would open the gates of France, and once more admit him; and he was too wary to enter into a private correspondence with his partisaus, when any accident might have revealed his secret wishes, and afforded a pretext to his enemies for attacking his independence and liberty. Napoleon thus waited, in silence, till the fated time for his re-appearance in France should arrive, when a French officer, disguised as a sailor, disembarked at Porto Ferrajo.

Some few days before that officer set out to join the army, in 1815, he gave over to Baron Fleury the manuscript narrative of his voyage to the Isle of Elba. "To you," said he, addressing the Baron, "I deliver my history, which is also that of the Revolution of the 20th of March. As the Emperor, when regaining his throne, did not think fit to speak of me, I was bound to be silent; but I am as eager

*This is the individual concerning whom we have quoted the account from the work of Baron Fleury de Chaboulon, in the copious note accompanying this chapter. "At Malmaison," says the Baron, "the Emperor asked me what had become of M. Z." I answered, "that he had been killed on Mount St. Jean." "Well," answered the Emperor," he is happy. But, pray, did he tell you that he had been at Elba?" “Yes, sire; he even entrusted me with the narrative of his voyage, and of the conversations which he had with your Majesty." "You must give me that narrative; I will take it with me; it will help me in the composition of my memoirs." "Sire, it is no longer in my possession." "What have you done with it? you must get it back, and let me have it to-morrow." "I have deposited it with a friend, who happens to be absent from Paris." "So the narrative will be banded about at the mercy of the world." "No, sire. It is enclosed in an envelope, and deposited in a box, of which I keep the key; but if I should not be able to deliver it to your majesty, before your departure, it will, nevertheless, come to your knowledge, for I intend to publish it according to the last wishes of M. Z. unless your majesty forbids me." "No; I allow you to print it, only leave out whatsoever may tend to compromise those who have displayed their attachment towards me. If Z. has written a faithful report of all that passed, the people will know I sacrificed myself for their good; and that it was not the love of power which again led me to France, but that I yielded to the desire of restoring to Frenchmen those gifts which are dearest to great nations-independence and glory. Take care, lest they should get hold of your manuscript-they will falsify it. Send it to England to * * * *; he will print it; he is devoted to me, and he may be very useful to you. M. will give you a letter for him: do you understand me?” “Yes, sire." "But do your utmost to recover the manuscript before my departure. I see that you are anxious to keep it, and I will leave it with you. I am only desirous to peruse it." The Emperor subsequently read the manuscript, and returned it, saying, "Z. has told the truth, and nothing but the truth; preserve his manuscript for future genera

tions.'

to live in the memory of after-ages as he can possibly be. It is my wish, therefore, posterity may learn that I, too, shared in the glorious enterprise of subverting the Bourbon government, and bringing back the Emperor. My mind misgives me. I have a presentiment that I shall die in this campaign. Keep my manuscript, and promise to publish it when the fitting time shall arrive." "I gave my word accordingly," says the Baron, "and the forebodings of my friend were realised, for he was killed at Waterloo." "I now fulfil my promise," adds the writer in question; "I have not dared make any alterations in the narrative: if I had, I should have felt that I was betraying the wishes of my friend. But I have suppressed the names of parties concerned, and expunged some passages, in which the Bourbon family was treated with marked disrespect."

CHAP. VII.

Napoleon sails from Elba for France-Proclamations composed during his Passage-He enters the Gulf of Juan, and disembarks at Cannes-Failure of his Attempt at Antibes—Marches to Bareme, and thence to Gap-Address to the Inhabitants of the Upper and Lower Alps-Advances to Gorp, and thence proceeds for Grenoble-Napoleon's imminent Danger-His presence of Mind, and Enthusiasm thereby produced-Labedoyere, with his Regiment, joins the Emperor-Entrance into Grenoble-Address to the Inhabitants of the Izene-Account of the Bourbon Government during Napoleon's triumphal March on Paris-His Legitimacy-The Count d'Artois, &c. depart for Lyons-False Reports circulated in the French Capital-Wretched State of the Royal Party-The Emperor quits Grenoble-Failure of the Count d'Artois-Napoleon makes his solemn Entry into Lyons.

NAPOLEON was no sooner on board,* than he exclaimed, with Cæsar, "The die is cast!" His countenance was calm, his brow serene, and he appeared to think less of the success of the enterprise than the means of promptly attaining his object. The eyes of Count Bertrand sparkled with hope and joy; General Drouot was pensive and serious; Cambronne appeared to care little about the future, and thought only of performing his duty. The old grenadiers had resumed their martial and menacing aspect, with whom the Emperor chatted and joked incessantly; pulling their ears and mustachios, reminding them of their dangers and glories, and inspiring them with that confidence wherewith he felt animated.

All were anxious to know their destination, but respect

*Napoleon's small fleet consisted of the brig Inconstant and five transports, bearing eleven hundred and forty men. That corps being comprised of four hundred of the veteran guard, two hundred infantry, one hundred of the Polish light horse, and two hundred of the flank battalion; the residue Corsicans and natives of the Isle of Elba. The Emperor, followed by Counts Bertrand and Drouot, Generals Cambronne, Molet, Raoul, Jerzmanouski, and other officers of the guard, embarked on board the brig. The sky was clear, the guard intoxicated with enthusiasm, and Napoleon gay and tranquil. inhabitants of the island by turns silent or giving vent to joyful emotions, lined the shore; when the discharge of a single cannon being the signal for weighing anchor, the sails were immediately unfurled, and the little flotilla steered its course, accompanied by reiterated cries of "Paris ou la mort !" Paris or death!

The

did not allow any one to ask the question: at length Napoleon broke silence. Grenadiers," said he, 66 we are bound for France, and our march is to Paris." At those words every countenance brightened, and stifled cries of "France for ever!" attested to the Emperor that in the hearts of Frenchmen the love of their country is never extinct.

An English sloop of war, commanded by Captain Campbell, appeared to have the charge of watching the island of Elba:* she was continually sailing from Porto Ferrajo to Leghorn, and back again. At the moment of embarkation she was at the latter port, and could, therefore, occasion no alarm; yet several vessels were descried in the channel, and their presence gave room for apprehension. It was, however, conceived the night breeze might favour the progress of the flotilla, and that, before day-break, it would be out of sight. That hope was frustrated, for, scarcely had it doubled Cape St. Andrew, in the island of Elba, when the wind fell and the sea was soon becalmed. At day-break the flotilla had only advanced six leagues, and still continued between the islands of Elba and Capræa.

""The danger appeared imminent, and several of the seamen were for returning to Porto Ferrajo; the Emperor however, ordered them to hold on their course, as, at the worst, he had the chance of either capturing the French cruiser, or taking refuge in the island of Corsica, where he was assured of a welcome reception. To facilitate the manoeuvres, he then ordered all the luggage embarked to be thrown overboard, which was cheerfully executed on the instant."

About noon the wind freshened a little, and at four o'clock they were off Leghorn, when one frigate appeared in sight five leagues to leeward, another was on the coast of Corsica, while a man-of-war brig, Le Zéphyr, commanded by Captain Andrieux, was bearing down upon the imperial flotilla right before the wind, It was at first proposed to hail and make him hoist the tri-coloured flag. The Emperor, however, ordered the soldiers of the guard to take off their caps and conceal themselves below, preferring

People," says Baron Fleury, "are pretty generally of opinion that the escape of the Emperor from the Island of Elba was favoured by Captain Campbell. I do not think so: but every thing leads to the belief that the officer in question had received orders from his government not to interpose in case such a measure should be attempted."

to pass the brig unknown, and, in case of necessity only, make him change his colours. At six o'clock the brigs passed alongside of each other, and their commanders, who were acquainted, spoke together. The captain of Le Zéphyr inquired after the Emperor, and was answered through as peaking trumpet, by the Emperor himself, that he was extremely well.

"The brigs, then steering opposite courses, were soon out of sight of each other, Captain Andrieux having entertained no suspicion of the valuable prize he had allowed to escape him.

""On the night of the 27th, the wind continued to freshen, and at day-break a seventy-four was descried, which appeared steering for San Fiorenzo or Sardinia, and took no notice of the brig."*

The Emperor, before he quitted the island of Elba, had drawn out two proclamations, one addressed to the French people, the other to the army, which he was desirous should be copied out fair. His secretary and General Bertrand, being unable to decipher the documents, carried them to Napoleon, who, despairing of doing it himself, threw them overboard from vexation, and then, meditating for moments, dictated to his secretary the two subjoined proclamations on the spot.t

The passages between two sets of inverted commas are copied from the official account published on the 22d of March. This account was drawn up by Napoleon, and the editor conceived he could not do better than borrow his own words.

+ PROCLAMATION.

Gulf of Juan, March the 1st, 1815. Napoleon, by the grace of God and constitution of the empire, Emperor of the French, &c. &c. &c.

To the Army.

Soldiers! We have not been vanquished: two men, who issued from our ranks, betrayed our laurels, their country, their prince, their benefactor.

Shall they, whom we have seen for five and twenty years traversing Europe to stir up our enemies-who have spent their lives in fighting against us in the ranks of foreign armies, and cursing our lovely France-now pretend to command us, and enchain our eagles, the sight of which they could never withstand? Shall we suffer them to inherit the fruits of our glorious toils? seize upon our honours, and property, and calumniate our fame? Should their reign continue, all would be lost, even the recollection of our memorable victories.

With what virulence do they distort them! They endeavour to poison what is the admiration of the world; and if any defenders of our glory still remain, it is among those very enemies whom we opposed in the field.