America would be a more suitable retreat. I could live there with dignity.

"But, after all, what have I to apprehend in staying where I am? What sovereign could persecute me without dishonoring himself. To one, I have returned the half of his conquered states. How many times has the other pressed my hand, felicitating himself on being the friend of a great man! I shall see, however. I do not wish to struggle against open force. I ar

The provisional government immediately ap- | pointed plenipotentiaries to hasten to the headquarters of Wellington and Blucher and sue for peace. The envoys were instructed that the basis of their negotiations should be, the integrity of the French territory, the exclusion of the Bourbons, and the recognition of Napoleon II. These instructions, however, were intended merely to deceive the French people. As the plenipotentiaries departed, the government, as a mark of respect, sent a committee to inform the Emper-rived at Paris to combine our last resources. I or of the instructions given to the envoys. Napoleon replied, "The Allies are too deeply interested in imposing the Bourbons upon you, to nominate my son. He will yet reign over France. But his time has not arrived." This prediction, in its spirit, has been fulfilled. The heir of Napoleon now reigns over France.

have been abandoned with the same facility with which I was received. Well, let them efface, if possible, the double stain of weakness and frivolity. They should at least cover it with some struggle, some glory. Let them do for their country what they will no longer do for me. But I do not hope it. To-day, they give me up to save France; to-morrow, they will give France up to save themselves."

Fouché was at that time the agent of Louis XVIII. and of the Duke of Wellington for the restoration of the house of Bourbon. The very day on which these negotiators were appointed, Fouché commissioned M. de Vitrolles to invite Louis to hasten his return to France. Our read-sia? ers will remember the treasonable efforts of this royalist when Napoleon was struggling with the Allies on the banks of the Seine.

"You see," said Fouché to Vitrolles," the extreme embarrassment of my position. For the last three months I have risked my head every day for the cause of peace, of France, and of Louis. The Chamber has proclaimed Napoleon II. This is a necessary preliminary step toward the restoration of the Bourbons. This name quiets simple men, who imagine, like my colleague Carnot, that the safety of France and of liberty exists in this chimera of a republican empire, under a child who is the prisoner of Europe. They must be allowed to indulge in this delusion for a few days. It will last long enough to enable us to get rid of the Emperor. We can then easily lay aside Napoleon II. and the Duke of Orleans."

Benjamin Constant was one of the envoys who had allowed himself to be thus deluded by Fouché. Before he departed for the headquarters of the Allies, he went to Malmaison to take a sorrowful leave of the Emperor. In the course of conversation Constant inquired, "Where does your Majesty intend to seek an asylum!"

66

"I have not yet decided," the Emperor replied, in a tone of great indifference. Flight I disdain. Why should I not remain here What can the Allies do to a disarmed man? I may continue to live in this retreat with a few friends, who will remain attached, not to my power, but to my person. If they do not choose to leave me here, where would they wish me to go? To England? But there my residence would be disquieting. No one would believe that I could be tranquil there. I should compromise all my friends. Every mist would be suspected of bringing me to the coast of France. By dint of saying, There, he is come at last!' I should at length be tempted to come in earnest.

In conversation with Hortense, he said: "Give myself up to Austria? Never! She has seized upon my wife and my son. Give myself to RusThat would be to a single man. But to give myself up to England; that would be to throw myself upon a people."

One of his visitors congratulated the Emperor that the plenipotentiaries were instructed to urge upon the Allies the claims of his son. But Napoleon was not thus deceived. "The Allies," he replied, "are too much interested in imposing the Bourbons upon you to give my son the crown. Most of the plenipotentiaries are my enemies. The foes of the father can not be the friends of the son. Moreover, the Chambers obey the wishes of Fouché. If they had given to me what they have lavished upon him, I should have saved France. My presence alone, at the head of the army, would have done more than all your negotiations."

In confidential intercourse with his friends, he discussed the question of his retreat. He spoke of England, having great confidence in receiving respectful treatment from the British people. His friends, however, assured him that he could not safely trust himself in the power of the British government. He then seemed inclined to go to the United States. Several American gentlemen in Paris sent him the assurance that he would be cordially received by the government in Washington, and by the whole American people. At the same time the Chamber of Deputies pressed his departure from France, as essential to successful negotiations with the Allies. The Emperor to these applications replied,

"That he was ready to embark, with his household, for the United States, if furnished with two frigates." The Minister for Foreign Affairs instantly ordered the frigates to be equipped; and as the coast of France were thronged with hostile British cruisers, he applied to the Duke of Wellington for a "safe-conduct." In the mean time the provisional government, trembling lest the people should yet reclaim their beloved Emperor, sent General Becker to Malmaison, with a strong military force, professedly as a guard of

honor, but in reality to hold Napoleon as a pris- | of the officers were very anxious that Napoleon

oner.

should place himself at the head of these squadrons, and beat back the foe. General Excelmans sent Colonel Sencier to Malmaison to urge the Emperor to this desperate enterprise. The Colonel was commissioned to say, in behalf of

Napoleon fully understood the meaning of this, but pretending to be blind to the truth, received his guard as friends. This movement caused great consternation at Malmaison. All were apprehensive that Napoleon might be arrested, ex-those who sent him: posed to captivity, insult, and death. Hortense "The army of the North is unbroken, and full wept bitterly. General Gourgaud, with enthu- of enthusiasm for its Emperor. It is easy to siasm roused to the highest pitch, vowed "to rally around this nucleus every thing that reimmolate the first man who should dare to lay a mains of patriotism and of military spirit in hand upon his master." France. Nothing is to be despaired of with such troops and with such a chief."

General Becker was the brother-in-law of General Dessaix, who fell at Marengo. He revered and loved Napoleon. With tears in his eyes he presented himself to the Emperor, bowed in homage before the majesty of that moral power which was still undimmed. He assured the Emperor "that he held himself and his troops in entire subjection to the commands of Napoleon." The Emperor kindly took his arm, and walked, in long conversation, in the embowered paths of the cha

teau.

Napoleon for a moment paced the floor of his library, absorbed in silent and profound thought. He then said calmly, but firmly:

"Thank your General for me; but tell him that I can not accept his proposition. To give hope of success I should require the united support of France. But every thing is unsettled, and nobody cares any thing about the matter. What could I do alone, with a handful of soldiers, against all Europe?"

The Allies were now at Compiegne, within two days' march of Paris. Portions of the hostile troops had advanced even to Cenlis. Napoleon, in the garden of Malmaison, heard rumbling in the distance the deep thunder of their cannonade. The sound of hostile artillery enkindled in his soul a fever of excitement. He summoned General Becker into his cabinet, and exclaimed, in accents of deepest emotion:

He had now become impatient for his departure. He sent to the government to hasten the preparation of the two frigates. Fouché replied "that they were ready, but that the safe-conducts had not arrived." "I can not," said he, "dishonor my memory by an act of imprudence which would be called treachery should the frigates be taken with Napoleon on board when leaving port." But the Duke of Wellington refused to grant any safe-conduct. And the English government mul- "The enemy is at Compiegne, at Cenlis! Totiplied their cruisers along the coast to prevent morrow he will be at the gates of Paris! I can the escape of their victim. On the evening of not understand the blindness of the government. the 27th, Fouché and his colleagues, trembling He must be either an imbecile or a traitor who lest Napoleon should be driven by desperation to doubts for a moment the false faith of the Allies. place himself again at the head of the people, sent Those persons know nothing of their business. him word that the frigates were ready, and begged Every thing is lost! I will apply for the comhim to embark without waiting for a safe-con- mand of the army under the provisional governduct. An hour later, finding that the Allies were ment. Let them appoint me general in their near Malmaison, and that the coast was effect- employ, and I will take the command; commuually guarded, they revoked this order, and send-nicate my offer to the government. Explain to ing additional troops and gendarmes, ordered General Becker to escort Napoleon to Rochefort, where he was to remain until he had an opportunity to embark.

The region through which the Emperor was to pass was thronged with his most devoted friends. He had, however, no wish to rouse them to an unavailing struggle. The provisional government were apprehensive that his presence might excite enthusiasm which it would be impossible to allay. It was therefore mutually decided that Napoleon should travel in disguise. General Becker received a passport in which the Emperor was designated as his secretary. As the General presented the passport to the Emperor, Napoleon pleasantly said, "Behold me, then, your secretary." "Yes, Sire," the noble Becker replied, in tones tremulous with grief and affection, "but to me you are ever my sovereign."

The French army, composed of the remnant of Waterloo and the corps of Grouchy, sullenly retreating before Wellington and Blucher, were hardly a day's march from Malmaison. Several

them that I have no intention to repossess myself of power. I only wish to fight the enemy, and to force him, by a victory, to grant better conditions. When this result is obtained, I pledge my word of honor that I will quietly retire from France."

General Becker presented the message of the Emperor at the Tuileries. Carnot, a sincere patriot, welcomed the generous proposal. The wily Fouché, whose treachery was now nearly consummated, argued that Napoleon was the sole cause of the war; that his presence at the head of the army would be a defiance to the Allies, and would provoke them to more severe measures; and that if Napoleon were successful, that success would certainly place him again upon the throne.

Napoleon's energy was, however, thoroughly aroused. He hoped that the government, in this hour of national humiliation, would accept his services, and allow him to drive the invaders from France. Blucher and Wellington, fearing no enemy, were marching carelessly with their

say, like Hannibal, Let me deliver them from | ness, replied, that "he had no authority from his the terror with which I inspire them.' But suicide government to give any reply whatsoever to the must be left to weak heads and souls badly tem- demand for a passport and safe conduct for Napopered. As for me, whatever may be my destiny, leon Bonaparte." I shall never hasten my natural end by a single moment."

The Emperor received this message without any apparent emotion, and without any remark. The morning of the 29th of June dawned cloudless, and radiant with all the loveliness of the early summer. The gardens, the park, the embowered walks of the enchanting chateau of Malmaison were bathed in a flood of surpassing beauty. The Emperor sat in his library, quite exhausted with care and grief. Hortense, emula

The savage Blucher, plundering and destroying wherever he appeared, declared, with manifold oaths, that could he capture Napoleon, he would hang him on a gallows in presence of both armies. Wellington was ashamed of the conduct and threats of his barbarian ally. General Becker made defensive arrangements upon the roads leading to Malmaison, to secure the Em-ting the affection and devotion of her noble mothperor from surprise. A little after midnight some friends came from Paris, with information that the Allies had refused the safe-conduct which had been solicited, and that the Emperor had scarcely time to escape captivity by flight.

er, with pallid cheeks and eyes swollen with weeping, did every thing which a daughter's love could do to minister to the solace of her afflicted father. A few faithful followers, with griefstricken countenances, were also at Malmaison, determined to share all the perils and sufferings of that friend whom they loved with deathless fervor. The Emperor, whose countenance now betrayed the anguish of his wounded spirit, was writing at a table with great earnestness and ra

faithful friend, endeared to the Emperor by a thousand grateful reminiscences, entered the room, Napoleon raised his head, laid aside his pen, and said, with a faint smile,

But where could he find an asylum? Europe in arms against a single man could afford him no retreat. England had entire command of the sea, and consequently escape to lands beyond the ocean seemed impossible. It is generally supposed that Fouché contrived all these embarrass-pidity. Caulaincourt was announced. As this ments that he might deliver Napoleon up, a captive and a sacrifice, to the vengeance of the Allies. Whatever the motive might have been, the facts remain undisputed. Napoleon could not escape the vigilance of the British cruisers by sea. could not escape the eagle eye of the exasperated Allies on the land. He was helpless. All this he understood perfectly. A kind Providence might open some unexpected door for his escape; but there was no visible refuge.

He

In answer to the application of the provisional government for passports for the Emperor, the Duke of Wellington, with his accustomed curt

"Well, Caulaincourt, this is truly draining the cup of misfortune to the dregs. I wished to defer my departure only for the sake of fighting at the head of the army. I desired only to contribute my aid in repelling the enemy. I have had enough of sovereignty. I want no more of it-no more of it. I am no longer a sovereign, but I am still a soldier. When I heard the cannon roar, when I reflected that my troops were with