CAPTURE OF PARIS.—SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON, ETC.
The first man that carried the news of the disaster to Paris was Napoleon himself. Leaving his brother Jerome on the frontier to try if he could rally some of the remains of his army, he flew to the capital, where he arrived on the night of the 20th. It is evident that he still calculated upon the devotion of the corps législatif to his cause; but he soon discovered that he had forfeited their affection. Had he been victorious they would, doubtless, still have fawned upon him; but now he was thoroughly beaten, they demanded his abdication. Both chambers declared that there was but one man between France and peace; and Napoleon found himself compelled to sign his second abdication. He did this in favour of his son; but the chambers refused to pronounce his son emperor, and formed a temporary government for the purpose of conducting the administration. In the meantime the allies had been marching towards Paris. They were opposed by French troops at St. Cloud, Issy, and Mendon, but no successful opposition could be made; and Blucher prepared to take a terrible revenge on Paris for the calamities brought on suffering Europe. His vengeance, however, was averted. On the 3rd of July Massena, commander-in-chief of the French forces, signed a capitulation with the allies, by which it was agreed that Louis XVIII. should be restored to his throne; that the French troops should evacuate Paris; and that Paris should be garrisoned by the allied armies Thus deserted, Napoleon resolved to retire from France. A frigate was waiting at Rochefort to convey him to America; but the English cruisers were hovering about the port, and he found escape impossible. In this extremity he presented himself with his suite on board the English ship, Bellerophon, from whence he wrote a letter, asking the prince regent’s protection. He imagined that he would be allowed to reside in England in a private capacity; but his known restless ambition precluded the possibility of this favour being extended to him. Taught by experience that his ambition was irrepressible, an order was given to convey him to St. Helena; and soon afterwards he was conveyed to that rock which was destined to be his retreat, his restraint, and for a time his tomb. The dream of his ambition had passed away for ever.
“Fame is the shade of immortality, And in itself a shadow; soon as caught Contemn’d, it shrinks to nothing in the grasp.” —Young
GEORGE III. 1814-1818