completed their destruction, and General Ariani, Pacthod, General of Division, five brigadiers, 5,000 prisoners, and 12 cannon, with the convoy, fell into our hands.

Marmont and Mortier's advance seems to have drawn off in the direction of Sezanne; and it is difficult yet to say whether they will be able to effect their escape. Every disposition is making to harass and surround them; but the moment is so eventful, and every intelligence gives rise to such new conjectures, that I can only beg your lordship to excuse the very imperfect manner in which I am obliged to detail.

The grand army marches to-day to Mailleret; headquarters at Treffau; and the advanc eis to push as far as La Ferte Gaucher. Marshal Blücher was to be last night at Etoges.

Your lordship, I am sure, will lament to hear that that deserving officer, Colonel Campbell, was unfortunately wounded by a Cossack, in the mêlée of the cavalry, not being known; the pike was run into his back, but he is doing well. I am also particularly sorry to report the death of Colonel Rapatel, who was shot going up to one of the columns with a flag of The loss of an officer so much and so justly beloved in this army, from his attachment to General Moreau, his excellent qualities, and his devotion to the good cause, have occasioned a universal regret in the army.

truce.

I have the honour to enclose your lordship reports from Colonel Lowe up to the 24th of March.

The Hon. Sir Charles Stewart to Lord Castlereagh.

Head-quarters, Colomiers, March 27, 1814.

My Lord-The reports from the different corps not having been received when I sent off my despatch No. 27, added to the hurry of the moment in which it was written, must be my apology for having much underrated the successes of the 25th instant.

Upon the retreat of Marmont, Mortier, and Arrighi, and corps, before the several columns of the Allied armies, whose junction had been effected between Fere Champenoise and Chalons, above eighty pieces of cannon, besides the convor alluded to in my despatch No. 27, and a great number of caissons, fell into our hands. The guns were abandoned in all direetions by the enemy, in their rapid retreat, and were captured not only by the cavalry of the Grand-Duke Constantine and Count Pahlen, but also by the corps of Riefski and the Prince Royal of Wirtemberg. Generals York and Kleist, who moved from Montmirail on La Ferte Gaucher, where they arrived on the 26th, very greatly augmented the enemy's discomforture. General York's corps was very seriously engaged with the enemy, and took 1,500 prisoners at the latter place; and it may be fairly estimated that this part of Napoleon's army has been so roughly handled, as to have lost one-third of its efficiency, in point of numbers, with nearly all the artillery belonging to it.

Nothing but continued forced marches could have enabled any part of the corps above alluded to to elude their victorious pursuers; and when I detail to your lordship that Marshal Blücher's army was at Fismes on the 24th, and was fighting at La Ferte Gaucher on the 26th, making a march of twentysix leagues, it will be evident that no physical exertions can exceed those that the present unexampled crisis brings into action. The grand army was in position at Mailleret on the 26th. The march was continued in three columns from Fere Champenoise. The head-quarters of his Imperial Majesty and the Field-Marshal Prince Schwarzenberg were at Treffau; the cavalry of Count Pahlen were pushed beyond La Ferte Gaucher, joining Generals York and Kleist; the cavalry and the reserves were bivouacked at La Vicquière, on the right of the great road. The 6th and 4th corps were in the centre, the 5th on the left, and the 3rd remained in the rear, to cover all the baggage, the artillery park, and train,

and to make the march of the whole compact. Generals Kaiseroff's and Lestaing's partizan corps occupied and observed the country about Arcis and Troyes, and between the Marne and the Seine rivers. Intelligence was received from Generals Winzingerode and Czernichef, who continued following Napoleon's rear with 10,000 cavalry and forty pieces of artillery, that he was marching by Brienne to Bar sur Aube and Troyes, hastening back to the capital with the utmost precipitation-a plain demonstration, if any were wanting, that superiority of manoeuvring, as well as superiority of force, was in his adversaries' scale.

The Prince Field-Marshal continued his march this day without interruption. The head-quarters were established at Colomiers. The 6th corps arrived at Mouran. Count Pahlen's cavalry and the Prince Royal of Wirtemberg, who were sent to turn the enemy's right, followed one part of the corps now before us, which seem now to have separated, to Crecy, while Generals York and Kleist pushed the other, by advancing from La Ferte Gaucher to Meaux, where they will secure the passage of the Marne for Marshal Blücher's army. The 5th corps took up its ground near Chailly; the 3rd at Reveillon; and the cavalry of the Guards and the 9th reserves in front of this place.

Marshal Blücher's head-quarters are to the right, at La Ferte Jouairie, and to-morrow his army will pass the Marn, which I apprehend the grand army will also do at Saquy; thus concentrating nearly their whole force on the right bank of the river, and taking position on the heights of Montmartre.

I am as yet ignorant of the motives that may have directed the corps of the enemy in our front: whether a part has fallen back to form a noyau to the Gardes Nationales at Paris, and whether with some of these they will dispute momentarily the passage of the Marne to-morrow, and whether the other part is moving by Provens to join Napoleon, remains to be seen, but in neither instance to be apprehended.

Whatever may be the ultimate result of the operations i progress, howsoever brilliant they appear, the sovereigns wh: are present, and the Prince Field-Marshal who leads their armies, will have the proud and consoling reflection that by their intrepid manœuvre they have acted right by their courtries, their people, and the great cause. They must bring it to an issue that issue, after such a decision, must rest with Providence alone, who seems miraculously to have brought about the present era.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

CHARLES STEWART.

I enclose your lordship a copy of the Declaration of the Allies which I have just received.

Lord William Bentinck to Lord Castlereagh.

Verona, March 27, 1814.

My dear Lord-I have been sadly disappointed with the state of affairs here, and I fancy the same feeling is experienced by the whole army. I have known Marshal Bellegarde for these fifteen years. He is totally without energy, and the check he received the other day la totalement démonté. Nothing will, I am sure, be done, when much might. But Bellegarde and Murat are exactly playing the same game, each wishing to gain time, in the hope that events elsewhere will decide the contest; each throwing the responsibility upon the other. If the war goes on, it seems to me indispensable that there should be a more efficient Commander. The army appears to me not very good, certainly very inferior to what I remember it; and perhaps requiring an animating Chief.

I have heard the opinion that the Archduke Charles, if Archdukes are again ever to be employed, would be best suited to this command. Rank has great effect in Italy. It is almost necessary to counterbalance the pomp, and parade, and authority, even of Murat; and his popularity in Italy would

be usefully useful in establishing discipline, and in recalling the affections of the people, which have been much alienated by the bad conduct of the troops.

The country is sadly treated. It is quite shameful that the Viceroy is enabled to keep his ground, with an army inferior both in numbers and in quality. Murat has been a great embarrassment. If there was a decided man at the head of the Austrian army, Murat's misconduct, if not his defection, would be of little consequence. There would still be time to prevent the bad effects; but, as it is, we permit his power to increase, clearly foreseeing that, in the end, it will fall upon ourselves.

I have taken the liberty of asking for leave of absence, in case of a peace, and after the Sicilian Parliament, and I shall be much obliged if you could obtain me this indulgence. I remain, my dear lord, very sincerely yours,

W. C. BENTINCK.

W. Wilberforce, Esq., to Lord Castlereagh.

London, March 28 [1814].

My dear Lord C.-I have recollected with some concern that, in the letter with which I lately troubled your lordship, I neglected to suggest that, if France would not consent to an unqualified and general abolition, yet that, at least, if we should restore to her any of her colonies, it ought to be a condition that no slave should hereafter be imported into it from Africa.

I am persuaded I need not trouble your lordship by suggesting the considerations which enforce this stipulation. I have named it also to Lord Liverpool. In fact, our not having mentioned it when a deputation from the African Institution waited on his lordship, the other day, arose from our keeping our eye only on the favourable side of the contingency, and not having in view the less favourable side of the alternative. I am ever, with respect and regard, your lordship's obedient and faithful servant, W. WILBERFORCE.

VOL. IX.

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