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prevalence of a military spirit, fostered by long war and brilliant achievements.

As the depriving of Buonaparte of that sovereignty which he had. wielded to the hazard and disturbance of all the neighbouring states was the great object of the powerful confederacy formed against him, it was not to be expected that its recovery, by means which proved the remaining force of that engine of which he was still the absolute master, would be acquiesced in ; and the instant declaration of the allied sovereigns, that they were firmly resolved to employ every effort for the defeat of his unwarrantable enterprise, announced an impending conflict which no pacific negociation could terminate. The extraordinary events of this new revolution, of which the immediate success was not less wonderful than its sudden extinction, have afforded subjects for narrative rendering the present year in some respects more dramatically interesting, if the expression may be allowed, than any which have preceded it in the long course of political contention. Its rapid changes, and the memorable battle which at once overthrew an imperial throne, and consigned its possessor to perpetual imprisonment on a rock in the midst of a distant ocean, were incidents singularly adapted to work upon the universal passion for wonder and novelty.

The termination of the contest would have been more satisfactory had the restored monarchy of France been able to support itself by the attachment of the

people under its sceptre; but the means by which its restoration was effected, and the severe humiliation to which the French nation was reduced by a complete subjection to foreign powers, have infused such a spirit of disaffection, that the continued occupation of its frontier towns by the allied troops has been judged indispensable for the security of the Bourbon throne. This necessity has not only imposed a heavy burthen upon France, and aggravated the public discontents, but has obliged the Allied Powers to keep up their military establishments to a point inconsistent with that pacific character which it might have been hoped that all Europe would have hastened to assume after its long and destructive wars. Great Britain, which has so often been looked to for the supply of those pecupiary resources, in which the other members of the confederacies into which she has entered were deficient, after having borne a disproportionate share of the vast expenses incurred by the operations of war, has found it expedient to retain a standing army of a magnitude wholly unparalleled in any former period of nominal peace. This measure, the necessity for which is ascribed partly to the unsettled state of France, and partly by the additions made by conquest to the British Empire, has effectually prevented any alleviation of the public burthens during the present year, or the immediate prospect of it for futurity. The martial glory to which the nation has been raised by the exertions of its brave progeny at Waterloo, will render this year a memorable era in its military history;

at Waterloo.-Message respecting the Duke of Cumberland's Marriage, and
Debates.-Repeal of the Assize of Bread Laws in London.-Financial Acts.-
Speech of the Prince Regent on the Prorogation of Parliament.

CHAP. VI.

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France.-State of Parties.-Unpopularity of the Bourbon Government.-Land-
ing of Buonaparte.-His progress.-Measures to oppose him.-His Decree at
Lyons.-Joined by Ney.-Enters Paris.- Declaration against him by the
Allied Powers.-His cause adopted by the majority of the Nation.--Opposition
in the south.--Duke and Duchess of Angouleme.-Brittanny and La Vendee.—
Reports of the State of Affairs.-Treaty between the four Allied Powers.—
Louis XVIII.-Buonaparte's additional Act to the Constitution.-Extraordi-
nary Commissioners.-Fouche's Report, and Imperial decrees.-Champ de
Mai.-Internal commotions.-Chamber of Representatives.—British and Prus-
sian Armies on the Flemish border.-Buonaparte repairs to the Army.-Actions
of June 15, 16, 17, and 18, ending with the Battle of Waterloo.- Buona-
parte's return to Paris.-His projects and Abdication.-Proceedings of the
Chambers.-Commission of Government.-Advance of the Allies towards
Paris.-Wellington's Proclamation.—Address of Louis XVIII. to the French.-
The Capital invested.-Actions.—Convention of Puris.

CHAP. VII.

[55

Proceedings of Joachim Murat, King of Naples.-His peculiar Situation.—
Suspicions against him. He blockades Rome. His complaints against France.—
Conduct on the landing there of Buonaparte.-Arrives at Ancona and attacks
the Austrians at Cesena.-Proclaims the independence of Italy.-Advances
to the Panaro, and the Austrians retire to the Po.-Neapolitans enter Flo-
rence, and follow the Austrians to Pistoia.-Joachim reaches Ferrara, whence
he is compelled to retreat.-Neapolitans fall back on all sides, Armistice
refused.-Action at Tolentino.-Battle of San Germano.-Flight of Neapo-
litans, and their Army broken up.-English Squadron at Naples.-Convention.-
The City occupied by the Austrians.-The Kingdom submits to Ferdinand,
who enters the Capital.-Murat's attempts in Corsica.-Lands in Calabria.-
Executed by Martial Law.
[73

CHAP. VIII.

Russian and Austrian Troops arrive on the Borders.—Their advance.—The
Chambers remain sitting.--Declaration of that of Representatives.—Message
from the Provisional Government; and the Chambers dissolved.-Entrance of
the King into Paris.-Ministry appointed.-Paris occupied by the Allied
Armies-Animosity of the Prussians.-Arrival of the Sovereigns.- Election
of new Deputies.-Proceedings of Buonaparte. Goes on board an English
Man of War.-Brought to Torbay, and embarked for St. Helena.-Progress
of the Allies, and submission of the French Generals.--Royal Ordinances, and
Proceedings against the culpable and disaffected.-Restrictions on Periodical
Publications.-Disbanding and re-organization of the Army.-Proceedings
against Traitors.--Lubedoyere condemned.-The Peerage rendered hereditary.
Disturbances in the South of France.-Protestants persecuted at Nismes.-

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