the throne of France for ever. By that treaty the island of Elba was assigned to him in full sovereignty; and on the 20th of April he departed, with 400 soldiers of the guard, who had obtained permission to accompany him to his miniature kingdom. He went to lord it over an island instead of a world-a biting satire upon his ambition.

We have now traced the mazy windings of the history of that giant among the sons of men— Napoleon. That his mind was capacious, and capable of performing great things, is undeniable; but, in contemplating this incontrovertible truth, the words of the poet rush to memory :—

"Had he been a Christian, how had he blest mankind !"

This was the rock on which he foundered his bark. Having no principles but those which infidelity, vain philosophy, and nature implanted in his breast, the talents with which he was endowed were all rendered subservient to his restless ambition. Even when he introduced the form of religion into France, and granted religious toleration to the Protestants, the perversion of his mind was visible. Self then ruled dominant; for it was state policy, and not love to God or man, that led him thus to act. At the same time, however, he bore testimony to the value of religion. Evidence was placed before his eyes, in the history of the republic, that infidelity and anarchy are twin sisters-that where the one is, there the other must be also. Hence, before he could hope to establish order in the government of France, he saw that there must be a national religion. But what that

religion was, whether Popish or Protestant, was a matter of small moment to him, so long as he could consolidate his power thereon. And this is seen in his after history likewise. An utter disregard of the principles of religion marked his whole career; ay, and of his Romish and Protestant subjects— the latter especially. For instance, the majority of the Protestants were engaged in commerce or manufactures; on which, regardless of the rights of nations, and the happiness of individuals, he laid his universal ban in the days of his power. Hence it was, that when he was toppled down from the giddy heights to which he had ascended, the Protestants regarded his fall as the dawn of prosperity, and exhibited no affection for the deposed dynasty. He granted them liberty of conscience, indeed, but rendered them serfs in the state. No matter whether rich or poor, all were compelled to submit to his despotic line of policy. Smarting, therefore, under the remembrance of this, when the Bourbon dynasty was restored, their loyalty was manifested in an unequivocal manner. In the religious services with which they celebrated the restoration, the return of the Israelites from the Babylonish captivity was selected as the closest parallel in sacred history. The Romanists, too, felt themselves restrained under Napoleon's rule; and the popular joy among them on his fall was unbounded. All felt the oppressiveness of his rule; though thousands, while the halo of military glory shone around his head, and reflected doubtful honour on their country, were pleased with the chains with which he had enshackled them.

Such was the character of Napoleon throughout

his career; such was it when he was banished to the isle of Elba; and such it still remained. For, though the reader has been conducted to that point in his history which unfolds the wresting of his sword from his hands, he will find that the giant was not yet disabled from taking it up on a future day, to make war again with Europe.

CHAPTER V.

RESTORATION OF THE BRANCH OF VALOIS BOURBON.

LOUIS XVIII.

The First Restoration.

A.D. 1814-1815.

Section I.

LOUIS STANISLAUS XAVIER, the head of the royal house whom the senate called to the throne of France, under the title of Louis XVIII., had, in his youth, acquired, as count de Provence, great popularity, by declaring himself, in the second assembly of notables, in favour of the double representation of the tiers état. Yet, when the house of Bourbon was driven from Paris, he, as one of the hated house, was compelled to take flight at the same time with them. For some time he fixed his abode at Turin. He subsequently sought retreat at Verona, in Russia, Prussia, Poland, Sweden, and finally in England, whose generous succour of the emigrants of France reflects great honour on her national character.

While in England, Louis xvIII. resided in retirement at Hartwell, in Hertfordshire; and he left that place for France on the very day that Napoleon left Fontainbleau for Elba. He sailed from Dover on the 24th of April, in the royal

yacht, and proceeded toward Paris by easy stages, being aged and infirm. At Compeigne he was introduced to the French marshals; and as he leaned on two of them, he observed,It is on

you I always wish to support myself."

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Monsieur, the count d'Artois, was already in Paris, where the white flag had been hoisted under his auspices, and the Bourbons proclaimed. Before Louis entered, although he at first demurred at accepting the constitution tendered by the senate, yet, by the advice of Talleyrand and the emperor Alexander, he sent before him a declaration by which he guaranteed to the French the enjoyment of the liberties promised by the senatorial constitution, and maintained a large proportion of its clauses.

Historians differ as to the manner in which Louis XVIII. was received in Paris, some asserting that the only cry heard was, Vive le roi, while others maintain that this cry was frequently drowned in that of Vive le garde. Be that as it may, it seems certain that the spirit of disaffection was soon discernible among the Parisians. Their first cause of complaint arose from the formation of the ministry. It was considered wrong in Louis to choose any members who were strangers to the spirit of the revolution, and yet many of them were such. Then again it was complained that some of the members of the ministry were recommended to the monarch's choice by services anterior to 1789, or by his own personal attachment. All this was ominous; and it required but little sagacity to foresee that his throne would not prove enduring.

As soon as the ministry was formed, active