A LIST OF THE EMBELLISHMENTS. VOL. I. The Arms of Napoleon as Emperor .Vignette on the Title, Vol. 1. mids, near Cairo .... Napoleon and Kleber defeating the Mamelukes, at the Battle of 333 444 VOL. II. The Arms of Maria Louisa as Empress.. Vignette on the Title, Vol. 2. wife), in the Garden at Malmaison ......to face the Title-page. ...... ...... 150 wanting. ..... 275 Napoleon's decisive Victory over the Austrians at the Battle of Marengo .... 301 Napoleon receiving the Sword of General Mack, on the Capitu VOL. III. The Arms of Napoleon Francis Charles Joseph, as King of Rome, ...... .... men, after the Treaty of Tilsit.... Napoleon witnessing the Conflagration of Moscow, from the Pa lace of the Kremlin Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow 41 61 447 485 VOL. IV. The Grand Cross or Star of the Legion of Honour, Vignette Title, Vol. 4. Portrait of Maria Louisa in her Marriage Costume.... ..to face the Title-page. 3 41 121 .... 261 389 Napoleon's Arrival at the Palace of the Tuileries on his return from Elba.... Napoleon terminating his Career at the memorable Battle of Wa terloo... DIRECTIONS TO THE BInder. The Binder is requested to cancel the letter-press title pages, and substitute the engraved ones. Pages 149 and 150 in Volume the Second are to be cancelled, and the leaf containing the same pages, published in No. 31 of the Work, to be substituted in its place. Pages 115 and 116 in Volume the Third are to be cancelled, and the pages 115, *110, *111, *112, *113, *114, *115. and 116, published in Nos. 47 and 48, to be substituted. THE LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. CHAP. I. NAPOLEON'S Address to the Authorities at Warsaw, on his Journey to Paris from Russia-Arrival in secret at the French Capital and first Interview with Maria-LouisaAffability with the Artisans of the Capital-Vigorous Preparations of the French Government for War-NAPOLEON'S Arrangement with the Holy See-He is deceived as to the amicable Views of Austria-Quits Paris for the North of Germany-Staff of the Grand Army, &c.-Opening of the Campaign of Saxony-Battles of Weessenfels and Lutzen gained by the French-Death of Bessieres, Duke of Istria— NAPOLEON'S Letter to his Widow--Proclamation to the Army Situation of the Imperial Forces-Arrival of the Emperor at Dresden-Meeting of NAPOLEON and the King of Saxony-The Emperor repairs to Bautzen and reconnoitres the Enemy's Positions-Details of that famous BattleDeath of Duroc, Grand Marshal and Duke de Frioul, and last affecting Interview with the Emperor-Retreat of the Russians and Prussians into Silesia-Falsehoods disseminated at Berlin-Embassy sent by the Emperor of Russia to negotiate for an Armistice-NAPOLEON receives Deputies from Breslau and proceeds to Leignitz-Recapture of Hamburgh by General Vandamme-NAPOLEON enters Dresden -Amount of the Imperial Forces-The Free Corps of Prussia annihilated-Extract from the Thirty-first Bulletin, relating to the Financial Operations of Great Britain for meeting the War Expenses-NAPOLEON's ardent Desire for Peace. NAPOLEON'S journey to Paris, on quitting the inhospitable soil of Russia, was performed with the greatest possible expedition. Previous to his departure he had written VOL. IV.-49. B several times to the Empress Maria-Louisa, without, however, intimating that his return to the French capitai was meditated. In passing through Warsaw, the Emperor, on the 5th of December, in presence of the French Ambassador, made the following hasty but candid avowal in regard to the unfortunate termination of the Russian campaign : "No one could have predicted the unfortunate result of a campaign whose commencement was so glorious. I have been guilty of two faults; that of proceeding to Moscow, and remaining there too long. I shall, no doubt, incur blame, nevertheless it was a grand and audacious measure; but it is true that the remove is not great from the sublime to the ridiculous. Posterity will judge. I have not been beaten by the Russians, but I could not subdue the elements. I was not in want of provisions; it was the excessive cold only that brought on all my disasters. I have lost thirty-five thousand horses. French and German soldiers are not formed for the climate; they cannot endure cold. Generals, officers,-in short, I did not find a soul at his post. Until the 6th of November I was master of Europe. During seventeen days all communication was cut off. I know that Germany is tampered with it is necessary I should repair to Paris, in order to watch Berlin and Vienna, as well as to ascertain what is passing there," &c. The Emperor gained the French capital without any retinue, at which juncture his consort, who had not for some time enjoyed good health, and was suffering from a depression of spirits, had just retired to rest. The lady in attendance, who slept in another apartment, was in the act of fastening the doors, when she was alarmed by hearing the sound of several voices in the adjoining saloon, and in a few seconds beheld two men enter, completely enveloped in furred cloaks. Rushing to the Empress's apartment, she prepared to secure the entrance, upon which one of the strangers, throwing aside his mantle, discovered to her the person of Napoleon. A piercing shriek from the lady reach the ear of Maria-Louisa, who was in consequence ture that something extraordinary had tra pired, when, hastily springing from her bed, she opened the door, and the next moment found herself pressed in the embrace of her husband. The interview was tender and affecting in d to conjec the extreme. It is indeed affirmed that his majesty, who had terminated his expeditious journey in a very shabby calèche, had with difficulty gained admission to his palace, so little had his appearance been expected.* It was immediately after Napoleon's return from Moscow that he delivered the celebrated extempore speech to the Senate, in which, having been in some measure urged by his ministers to make an avowal of the faults he had committed, the Emperor, with vehement gesticulation, remarked-" We do not, on sending our linen to the washerwoman, assemble our friends in order that they may examine the number of spots that disfigure it." After the disastrous retreat of the French army, Louis Bonaparte, notwithstanding the unmerited treatment he had experienced at the hands of his brother, was greatly afflicted at the misfortunes of his country; and, on the 1st of January, 1813, wrote the following letter on the subject to the Emperor Napoleon: "Deeply afflicted at the sufferings and losses of the grand army, after successes that have carried the French arms to the pole; conceiving how much you are hurried, and how urgent it is to collect every means of defence, at a moment when a terrible contest is about to continue, and preparing for, with still more fury; convinced that there never was a period more critical for France, your fame, and your throne; I should conceive myself deficient in every duty did I not yield to the ardent impulse of my heart. I, therefore, present myself, Sire, to offer to the country in which I was born, to you, and to my name, the little health left me, and all the services of which I am capable, as far as I can act with honour. Sire, I belong to Holland, a territory which yourself gave me without my consent. I did not quit my kingdom till I had striven against my situation as long as it was possible for one born a Frenchman and your brother. "Now, Holland and commercial affairs become of secondary importance; it is possible that it may be your inclination to bring back to you your brother and that it is of moment for you to secure Holland. In that case, Sire, deign to re-establish a kingdom that was your own work; and I am ready to make every effort to assist France and your majesty in the grand struggle that will no doubt continue more vigourously than ever. Should such be your intention, I only require a public document, making known what my situation has been, and may prove in future. "I know, Sire, that my means and efforts are of little value; but I can only offer all that is in my power. Whatsoever has been thought of me, Sire, I never have or can be insensible, or an alien to my name, my mother, and my son. Be your determination or the course of events what they may, let your majesty reflect on all the privations, trials, and sickness, which I endured, rather than have recourse to extremities, and rest convinced that there exist in me, as in the heart of every man of honour, sentiments and principles that nothing can destroy." Louis despatched this letter under cover to the French ambassador at Vienna, and Napoleon sent an answer, from Paris, on the 16th of January. Though the reply was in a more temperate style than those |