CHAP. 1832. Oct. 22. done, and is not now likely to be ever undone. On 22d October 1832, a convention was signed at London between M. de Talleyrand and Lord Palmerston, to the effect "that the kings of Holland and Belgium should be summoned to take, before the 2d November, measures for withdrawing their troops from the places which they respectively held within each other's territories, as fixed by the treaty of 15th November 1831. In the event of this evacuation not being agreed to by King William on the part of Holland, an embargo was immediately to be placed on all Dutch vessels in the harbours of France and England, and an English and French squadron was to be fitted out, which was to arrest all Dutch vessels on the seas. Should Dutch troops still be found on the Belgian territory on the 15th November, a French army was to enter Belgium to expel the Dutch troops from the citadel of Antwerp and the neighbouring forts." Though ostensibly directed against both the contending powers in Flanders, this convention was in reality levelled at Holland alone, since the Belgian troops occupied no part of the Dutch territory. And in order to carry it into immediate effect, a powerful French army, under Marshal Gérard, was ordered to be in readiness on the frontier of Flanders, while a strong English squadron was collected 1 Convenat Spithead. This decisive resolution was taken by the tion, Oct. Cabinets of London and Paris alone; the northern Aun. Hist. powers declined to be parties to it; and as it brought the five powers to the very edge of a general war, it in manner broke up the London conference.1 22, 1832; xv. app. 49, 219, 220; a 410. As might have been expected, the King of Holland returned an answer in the negative to the summons to evacuate the most important fortress in his dominions and this to all appearance brought matters to a general war-France and England on the one side, Austria, Prussia, and Russia on the other. Again, as in 1793, the advance of the French to the Scheldt was to be the signal for a universal conflagration; but this time Eng Cap. vi. 409, XXIX. 1832. CHAP. land was on the opposite side to that she had formerly espoused she interfered now to give Antwerp to France, not to keep it from that power. Such marvels had the Revolution of July in France and the Reform Bill in England already achieved! The danger was imminent that this alliance would produce a corresponding counterleague among the northern powers, and that Prussia in particular would take the alarm at the close approach of danger to her Rhenish provinces. Every effort accordingly was made by the French and English diplomatists to calm the apprehensions of the Cabinet of Berlin, and prevent the cannonade of Antwerp from lighting up the flames of a general war. To the Prussian minister in London they confidentially represented, "That Prussia had nothing to fear from the aggressive movement of France in the Low Country-that it had been stipulated in secret articles that the French troops should not remain in Belgium-that the Cabinet of London would confine their operations to the siege of Antwerp-that there was a precise engagement to that effect and that England was as much interested as Prussia in the faithful execution of that convention." The Cabinet of Berlin, however, was far from being satisfied with these assurances, and, regarding England and France as now united in a league to revolutionise the other states in Europe, they haughtily announced, "that not only would they be no parties to the attack on Holland, but they would oppose it by all the military means in their power." At the same time orders were given to form an army of 70,000 men on the Meuse, and the landwehr of the whole kingdom was called out. It was well known that in this language and these measures Prussia was entirely supported by Russia and Austria, and she openly spoke in the name of the German Diet; so that if the western powers persevered, there did not appear a chance of preserving the peace of Europe.1 * 1 Cap. vi. 413, 415; Protocole de la 46e Séance de la Diète ique, Dec. 6, 1832; Ann. Hist. xv. 177. * "Ainsi qu'il est déjà à la connaissance de la sérénissime diète, la Grande Bretagne et la France ont l'intention d'employer des mesures coërcitives contre XXIX. 1832. preparations preparations France. When the two western powers in this manner threw CHAP. down the gauntlet to the rest of continental Europe, England was, as usual after a long peace, wholly unpre- 87. pared for war. No preparations whatever had been Want of made for it; her forces by sea and land had been brought in England, down by the incessant clamour of the House of Commons and great for economy to the lowest point, and it is impossible to for war in over-estimate the disasters which might have ensued, if, in this unprotected state, she had been suddenly precipitated into hostilities with the whole of Germany and Russia. But it was far otherwise in France. Separated only by the waters of the Rhine from the Germanic Confederacy, which could bring 300,000 men into the field, and aware that it was the object of general continental jealousy and distrust from its revolutionary origin, the new Government of France had made the most herculean efforts to increase its war establishment, and it had now attained a most formidable degree of magnitude and consistency. Never, not even in the memorable years 1793 and 1813, had so great a number of men been enrolled in so short a time under the national standards, and never was a more powerful army ready to commence opera la Hollande, pour faire exécuter les 24 articles adoptés par le traité de Londres du 15 Nov. de l'année dernière, tels que ceux qui ont été modifiés par des négotiations postérieures. Quoique ces mesures coërcitives soient limitées à la prise de la citadelle d'Anvers, il est impossible en cas de résistance de la part de la Hollande, de concevoir cet état de choses comme n'étant pas la guerre, et de considérer cette guerre entre la Hollande et ces deux puissances comme n'étant pas dans le cours des évènemens, et d'un extrême danger pour la paix de l'Europe. l'Autriche, la Prusse, et la Russie n'ont pas manqué de prendre des moyens pour s'opposer à ces mesures de coërcition contre un Etat indépendant, et en même temps ces trois puissances ont refusé d'y prendre part ou de les approuver. Néanmoins comme la Grande Bretagne et la France d'après leur position et leurs relations avec la Belgique croient avoir des motifs de persister dans leur résolution, le soussigné représentant de la Prusse a été autorisé à faire inscrire dans le protocole de la Diète, que des ordres ont été donnés par le roi son maître afin que le septième corps d'armée, qui jusqu'ici a été stationné en Westphalie, passe le Rhin et prenne position entre Aix-laChapelle et Gueldres, dans le but de couvrir ses frontières sur la rive droite de la Meuse, vis-à-vis la Belgique et la Hollande, et en même temps que le huitième corps stationné sur le Rhin serve de corps de réserve à l'autre."-Protocole de la 46 Année de la Diète Germanique du 6 Dec. 1832; Ann. Hist., xv. 177; Doc. Hist. To this protocol Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, and all the other German powers, gave in their adhesion.-Ibid. XXIX. CHAP. tions. From an official statement published in the Moniteur, it appeared that in the beginning of December in 1832. this year, when the siege of the citadel of Antwerp was going on, France had 396,000 regular troops ready to take the field, besides 1,231,000 national guards, armed, disciplined, and equipped, of whom more than half might be immediately rendered movable, and put in a condition to take the field. This immense force was armed with 908,000 muskets and bayonets, and 240,000 sabres, and it was 1832, and provided with 185 companies of artillery, besides 630 pieces of cannon, placed on the ramparts of the principal fortresses of the kingdom.1 1 Moniteur, Nov. 24, Dec. 3, Ann. Hist. xv. 285. 88. Preparations of England for the siege of Antwerp. Self-confident in their resources and strength, France, from the immensity of the military means at its disposal, and England, from its insular situation, naval power, and and France former fame, the western powers resolved, notwithstanding these alarming appearances, to prosecute the siege of the citadel of Antwerp. Great preparations were made by both powers for the approaching conflict. An army of 48,000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, and 6000 artillery and engineers, was assembled on the Belgian frontier, under Marshal Gérard, forming above 60,000 effective combatants, while 40,000 more were stationed on the Moselle, to watch the Prussian army, which was grouped on the right bank of the Meuse. At the same time, a British xv.285,286; squadron of five ships of the line, accompanied by a 1832, 368; French one of three, with five frigates, made sail from the Cap. vi. 412, 413. Downs to blockade the Scheldt, and join in any warlike operations where they could be rendered serviceable.2 Ever since the rupture between Belgium and Holland, Description the town of Antwerp had been in the hands of the Belgian del of Ant- troops, but the citadel remained in the possession of the Dutch, who, to the number of 5000 men, under General Chassé, held its formidable ramparts. This celebrated stronghold, which is separated from the town by an esplanade, is situated on the right bank of the Scheldt, above the town, but commanding the harbour, and has 2 Ann. Hist. Ann. Reg. 89. of the cita werp. XXIX. 1832. always been considered as one of the strongest places in Europe. It was built by the Duke of Alva during the war between Spain and the United Provinces in the sixteenth century, to command the navigation of the Scheldt, and be the chief frontier fortress towards Holland. Its strength was largely added to by Napoleon when he made Antwerp the great pivot on which his designs against Great Britain were to be rested. To the west it is protected by the river, which is very deep there, and by an advanced work, called the "Tête de Flandre," which effectually bars all progress up the river. The ditches of the citadel are on the same level as the Scheldt, and kept constantly full from its waters, which are prevented from escaping with the receding tide by means of flood-gates, which are opened when it rises and shut when it falls. On the western or land side, the fortress is covered by several strong outworks, of which the lunette of St Laurent, the fort of Montebello, and the fort of Keil, are the most considerable; and the rampart is strengthened by immense bastions, among which the bastion of Toledo stands conspicuous. The garrison, which consisted of 5000 men, under the resolute veteran General Chassé, was composed of brave and experienced soldiers; 180 guns, most of them of very heavy calibre, armed the works; and ample casemates and covered lodgings were constructed behind them, to protect the troops from the effect of a bombardment. In addition to this, the King of Holland had raised his army to xv.285,286; 120,000 men, and called out the whole landwehr, so that 418. everything presaged a desperate conflict.1 1 Ann. Hist. Cap. vi. 416, 90. ment of the In Nov. 1832, The French troops, to the number of 60,000, with an immense siege equipage, crossed the frontier of CommenceBelgium at Charleroi on the 18th November, and siege. directed their steps in the first instance to Brussels. doing so, they of necessity passed over the very centre of the field of Waterloo. The streets of Genappe, the hamlet of La Belle Alliance, the farmhouse of La Haye |