and care.

during his absence, on the empress Maria Louisa, an interesting victim, whose countenance lately glowed with all the bloom of health, but whose pallid features were now marked by the lineaments of anxiety On this occasion all the officers of the national guard were admitted into the Thuilleries. Napoleon appeared in the midst of them, holding the hands of his consort and his son. He addressed them in a speech replete with animation, and with pathos. The surrounding auditors were sensibly affected, and their emotion was encreased, when he presented to the officers the empress and the king of Rome, adding that he was about to place himself at the head of his armies, and that he confided to their fidelity, his capital, his consort, and his son. The empress mingled her tears with those of the national officers, received their oath with the majesty, the grace, and the sensibility of a wife, a mother, and a sovereign.

In all the artifices of imposing ceremony Napoleon has far surpassed the magnificence of eastern monarchs, and the less ostentatious cunning of European sovereigns. The processions of Aurengzebe fade into insignificance when contrasted with the reviews and the festivals presented to the Parisians, and the appearance of Richard III., with his bible in his hand, o the delighted citizens of London, bears a poor comparison with the solemn and impressive celebration, in 1802, of the rites of the catholic religion. On this occasion the emperor was less fortunate than might have been expected from so consummate a master of delusion. The indiscretion of M. Talma dissipated the impression so forcibly excited by this pathetic and imposing scene, and it was discovered that the pauses, the gestures, and the inflexions of Napoleon, had been acquired on the preceding day, beneath the superintendence of

that celebrated actor.

sellors, his senate, and his numerous peu siouers, continued to rest their hopes on the good fortune of Napoleon. "The country," they said, "is saved, the emperor has departed. From every side the armies advance, the national guards are in motion, and the conscripts come boldly forward. Every one seems to have lost sight of his individual interest, and to be occupied only by that of the nation. Doubtless the struggle in which France is involved must be considered terrible; the movements of the allies are distressing to some parts of the country, but no real success, no victory, no conquered fortress, has yet afforded them a triumph on French ground. The allied monarchs thought us divided, without courage, without spirit; they imagined that they would find a government devoid of powers and of resources, but the sentiments of national honour, and common defence have united all Frenchmen, and the cry of to arms has echoed from every quarter.'

"Our enemies will therefore have to contend against our armies, and the whole nation under the command of a sovereign abounding with activity and genius. They must not calculate upon our weakness or division. No matter how the danger arose; it exists; and national honour allows only one reflection,-the necessity of repelling it."

The general and independent opinion was not however in unison with these sentiments. "The moment approaches," said the discontented, "when this man who had formed the dark design of trampling under foot the whole human race, will sink into nothingness. It is in vain that he attempts to confound his own name and interests with France. She has been united to him by no ties but those which his usurpation and tyranny imposed. He has been compelled, most reluctantly, to confess his fears. Like a condemned gladiator he stands to day in his last arena, with a clouded and downcast look. No token of public encouragement tends to reanimate him. No one addresses to His eneheaven a prayer for his success. mies are numerous and formidable: his

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T the conference of Frankfort, it was decided by the allied powers to penetrate immediately into France, leaving in the rear of the invading columus the vast circle of fortified places upon the frontier, and to march with the utmost rapidity to Paris. Napoleon," observed the generals of the allies, "wishes to occupy and defend every fortified place, and is about to repeat the faults which occasioned his loss of Germany. He already distributes his forces among the towns of Holland, Belgium, aud the Rhine. Fortresses are always the reward of victory; and, without armies to support and cover them, are worse than useless, Napoleon wishes, at the same time, to preserve Italy, Belgium, and the frontiers of Spain, without the aid of imposing armies to effect his purpose. A rapid invasion will surprise him in the bosom of security. Above all, let us not allow him to raise and arm the nation. Let us avail ourselves of the prevalent discontent to separate him from the French. They cannot now be mistaken as to the real author of all their calamities; the only object that deserves their hatred; the man who has accumulated on their heads the vengeance of united nations." This gigantic plan, proposed and supported by the emperor of Russia, was adopted after some discussion. The Austrian cabinet, whose principal

object was the conquest of Italy, was desirous that the invasion should take place by the way of Switzerland, and the eastern frontier, so that the conquest of Lyons was to precede the movement on Paris, and the grand army of the allies would have divided France into two parts, combining the operations of the east with those of lord Wellington, by Guienne and Languedoc. The Russian cabinet insisted on marching directly to Paris there to decide irrevocably the destinies of Europe; and this plan prevailed with such modifications as conciliated its opponents. It was resolved that the principal invading army should proceed from Switzerland between the 15th and 20th of December; that the Russian corps of general Vitgenstein, and the Russian imperial guard, should pass the Rhine between forts Louis and Vauban; the army of Silesia between Mayence and 'Manheim; the army of the north of Germany between Coblentz and Nimueguen, successively and en chellon. By this ar rangement, the principal force of the French would be drawn to the east, so that the other points might be less disputed; and the allies, by combined and parallel marches, might all re-unite on the plains of Champagne.

A partial diversion near Neuss, between Cologne and Coblentz, disguised their real intention. Neuss, on the left bank,