classes of twenty-five in each; every class | Keane, the former of whom expired on the to furnish one able-bodied man to serve du- following day. The loss of the enemy, acring the war; that assessors should deter- cording to the official statement of their mine the territorial precincts of each class, general, was incredibly small, not exceed so that the property in each division should ing seventy-one. General Lambert, on be as nearly equal as possible; that, in case whom the command now devolved, after of failure, a penalty should be levied on each holding a consultation with admiral Cochclass, to be divided among them, in propor- rane, determined to reimbark the troops, tion to the property of individuals; and that and to abandon the enterprise. The conevery five male inhabitants liable to military cluding operation of the war was the capduty, who should join to furnish one soldier ture of Fort Bowyer, on Mobile Point, in during the war, should be exempt from the Gulf of Mexico, which, being wholly unable to resist the British force, capitulated on the eleventh of February, 1815. PEACE WITH AMERICA-CAPTURE OF

service.

FAILURE AT NEW-ORLEANS.

In the beginning of December, admiral Cochrane's squadron arrived at the mouths THE PRESIDENT FRIGATE. of the river Mississippi, with a considerable BEFORE these events took place, the labody of troops, commanded by major-gene- bors of the plenipotentiaries assembled at ral Keane. The first object was to reduce Ghent were brought to a close; a treaty of a flotilla of gun-boats on Lac Borgne, which peace and amity having been signed on the was gallantly performed on the fourteenth, twenty-fourth of December, which was afby captain Lockyer, with the boats of the terwards ratified by both governments. The squadron. On the twenty-third, the first treaty, which was negotiated on the part of division of troops, amounting to two thou- America by Adams, Bayard, Clay, Russel, sand four hundred men, were landed within and Gallatin, and of Great Britain by lord six miles of the city, and in the night they Gambier, Goulbourn, and Adams, was silent were attacked by the Americans; but, after on the grand cause of the war and primary sustaining some loss, they maintained their object of dispute,-the right of search; but, position. On the twenty-fifth, on which day as America abandoned her claim of comthe second division joined, major-general Sir pensation for the captures made under the E. Pakenham, an officer of distinguished British orders in council, and omitted all merit, who had served in the Peninsula, ar- mention of her original pretensions, her rerived, and took the command. He found sistance to the maritime claims of England the British army posted on a piece of flat must be considered as tacitly abandoned. ground, with the Mississippi on the left, and All conquests, on either side, were to be rea thick wood on the right. The enemy stored.--Britain retaining the islands in Paswere stationed behind an intrenchment, ex- samaquoddy bay, which were hers by the tending from the river on their right to the treaty of 1783. Under this article the wood on their left, a distance of about a Americans had only the defenceless shore of thousand yards. This line was strengthened the Detroit, on the frontier of the two with flank-works, and had a canal in front, provinces, to offer in exchange for their about four feet deep: on the further bank fortress of Niagara and the important post of the Mississippi the Americans had a bat- of Michilimackinac, both of which were still tery of twelve guns, which enfiladed the in possession of the British. The Indians whole front of their position. The disposi- were to be restored to the rights and postion for the attack, which was to be made sessions which they held in 1812; it was during the night, was formidable; but unex- reciprocally agreed that commissioners pected difficulties, increased by the falling should be appointed for settling the disputes of the river, occasioned considerable delay respecting boundaries; and both parties ento the entrance of the armed boats, and the gaged to continue their efforts for the entire attack did not take place until the columns abolition of the slave-trade. were discernible from the enemy's line at The interval between the actual conclumore than two hundred yards' distance. sion of the treaty, and the circulation of The troops engaged on each side may be that important intelligence, enabled the Enestimated at ten thousand; and, since the glish navy to obtain another triumph. The breaking out of the war, no engagement had, President, one of the largest frigates yet perhaps, been fought with so much bravery- sent to sea by the United States, commandnone, certainly, with so disastrous a result. ed by captain Decatur, accompanied by the The loss of the British, in killed, wounded, Macedonian, armed brig, laden with proviand prisoners, amounted to two thousand and sions, sailed from New-York during one of forty, including, in the former, the com- those gales in which the blockading squadmander-in-chief, who fell while bravely en- ron was driven out to sea. After a long chase couraging his men on the edge of the glacis, the Endymion, captain Hope, came up with and among the wounded, generals Gibbs and the former, when a severe action ensued, in

which the President, having crippled her gret on those halcyon days when conquered adversary in the rigging, was enabled to get and invaded nations administered to the ahead. The British frigate Pomona now gratification of their ruling passion. Aware coming up, the President surrendered, after of the disposition of the army, and confiexchanging a few broadsides. The mutual ding in their attachment, Buonaparte does advantages of a free interchange of com- not appear to have made any specific armercial communication between two coun- rangement, or adopted any regular plan of tries, whose interest it is at all times to march; but, as soon as a favorable opportucherish the relations of peace, were resumed nity of escape presented, to have trusted enshortly after this event; and in both was tirely to the power of his name and presthe termination of the war hailed with un- ence. feigned satisfaction.

PARLIAMENT.

Louis

At Grenoble a large quantity of ammunition fell into the hands of Buonaparte, who THE session of parliament was opened on pushed on, at the head of only six hundred the eighth of November, 1814, by a speech horse, to Lyons, whence the disaffected troops from the prince-regent, of which the lead- had previously compelled Monsieur to reing topics were the pending negotiations at tire. Here he halted to refresh his followGhent, and the intended congress at Vien- ers; reviewed the whole of his army, which na. Adverting to the supplies for the ensu- now made a formidable appearance; assu ing year, his royal highness regretted the med the imperial state; and began to issue necessity of so large an expenditure, and proclamations and decrees. The same reconcluded by recommending that parliament bellious spirit appeared in other places. Marshould proceed with due caution in the adop-shal Ney, having issued a proclamation, dation of such regulation as might be neces- ted the fourteenth of March, describing the sary for extending the trade of Great Brit- Bourbons as unfit to reign, and recommendain, and securing her commercial advan- ing his troops to join the august Napoleon, tages. The usual address was carried with- went over to the invader at Lons le Saulout a division. nier. Secure in the support of the army, RETURN OF BUONAPARTE FROM ELBA. Buonaparte proceeded on his march, and 1815.-DETERMINED on one more despe- entered Paris on the evening of the twenti rate effort, Napoleon Buonaparte again stood eth. On the following morning he showed forward to alarm, and it might almost be himself at a window in the garden of the said, to appal, the surrounding nations. On Thuilleries; and, about noon, he reviewed the twentieth of February, 1815, he laid an the troops on the Place Carousel. embargo on the vessels in the ports of Elba, the eighteenth, accompanied by marshals assembled his guards, and declared his pur- Berthier and Macdonald, had previously left pose of contending for the imperial crown Paris for Lisle, whither Monsieur and marof France. On the twenty-sixth (Sir Neil shal Marmont were also retiring with a conCampbell, the English commissioner ap- siderable force. One of the first measures pointed to reside in Elba, being at this time of Buonaparte was to dispatch Caulincourt in Italy) he embarked in four vessels, with to invite the archdutchess Maria Louisa to about a thousand men ; on the first of March, reunite her fortunes with his; and, for some he effected a landing near Cannes; and in time, the Parissians were amused with the four days the astounding news reached the expectation that their empress would return. capital. Monsieur, the king's brother, im- The imperial carriages were ordered from mediately set off from Paris with marshal St. Cloud to meet her and her son on their Ney, who treacherously kissed the hand of route from Vienna; their arrival was even Louis, and swore to bring his old comrade announced; but neither the empress of to the capital in an iron cage. His majesty France nor the king of Rome appeared. An at the same time convoked an extraordinary attempt to kidnap the baby monarch proved meeting of the legislative body, which in- also unsuccessful. stantly voted addresses, and declared their inviolable attachment to the throne. The king and his ministers adopted such! As soon as the intelligence of Buonameasures as seemed best calculated to in- parte's irruption had reached Vienna, the sure the public safety; but, unfortunately, allied powers issued a solemn manifesto, in the army was rotten at the very core. The which they declared, that, by thus breakFrench soldiers had never heartily joined ing the convention which had established with the enemies of their chief; his name him in the island of Elba, Buonaparte had and the imperial eagle were still dear to destroyed the only legal title on which his them; and, as they claimed an important existence depended; that, by appearing share in the establishment of his military again in France with projects of confusion glory, so they had continued to sympathize and disorder, he had deprived himself of the in his disgrace, and to look back with re-protection of the law, and had manifested

MEASURES OF ALLIED POWERS.-STATE

OF PARIS.

to the universe that there could be neither mode of promulgating which, without the peace nor truce with him; that he had sanction of any public body, was evidently placed himself without the pale of civil dangerous to national freedom; and neither and social relations; and that, as an enemy the republicans nor the constitutionalists and disturber of the tranquillity of the relished this anticipation of the solemn naworld, he had rendered himself liable to tional compact, for which he had appointed public vengeance. The allies, at the same the Champ de Mai. The royal charter, time, expressed their firm determination to subsisting as a fundamental law, could not maintain entire the treaty of Paris, and to be innovated upon; but the additional act employ all their means, and unite all their in some measure confirmed the mass of conefforts, to prevent the peace of Europe from tradictory laws already prescribed by Buobeing again troubled. This declaration was naparte, and was liable to be modified, limfollowed by a new treaty, signed at Vienna ited, and controlled by the old imperial on the twenty-fifth of March, by which the decrees embodied in the constitutions to contracting parties solemnly engaged not which this act was proffered as a suppleto lay down their arms but in agreement ment.

with each other; nor until Buonaparte The assembly of the Champ de Mai was should be wholly and completely deprived held on the first of June, various arrangeof the power of exciting disturbances, and of renewing his attempts to obtain the supreme power in France.

ments having been previously made to influence the votes; and after a declaration of the arch-chancellor, that the new conAbout a fortnight after his return to stitution was accepted by an almost unaniParis, Buonaparte severally addressed let- mous concurrence of votes, but unaccomters to the allied sovereigns, stating that he panied by the slightest evidence of their had been restored by the unanimous wish validity, the emperor signed the additional of the French people, and that he was de-act, to which he swore upon the evangel sirous of maintaining peace on the terms ists to adhere. He then distributed his which had been settled with the Bourbons. eagles to the troops of the line and the naThe congress, to which these letters were tional guard, as they passed before him, and generally referred, agreed that no answer swore to defend their colors. The next should be returned to them; and, both at point was to assemble the chambers, which home and abroad, he found himself surround- took place on the Sunday following, when ed by difficulties of no ordinary kind. In the representatives elected for their presiseveral parts of France the royalists were dent Lanjuinais, an individual peculiarly in arms; and, however willing his military obnoxious to Buonaparte; but, notwithassociates might be to support him in the standing the chagrin occasioned by this cirabsolute dominion he had possessed as em- cumstance, he complacently expedited all peror, the republican party, on which he his civil affairs, such as the installation of was chiefly obliged to depend, would only his chambers of commons and of peers; inreceive him as the head of a popular gov- formed them that his first duty called him ernment. The liberty of the press, which to meet the formidable coalition of empehe reluctantly conceded, facilitated the cirrors and kings that threatened their indeculation of much that was obnoxious to pendence, and that the army and himself him; and the interference of the police, on would acquit themselves well; recommendsuch occasions, was resented by the repub- ing to them the destinies of France, his licans as an infraction of the promised free- own personal safety, and, above all, the libdom. The declarations of the allied pow- erty of the press. When the ceremonials ers were also distributed throughout France, were completed, Buonaparte quitted Paris in the hope that, by making his danger for the frontiers, where, by one of those more apparent, he would be compelled to rapid movements which have so frequently surrender many sovereign prerogatives. His distinguished his career, he put his forces cabinet became the scene of vehement con- in motion upon the Sambre on the fifteenth tention, and he was at length induced to of June. conciliate the attachment of the council of state by a solemn promise to adhere to their advice in the formation of a new constitu- THE close of the last year had left the tion. Having thus divided their strength whole fortified frontier of the Belgic provand lulled their suspicion, he took advan- inces on the side of France occupied by tage of their apathy, fled from the Thuille- strong garrisons, chiefly of English troops, ries, seized the impregnable palace of Bour- or in the pay of England; and, since Buobon, and, surrounded by a body of his guard, naparte's return, continued reinforcements he published the outline of a new constitu- had been sent from this country, the whole tion of his own arrangement, under the of which were placed under the command singular title of "An additional Act;" the of the duke of Wellington. In the latter

MOVEMENTS OF FRENCH AND ALLIED

FORCES.-BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

part of May the Prussian army, under superior numbers. As evening advanced prince Blucher, had arrived in the neigh- the situation of the Prussians became more borhood of Namur, and frequent confer- hopeless; there were no tidings of Bulow; ences took place between the two generals the British division could with difficulty relative to co-operation. Buonaparte de- maintain its own position at Les Quatre termined to attack them while the Russians Bras; and Blucher was at length obliged and Austrians were too distant to afford to retire upon Pilly, leaving behind him succor; and on the 15th of June, at day- sixteen pieces of cannon, and a great numbreak, the Prussian out-posts on the Sam- ber of killed and wounded. The retreat, bre were driven in general Ziethen was however, was effected with such order that compelled to retire from Charleroi through the French did not think it prudent to purFleurus, to unite himself with the main sue him, and he formed again within a Prussian army, which lay in the vicinity of quarter of a league from the field of battle. St. Amand and Ligny; and, towards even- The gallant marshal, in one of the charges ing, an advanced corps of Belgians was of cavalry, nearly closed his long and illus driven to the position of Les Quatre Bras. trious life, his horse having fallen, mortally The duke of Wellington, although he wounded, and himself being rode over by had used his best endeavors to gain imme- the French cuirassiers, who were repulsed diate intelligence when Buonaparte joined and pursued by the Prussian cavalry before his army, does not appear to have been very he was discovered and remounted. early informed of that event, as, in conse- Early in the afternoon of the same day, quence of the want of provisions, and espe- the sixteenth, marshal Ney, after skirmishcially of forage, he had found it necessary ing for a considerable time, commenced his to disperse his army very much. The grand attack on the British, at Les Quatre British head-quarters were at Brussels. As Bras, with about forty thousand men; and soon as the movements of the French were the position was maintained, with the most ascertained, the whole of the army was signal intrepidity, by the prince of Orange, ordered to advance upon Les Quatre Bras, the duke of Brunswick, and Sir Thomas and, early in the morning, the prince of Picton, who completely defeated every atOrange reinforced the brigade which had tempt to get possession of it. In this acbeen driven from thence, regained part of tion the French were not only superior in the ground, and commanded the communi- numbers, but were comparatively fresh, the cation with Blucher, who was posted on the allies having been marching from the preheights between Brie and Sombref, await- ceding midnight. In pursuing a French ing the attack of the French, although the division, which was repulsed early in the fourth corps under Bulow had not joined. engagement, some British troops exposed Except the corps of Ney, who was at themselves unawares to a body of cuiras Frasne, opposed to the British at Les Qua-siers, who, taking advantage of an inetre Bras, and of Grouchy, who was in the quality of ground, on which corn was grow rear of Fleurus, Buonaparte attacked the ing as high as the shoulders of the tallest Prussians with his whole force, bring- man, were posted in ambush; and the galing up not less than one hundred and ten lant forty-second regiment of Highlanders, thousand men against eighty thousand. in particular, suffered most severely. About About three in the afternoon he carried the three o'clock the duke of Wellington came village of St. Amand, after a vigorous re- on the field with the British guards. At sistance; and his next efforts were directed this period the French had dispossessed the against Ligny, where the contest was main- Belgian sharp-shooters from the Bois de tained with the utmost obstinacy, for five Bossu, which enfiladed the British position. hours. About two hundred cannons from General Maitland, with the guards, was both sides were directed against this unfor- instantly ordered to recover this wood, and tunate village; and it took fire in many the service was speedily effected. In this places at once. Sometimes the battle ex- obstinate conflict the British lost many extended along the whole line. About five cellent officers; and had particularly to dethe Prussians, led by Blucher, in person, plore their gallant ally, the duke of Bruns recovered St. Amand, and regained the wick, who was killed by a musket-ball. heights; and at this moment they might Marshal Blucher, who found himself so have profited greatly by their advantage, if much weakened by the battle of Ligny as Bulow had arrived; but either the march to be under the necessity of continuing his of this corps had been miscalculated, or the retreat, concentrated his army near Wavre, nature and state of the roads had not been about six leagues to the rear of his former taken into the account. From the duke of position, and considerably farther disjoined Wellington he could receive no assistance; from the line of the duke of Wellington's for as many of his troops as had come up operations. His march was followed by were themselves perilously engaged with Grouchy, whilst Buonaparte, with the rest

of his army, made a movement to the left, as much as possible during the night; and to unite himself with Ney, and attack the so severe was the contest, that, within half English at Quatre Bras. Blucher's move- an hour, fifteen hundred men were slain in ment obliged the duke of Wellington to an orchard not exceeding four acres in exretire upon Genappe, and thence upon tent. Great efforts were made by the asWaterloo. The retreat began towards sailants, who surrounded the house on three noon on the seventeenth, and was well sides, and burnt a great part of it to the covered by the cavalry and horse artillery. ground; but it was defended with the utA large body of French cavalry, headed by most gallantry to the last. The assault lancers, followed with some boldness, espe- upon Hougoumont was accompanied by a cially at Genappe, where the little river heavy fire from more than two hundred which runs through the town is crossed by pieces of artillery upon the whole British a narrow bridge; but the pursuit was not line; and, under cover of this fire, repeated vigorous, and between five and six in the attacks had been made, one of which was afternoon the whole army reached the ap- so serious, and made with such numbers, pointed ground. that it required all the skill of the British The position which the duke of Welling-commander to post his troops, and all the ton occupied was in front of the village and courage and discipline of his soldiers to farm of Mont St. Jean, about a mile and a withstand the assailants. In this attack half in advance of the little town of Water- Sir Thomas Picton was mortally woundloo. The rain, which was heavy through-ed, by a musket-ball in the head, and Sir out the night, began to abate about nine in William Ponsonby was slain by the Polish the morning, when Buonaparte, whose lancers.

head-quarters were then at Planchenois, a On the left of the centre the enemy obfarm some little distance in the rear of the tained a temporary success. Some light French line, and about fifteen miles from troops of the German legion had been staBrussels, put his army in motion. His tioned in the farm of La Haye Sainte; the position was on a ridge immediately oppo- French succeeded in occupying the comsite to that of the British, at a distance munication between them and the army; varying from a thousand to twelve or thirteen and, when all the ammunition of the behundred yards; the right on the heights in sieged was expended, they carried the front of Planchenois; the centre at a little farm-house, and bayoneted the Hanoverians country tavern and farm, famous from that stationed to defend it. From this position day in history for its appropriate name of they were never driven, till the grand adLa Belle Alliance; the left leaning on the vance of the British in the evening. The road to Brussels from Nivelles. The cui- battle continued with the most desperate rassiers were in reserve behind, and the intrepidity on both sides, Buonaparte conimperial guards upon the heights. Grou- tinually bringing forward his troops in conchy and Vandamme had been detached to- siderable masses, which the British and wards Wavre against the Prussians; and their allies repulsed. The duke of Welthe sixth corps, under count Lobau, with a lington was every where, and never were body of cavalry, was in the rear of the right, his exertions more needful; sometimes he ready to oppose a Prussian corps, "which," was rallying broken infantry, and somesays an official French account, "appeared times placing himself within the squares. to have escaped marshal Grouchy, and to No man, indeed, ever had more confidence threaten to fall upon our right flank." in his troops, and no troops ever more amThinking to bear down the British army by ply returned the confidence which they so dint of numbers, he brought against their well deserved. On this day both men and force, comprising altogether about seventy-leaders were put to the proof: none of their five thousand, of which the British did not former fields of glory, many as they had exceed thirty-three thousand, three corps of seen together, had been so stubbornly coninfantry, and almost all his cavalry, amount- tested, or so dearly won. The carnage, ing, with artillery, to one hundred and ten owing partly to the confined extent of the thousand men, forty thousand more being ground, and the consequent intermixture of in reserve, or awaiting the Prussians on the the contending forces, was such as the Britright. ish army had never before experienced; The two points of the greatest import-but it would have been still greater, had ance in the British position were the farm not the ground been soaked with rain, in of Hougoumont, with its wood and garden consequence of which the balls seldom in front of the right, and that of La Haye rose after they touched it, and the shells Sainte, in front of the left; and, about ten frequently buried themselves in the mud. o'clock, Soult and Ney attacked the former Buonaparte, about seven in the evening, with their usual impetuosity. This point made a last and desperate effort to force the the duke of Wellington had strengthened left of the British centre near La Haye