The parisians, so frequently peaceable spectators of such events, participated in this burst of patriotism; not content

whole population then rushed upon the prince; seven persons who defended him being wounded and Captain Pernice killed. The king and his suite were thus made prisoners, and sent to Chateau Fort, where Murat was personally insulted by the same captain of the gensd'armes, who searched him, taking away his papers, with the twenty diamonds he still possessed, all of which were sent to Naples; when, among those documents was, unfortunately, found one of the proclamations, which an officer had unintentionally preserved. The governor of Calabria, General Nunziante, who arrived at Monte Leone on the 8th, at night, expressed to the king his regret at seeing him in such a situation, and promised to do every thing in his power to ameliorate the hardship of his fate. A person, named Francesco Dalcala, agent of the Duc de l'Infantado's property, did not fear to compromise himself, but waited upon the king, and offered his services; he also sent his majesty linen, clothes, a bed, with provisions, and supplied his suite with all the comforts in his power.

On the 9th, General Nunziante caused the king to be removed to a private room, where he was treated respectfully by himself and the officers on guard. On the 10th, 11th, and 12th, his majesty urged the general to put him on board a vessel under the English flag, though in Ferdinand's service, under pretext of being very ill in the chamber he inhabited, Murat flattering himself, that under an English flag he should have been safe from insult. The general, in consequence, replied, that if he received no order next day he would take upon himself to put his majesty on board a vessel. One hour after dinner, the general again came to the king, who instantly remarked that he was sad, and inquired the cause, upon which Murat ascertained that orders were just received by the telegraph to send his majesty but that the weather had prevented any thing more being seen. The king then said, "It is doubtless to send me to the citadel of Messina,' when the general remarked that he must wait till the ensuing day. Previous to that event, Murat had frequently written to Naples, as well as to the English and Austrian ambassadors, but it is not known whether those letters ever attained the persons for whom they were intended. He had also claimed the protection of the consuls residing at Pizzo; but no one was there except the English vice-consul, who refused to interfere. On the 13th, in the morning, Generals Franceschetti and Natali, who lodged with the king, were separated from him, under pretext of examining them. A courier had arrived during the night, with orders to try the king by a military commission, and that the sentence should be carried into execution a quarter of an hour afterwards. On the removal of the generals from the king, his valetde-chambre, Armand, the only person remaining, was also separated from him, who, previous to leaving his majesty, informed him that some order must have arrived, as he had heard movements during the night, and would not abandon his majesty. Murat called in the officers, to inquire why they wished to force his valet from him, when he received a similar excuse to that which had been delivered respecting the generals.

It is said that the king refused to appear before the court, and about three o'clock asked for dinner, when soup was placed before him, a

in erecting their intrenchments with their own hands, they solicited the honour of defending them and twenty thousand men, composed of national guards, federates of the suburbs, and citizens of all ranks, were formed into battalions for actual service, under the denomination of tirailleurs of the national guard. Napoleon applauded the noble efforts of the great nation; but, unfortunately, the arsenals had been plundered in 1814; and, notwithstanding the activity of the workmen, he was grieved to the heart at his inability in arming every hand raised in his defence. It would have required six hundred thousand muskets; and there were scarcely enough to arm the troops of the line and national guards sent to garrison the fortified towns.

While the Parisians thus contemplated their ramparts on the one hand, they witnessed on the other the preparations going forward for the festival of the Champ de Mai. There were equal crowds to contemplate the labours in question; for the French, always frivolous as brave, traversed with equal delight the spots destined for combat as those where they expected to derive amusement.

pigeon, with the bones taken out, his bread being cut into small pieces. Murat then said, "That is a proof I am to die." At four o'clock the witnesses and judges retired, after condemning Joachim to death, upon which his majesty asked to see the generals and his valet previous to execution, but that request was refused. He then asked for pen and ink, to remit his last farewell to the queen and his children; he also cut off a lock of his hair, desiring the president of the court to transmit the same to the queen, as well as the seal of his watch, on which was engraved her majesty's portrait. The king kept that token on his breast till the moment of his death, and left his watch to his valet-de-chambre, Armand. He refused to have his eyes bound, or make use of a chair that was offered him, telling the officer, "that he had more than once faced death, and feared it not." He then desired the soldiers not to miss him; and expired, after obtaining a promise that none of those who accompanied him should be troubled. Such having been the melancholy end of Joachim Napoleon, King of the Two Sicilies.

CHAP. XII.

Account of the Mecting at the Champ de Mai-Concert in the Garden of the Tuilieries-Opinions as to Napoleon's political Conduct -Carnot and Lavalette-Meetings of the Legislative Body and Chamber of Deputies-Napoleon's Resolution respecting the Opening of the Campaign-Nomination of a Council to govern during the Emperor's Absence - Napoleon's Apprehensions respecting Fouché, Duke of Otranto-His Departure to join the Grand Army -Amount of Forces, and their several Dispositions-Proclamation to the Army-Plan of the Campaign-Departure of General Bourmont, &c.-Disposition of the contending Armies-Victory gained over the Prussians at Fleurus, and obstinate Battle at Ligny.

THE structure raised for the grand meeting of the Champ de Mai was in the field of Mars, in front of the military school. It presented a spacious and lofty tribune, in the centre of which was constructed the throne of the Emperor; contiguous were the seats of the queen-mother, brothers, and sisters of Napoleon, and ministers of state, while, extending to the right and left, rose the places for the members of the House of Peers. At either extremity branched off immense circular wings, designed to receive the deputies, elected by every department, to be present as their representatives upon that momentous occasion, each compartment having the name of the district affixed over it, by which means the deputies were instantly enabled to repair to the several places allotted for their accommodation. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the decorative part, and the tout ensemble produced a coup d'œil at once magnificent and commanding.

At length arrived the 2d of June,* welcomed in by the most resplendent sun that ever shed its beams upon the horizon, which led to the remark that Napoleon's days of fête were uniformly attended by the finest weather. That circumstance was regarded as a favourable omen by the common people, who, for the same reason, construed

* It was originally intended that this imposing ceremony should have taken place in the month of May, on which account it was called "The Champ de Mai," which gave occasion to much mirth, as a meeting in June was certainly a contradiction in terms.

into a bad prognostic the dismal state of the atmosphere, through excessive rain, on the fête of St. Louis, which occurred after the first entry of the Bourbons.

By dawn of day the grand mass of the population of Paris was in motion, the Champ de Mai being the great point of attraction. At the hour so anxiously expected, discharges of artillery were heard to resound in succession from various quarters, announcing the march of the cavalcade, which proceeded along the grand avenue of the Champs Elisée, turning down the Allée des Veuves; then passing the Quai, beneath Chaillot, when it traversed the Seine, over the bridge of Jena; and so continued direct to the grand scene of action. Upon that occasion, Napoleon, who wore the imperial costume, with a hat à la Henri Quatre, surcharged by a plume of ostrich feathers,* looked remarkably handsome, bowing to the right and left with great complacency, every gesture being perceptible to the observer, as the upper compartments of the carriage wherein he was seated were of plate glass. From the moment of his setting out, the shouts of applause were renewed at intervals by the concourse of people accompanying the procession; but, upon its arrival at the Champ de Mai, where all the regiments of horse and foot were stationed, the acclamations were continued without intermission, producing one incessant roar, as stunning as the fall of a tremendous cataract, which was truly awful and appalling.

On the Emperor's mounting the throne, and seating himself, the clamour ceased. The deputies then delivered their address, to which Napoleon replied; when the cere

Napoleon's dress, as well as those of his brothers and court, at first created a disagreeable impression, which soon vanished, giving place to the sensations inspired by that grand union of the nation. What, in fact, could be more impressive than the aspect of a people, threatened by a tremendous war, peaceably forming a solemn compact with that sovereign, of whom its enemies were desirous of depriving it; and coalescing with him, to defend the honour, independence, and liberty of the country, in life or death?

At the termination of that speech, the result of the votes was proclaimed, being as under, and then the acceptance of the constitutional

Negative..

275

Eleven departments did not send their registers in time. A great num

mony of proposing the constitution to the representatives took place, the due performance of which was sworn to by Napoleon, amidst shouts of Vive l'Empereur, that literally made the earth tremble. At the conclusion of that solemn act, he delivered the following very energetic speech :

"Emperor, consul, soldier, I hold every thing from the people: in prosperity and in adversity; upon the field of battle and in council; upon the throne as in exile; France has been the unique object aud the constant attendant of my thoughts and actions.

"Like the Athenian king, I sacrificed myself for my people; the hope of seeing realized the promise given, to preserve the national integrity, the honours, and the rights of France."

"I feel indignant on beholding those sacred institutions, acquired by twenty-five years of victory, disallowed and lost for ever, and the cry of national honour vilified; the vows of the nation have, therefore, restored me to that throne which is so dear to me, from being the palladium of the independence, the honour, and the rights of the people.

"Frenchmen, while traversing in the midst of public rejoicings, the several provinces of the empire, in order to gain my capital, I had every right to hope for a long peace; for nations are bound by the treaties concluded upon by their respective governments, whatsoever they may be.

"My mind was wholly directed to the means of consolidating our liberty, by a constitution conformable to the will and interests of the people, and I have, therefore, convened the Champ de Mai.

It was not long before I ascertained that the princes who have disregarded all the principles, checked the opinions, and the dearest interests of so many people, are determined upon war. the acquisition of the Low Countries; to give for its barriers all our They meditate strong places to the north, and to conciliate the differences which still exist between them, by the dismemberment of Lorraine and Alsace. "It was consequently requisite to prepare for war.

Notwithstanding this, before I would have recourse to arms, my first anxiety necessarily was to consolidate the nation without delay; and the act which I presented was accepted by the people.

"Frenchmen, when we shall have repulsed these unjust aggressions, and Europe shall be convinced of what is due to the rights and the independence of twenty-eight millions of Frenchmen, a solemn law, passed after the forms required by the constitutional act, will unite the different forms of our constitutions, which are scattered at the present moment.

"Frenchmen, you are upon the point of returning to your several departments; proclaim to the citizens the magnitude of existing circumstances! Tell them that, with union, energy, and perseverence, we shall stand forth victorious, in this mighty struggle of a great people opposed to their oppressors; that future generations will severely scrutinize our conduct; for that a nation is bereft of every thing on losing her independence. Tell them that those very monarchs whom I have

ber of soldiers, unable to write their names, did not vote; and the registers of fourteen regiments did not arrive till the votes had been summed up.