thank the national guards for the patriotism and zeal which they have manifested, and the attachment which they have shewn to me in these important circumstances. (Signed)

"NAPOLEON.

"Palace of the Thuilleries, April 1.”

The reports so industriously circulated by the partizans of Buonaparte were gradually refuted by the evidence of facts, and the assurances to the nation, that the confederate powers were the secret friends and supporters of his enterprize, were falsified by the declarations of the monarchs and their plenipotentiaries. It became necessary, therefore, to adapt his conduct to the change of events, and for the same reasons that induced him to ensure the attachment of the troops on his road to Paris, by the promise of immediate war, the prosecution of conquest, and the re-establishment of military force, he assumed, on his arrival at the capital, a tone of conciliation and humility uncongenial to his temper. He perceived the necessity of rallying round him the various political parties'

which divided France, and he selected as his confidential ministers those leaders of the re

publican party whose original violence had subsided into a rational preference for limited monarchy. The selection of these individuals, as his responsible counsellors, was an unequivocal pledge, so long as they might retain his confidence, of his attachment to peace, and

his concessions to national freedom.

On the morning of his arrival, an interview independent and virtuous of his former adtook place between him and Carnot, the most visers. Napoleon took his hand with an affectionate pressure, and exclaimed, “My dear Carnot, you are the only man who told "Sire!" replied Carnot, unable to suppress his emome the truth before my reverses." tion. "Sire!" interrupted Napoleon," Let monious word. Call me your old comrade, me entreat you to drop that distant and cere

Carnot, "that I should again speak the truth." your friend." "Do you wish," continued "I require it." "Well then, France must her, I am determined she shall have it." and will have a constitution. I will give it

duct of Napoleon, on the invasion of Russia, They now conversed on the former con

his obstinate refusal to treat with the allies

after the battle of Leipsic, and his concurdeeply regretted his former ambition, and rence to the treaty of Fontainbleau. He his propensity to conquest, and announced his resolution to abolish the military government and restore the tranquillity of the nation. He descanted on the advantages of a limited monarchy, and stipulated, as a condition of complying with the views of Carnot and his party, that they should agree to the retention of a titled aristocracy, and that he himself should accept the honour of nobility, as the pledge of a limited monarchy on a representative basis. After a consultation with his friends, Carnot acceded to the proposal, and by this means all the distinctions of constitutionalists, moderates, and jacobins, were united around the throne of Napoleon. Had the arrangements been formed beneath the sanction of any auspices but those of Carnot, they would have awakened the alarm and the suspicion of the people. But the birth, the education, the connections, and the conduct of the count, were above the reach of

calumny or distrust. He was the son of a respectable lawyer at Nolay, and early entered the artillery, and although he distinguished himself by several scientific publications, yet such, under the old regime, were the obstacles to rising merit, if unsupported by courtly patronage, that he had attained no higher rank than captain at the age of thirty-six. In 1791 he was chosen a member of the legislative assembly, and became a zealous and conscientious republican. In the following year he voted for the death of the unfortunate Louis, and although the injustice of the sentence cannot be doubted, no one ever accused the honest intentions of Carnot. In 1793 he was sent, as representative of the nation, to superintend the operations of the army of the north. He there displayed his characteristic decision, by cashiering one of the generals on the field of battle, for retiring before the enemy. He then rallied the troops, placed himself at their head, and, turning the fortune of the day, led them on to victory. He was afterwards appointed a member of the committee of public safety, and became a colleague of the execrable Robespierre. He, however, confined himself to the duties of his own department, and directed the movements of the armies, without having the least concern or influence in the bloody scenes which were acting in the interior.When he did interfere it was to soften the ferocious decrees of his colleagues, and rescue the prey from the destroyer. For this he incurred the deadly hatred of Robespierre, and was devoted to destruction as soon as the war should terminate, or any reverse attend the French arms.

It has been asked, why he did not renounce all connection with these monsters. The question is difficult to answer. It admits only of this solution, that by confining himself strictly to the war department, he was employing his unrivalled talents for the benefit of his country. No man possessed, to such an extent, the confidence of the generals, the soldiers, and the people. His administration was one uninterrupted career of brilliant victories. Had he resigned, a less able man would, probably, have filled his place, who would have aided rather than repressed the murderous purposes of his colleagues.

After the fall of Robespierre, he exposed himself to considerable obloquy, by defending many of the agents of that monster's cruelty. He advocated the cause of Billaud Vasennes, Collet d'Herbois, and others who were a disgrace to human nature. He did this, not because he approved of their conduct, as his enemies insinuated. He had often publicly and violently accused them. It had been his unceasing aim to unmask their characters, and hurl them from the stations which they abused, But he now saw that a spirit of re-action and revenge was abroad. If these men fell, thousands would follow. The bleeding wounds of his country would again be torn open, and the horrible scenes of the worst æra of the revolution would be re-acted. He saved them from the fate which they merited, and having identified himself with them, voluntarily shared their disgrace. He retired from public life until 1795, when he was again appointed director. In 1797 the party to which he belonged, and who would have limited the ag grandisement of France to those limits which nature pointed out, was vanquished. Rather than plunge his country in civil war, or sanction those measures of ambition which he foresaw must be ultimately fatal to France, he exiled himself to Switzerland, though he was offered the support of the army of his virtuous friend Moreau.

When Buonaparte returned from Egypt, he remembered the talents of Carnot, and the many obligations under which he lay to him, and recalled him to power. He was once more placed at the head of the war department, and the conquest of Italy and Germany were soon the proofs of his skilful arrangements. But the ambitious character of Napoleon then began to be displayed. Carnot remonstrated with him in vain, and disdaining to be the instrument of tyranny, again retired to the bosom of his family.

In 1802 he was chosen member of the tribunate. Here he distinguished himself as the fearless opponent of every arbitrary mea

sure.

He voted against the assumption of the consulate for life: and in 1804, after privately using every argument to dissuade Napoleon from his ambitious purpose, he stood alone in the tribunate, and opposed the mo

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