lation which permitted the French governor to retire with his garrison, and that he had sent detachments towards Italy, and to the different points of strength on the roads of the Simplon, St. Bernard, and St. Gothard. Count Wittgen stein crossed the Rhine near Fort Louis, and occupied the evacuated forts Vauban and Alsace, whence he could communicate by his right with Marshal Blucher. General Wrede, with his army, had his head-quarters at Colmar; and the Prince of Wurtemberg had blockaded New Brisac. Prince Schwart. zenberg, with the main Austrian army, was on his march from Altkirchen upon Montbelliard, whilst a detachment was observing Befort. The fortress of Huninguen was at this time under cannonade, but no material injury had hitherto been done to the works. Such was the line of frontier occupied by the allied powers, with troops to which, in number and appointment, the French had nothing comparable to oppose. On Jan. 8, Napoleon issued a decree, declaring the national guard of Paris in activity, and himself its commander in chief. No substitute for its service was to be allowed, except of the nearest relatives.

On Jan. 11 the Emperor of Russia arrived at Lorrach, and on the 13th with the reserves of his army he crossed the Rhine, accompanied by the King of Prussia. The Emperor of Austria, who had arrived at Basle on the preceding evening, went to meet the other sovereigns, and they entered that city on horseback at the head of the Russian and Prussian guards. The columns of the allied army continued their advance on all sides. Prince Schwartzenberg on the 12th

had his head-quarters at Vesoul, and was upon the advance to Langres. General Bubna's corps had a direction given it from Dole towards Lyons. Besançon was invested by the corps of Lichtenstein. Gen. Wrede having proceeded through Alsace to St. Drey in Lorraine, his advanced guard was attacked on the 10th by the corps under Gen. Milliaud, and forced to retire behind St Marguerite; Gen. De Roy, however, having assembled the force under his command, attacked the enemy, killed and wounded a considerable number, and took five hundred prisoners, and St. Diez was recovered. The Prince Royal of Wurtemberg, in conjunction with the Hettman Platoff, also gained some considerable advantages in the neighbourhood of Epinal. The army of Silesia, or Blucher's, advanced by separate corps through the Palatinate to northern Lorrain. Marshal Marmont, who was posted at Kaiserlautern, retreated towards the Saare, pursued by the corps of Sacken; and after joining another retreating French corps from the Hundsdruck, passed that river at Saarbruck, destroying the bridge, and that of Sarquemine, and possessed himself of the passes. . In the mean time D'Yorck's corps took the road through St. Wendel to Saarlouis and Saarbruck. Count Henkel marching to Treves, took there above one thousand prisoners, and a quantity of military stores. Count Langeron had blockaded and summoned Mentz. The French papers at this period mention the formation of camps of reserve at Meaux, Soissons, Chalons, Troyes, and Arcy-sur-Aube. "The moment is come (say they) when from all parts of this vast empire,

those Frenchmen who wish speedily to deliver the territory of their country, and preserve the national honour transmitted from their forefathers, ought to take up arms and repair to the camps." On Jan 22, a decree was published in the Emperor's name, ordering the formation at Paris of twelve regiments of volunteers, six to be of voltigeurs, and six of tirailleurs of the young guard. At the same time a proclamation was issued by the municipal body, calling upon the Parisians to fly to the assistance of the invaded provinces, and stating as the object of their exertions" honourable peace, which shall maintain the integrity of France in its natural limits; and above all, a speedy deliverance of the French territory." The difficulties under which the finances laboured, was testified by a resolution of the general committee of the bank of France, limiting its payments to 500,000 francs daily from the 20th instant. A favourable statement was given of its capital, and an increase of payment was promised in proportion to the realising of the bills in its portfolio.

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Prince Schwartzenberg, in order to secure the important passage of the Vosges mountains, advanced in force upon Langres, which town was occupied by a body of French guards under Marshal Mortier, who, on his approach, retired to Chaumont. Langres was entered on Jan. 17 by Gen. Guillay, who took in it some cannon and prisoners. Marshal Blucher at this time was in possession of Nancy, the keys of which city he sent to the grand head-quarters. The Emperor of Russia on receiving them, kept two for himself, and sent two to the King of Prussia in

token of equality of alliance and co-operation. The third corps of the Prussian army under General Bulow, was acting with Sir Thomas Graham in Flanders; and on Jan. 13 they joined in a reconnoissance upon Antwerp, into which place they drove the enemy with considerable loss. On Jan. 25 Napoleon left Paris to put himself at the head of his armies. He arrived at St. Dizier, on the Marne, on the 27th, and directed an attack upon a body of the allies, supposed to be the advanced guard of Schwartzenberg, who were obliged to retreat, and in the evening the French army was at Vassy. He afterwards advanced on the rear of the allied army at Brienne, and after an action on the 29th, magnified by some of the French accounts to a considerable victory, took possession of that town and its castle. The presence of the French Emperor in the field drew the allied commanders from different quarters round his position, which would necessarily become the scene of the most important conflict. Blucher, whose head-quarters on the 17th were at Nancy, ordered Toul to be stormed, but the troops posted in it avoided that extremity by a capitulation. That part of his army which consisted of Sacken's division and part of Langeron's, took a position on the 31st near Trannes, his right being in communication with the Prince of Wurtemberg. Schwartzenberg, who from the borders of Switzerland had traversed all the great defences on that side of France, had formed a junction with Blucher's army; and Guillay, with his division, marched from Bar sur l'Aube to support it. Gen. Wrede had advanced to Dourlevent. Napo

leon had drawn up his army in two lines, of which the village of La Rothiere was the centre. The force of the allies was between 70 and 80,000 men. That of the French is by themselves estimated at much less. There were however in the field the corps of Marshal Victor, Marmont, and Mortier, besides those immediately attached to the person of the Emperor. At noon, on Feb. 1, Marshal Blucher began the attack by advancing the corps of Guillay towards Dienville on the enemy's right, and forming the divisions of his own corps in front of La Rothiere. About the same time the Prince Royal of Wurtemberg advanced from Maison upon the village of Giberie, which, after a sharp contest, he carried, and afterwards repulsed an attempt of the enemy to regain it. Gen. Wrede, assisted by the Austrian Uhlans, possessed himself of the village of Tremilly, on the enemy's left, and these successes induced Gen. Sacken to attack the enemy's central position of La Rothiere, which he carried, and frustrated all the attempts of the French, and of Napoleon in person, to recover it. The fruits of the day were thirty-six pieces of cannon and three thousand prisoners. At night the enemy still held the ground beyond La Rothiere, and were in possession of the heights of Brienne; but before morning had determined upon a retreat, and gradually abandoned all his positions about Brienne; his whole loss being seventy-three pieces of cannon and about four thousand prisoners. His retreat was followed by the allies, who obtained some advantages, but the great fall of snow prevented any decisive success. Napoleon continued his retreat on

Troyes and Arcis, and thence to Nogent; and the allies advanced their head-quarters; Schwartzenberg to Bar-sur-Seine, and Blucher to Planci on the Aube. On Feb. 5 Gen. D'Yorck made a successful attack upon the rear of Macdonald's army near to Chausse, between Vitry and Chalons, and took three pieces of cannon aud several hundred prisoners.

The intelligence from the Low Countries at this period, announced that Gen. Bulow and Sir Thomas Graham had made an advance upon Antwerp, in which, after carrying the village of Merxem, they established a battery of cannon aud mortars against that city, which played for two days and a half, when a summons of Bulow to march to the southward, in order to act with the grand army of the allies, obliged the British to march back to their cantonments. The French garrison in Gorcum entered into a capitulation on Feb. 4, the conditions of which were, that if not relieved before the 20th, they were to surrender prisoners of war, and in the mean time an armistice was to take place.

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The consequences tion at La Rothiere were rendered conspicuous in the occupation by the allies of the important town of Troyes, the chief city of Champagne, containing a population of 30,000 souls, and being the point at which a number of roads to the capital unite. It was entered on Feb. 7 by the Prince of Wurtemberg, who had turned the enemy's position near Ruvigni. A detachment from the army of Gen. D'Yorck on the 5th took possession of Vitri; and that general pursuing Macdonald to the gates of Chalons, bombarded the town.

A capitulation was entered into for the evacuation of the place by Macdonald, which he effected on the 6th, withdrawing his own corps and those of Sebastiani and Arighi to the left bank of the Marne. Chalons-sur-Saone was captured by an Austrian force, under the Prince of Hesse Homburg, Gen. Le Grand, who was assembling troops there, retiring upon the road to Lyons.

Hitherto the allies had been advancing in a career of almost uninterrupted success, and the great contest was approaching to a crisis which threatened ruin to the fortunes of the French emperor. In this emergence it cannot be said that he was wanting to himself, or that he manifested any decline of his former vigour and enterprize. Much inferior in physical force to his enemies, and faintly supported by the energies of a nation which he had ruled like a harsh despot, but which his name still held in awe, he was to make head against foes who pressed on him from different quarters, and by some brilliant actions, if possible, was to retrieve his military reputation, and avert the impending danger from the capital of his empire. Not able to oppose an adequate resistance to the advance of the allies in every point at once, it was his plan to concentrate his force at particular parts, and by striking some blows successively, break their communications and disconcert their measures. The report from Blucher's army on Feb. 8, was, that the Fieldmarshal himself was to move forward on that day to Etoges: that Sacken was at Montmirail, with his advanced parties two leagues in front; Gen. D'Yorck at ChateauThierry; and Gen. Kleist at Cha

lons. On the 10th, Napoleon attacked aRussian division underGen. Alsufief, at Champ-aubert; and, according to the French account, captured or destroyed the whole, taking all their cannon and baggage. The statement of numbers, as usual, widely differs in the relations of the opposite parties, but that the stroke was severe, cannot be doubted. On the 12th, the French advancing against Blucher's army, were encountered by Sacken's corps and three brigades of that of D'York, and a severe engagement of several hours ensued, in which Napoleon in person commanded, at the head of his old guards and other detached corps. The result was, that both armies retained their positions, and Napoleon, instead of returning to Montmirail, bivouacked on the ground. On the next day Sacken was at Chateau-Thiery, and it appears that he and D'Yorck afterwards quitted that place, and retired behind the Marne. The French account of this action speaks of a great capture of cannon and prisoners by the Emperor, with whom the advantage evidently rested. Blucher, at this time, was posted at Bergeres, whilst Mar.nont, with the 6th French corps, had taken the position of Etoges. On Feb. 13, Blucher determined upon attacking Marmont, and for that purpose the advanced guard of Kleist's corps was sent forwards; but, on its approach, Marmont gradually retreated, keeping up a brisk fire, and was pursued chiefly by the Cossacks, beyond the village of Champ-aubert. The Field-marshal halted there for the night, and the enemy bivouacked in front of Fromentiers.

On the morning of the 14th, it

being announced that Marmont was still retreating, Blucher resolved upon a further pursuit. He had under his orders only the corps of Kleist, and Gen. Kapsiewitz's division of Langeron's corps. The enemy continued retreating, till he came near the village of Janvilliers, where a considerable body of cavalry was collected. He then suddenly rushed upon six advanced guns, and took possession of them, but they were recovered by the Prussian cavalry. From some prisoners made on the occasion, it was learned that Napoleon himself was on the ground, with all his guards and a large body of cavalry, having made a forced march in the night from Chateau Thierry. Blucher's infantry was at this time advancing in columns on the open grounds on each side of the causeway leading through the village, when a great mass of the enemy's cavalry pushed forward, broke through the cavalry of the advanced guard, and dividing itself, attacked with great fury the columns of infantry. The columns formed into squares, and succeeded in repelling the enemy; but the numbers of the latter increasing, and bodies of cavalry being seen to move round on each flank, the Fieldmarshal resolved upon a retreat. The troops were disposed in the most skilful order for defence against the superior numbers by which they were vigorously assailed; and from Janvilliers to half way between Champ-aubert and Etoges, a distance of nearly four leagues, it was a continued retiring combat. The most perfect order, however, was preserved by the retreating troops, and every charge was repelled. At sunset, a corps of the enemy's cavalry,

which had taken a circuit round the flanks, threw themselves into the line of retreat, and formed into a solid mass with the evident purpose of disputing the passage. Blucher was now entirely surrounded, and nothing was left but to break through his opponents. He instantly made his decision, and arranged his infantry for an attack. They opened a heavy fire upon the intercepting cavalry, which it was unable to withstand, and the passage was left free. Still the flanks and rear of the retreating army were assailed, but not a square or column was broken. At the approach of night, the enemy's infantry succeeded to their cavalry in the attacks, and particularly in the village of Etoges threw a severe fire upon both flanks. Generals Kleist and Kapsiewitz, however, forced the way with their corps, and at length, without further molestation, reached the po~ sition of Bergeres, where they bivouacked for the night. The loss acknowledged on their side amounted to 3,500 men, and seven pieces of artillery. The French account of this action, however, boasts of much greater success, It asserts that several of the squares of the allies were broken; and carries their loss to 10,000 prisoners, 10 pieces of cannon, 10 colours, and a great number killed. That the check given to the army of Silesia was a very serious one, appeared from the necessity Marshal Blucher found himself under of retiring back as far as Chalons, with the complete interruption of his communication with the Austrians. At Chalons he waited for the junotion of the dispersed parts of his force, which gradually took place, so that instead of its annihilation,