110

INTERVIEW WITH NAPOLEON.

seemed to rouse himself for a moment, and obeying Napoleon's orders, marched on Geneva, and defeated the Austrians before the town. Compelled, however, to retire, he retreated towards Lyons, and at Limonet fought his last battle. It was brave and worthy of his character; but though he left nearly three thousand of the enemy dead on the field, while he lost but two thousand, he was compelled to retire; and evacuate Lyons, retreating towards Valence.

At the latter place, a proclamation was issued by the inhabitants on Napoleon's abdication, loading the fallen Emperor with the most opprobrious epithets, and extolling Louis XVIII. as the idol of his country. To this atrocious proclamation Augereau's signature was affixed. On his way to Elba, Napoleon met Augereau unexpectedly near Valence, and an interview took place, which from the different versions given of it furnishes a curious illustration of the historical contradictions connected with this period.

Says the "Court and Camp of Napoleon," "Soon after this the 'Fructidor General' and the ex-emperor met at a short distance from Valence, as the latter was on his way to Elba. "I have thy proclamation," said Napoleon, "thou hast betrayed me."—"Sire," replied the Marshal, "it is you who have betrayed France and the army, by sacrificing both to a frantic spirit of ambition." "Thou hast chosen thyself a new master," said Napoleon-"I have no account to render theo on that score," replied the General"Thou hast no courage," replied Bonaparte" "Tis thou hast none," responded the General, and turned his back without any respect on his late master." This precious bit of dialogue is detailed with so much. minuteness, that one would incline to believe it, even

against counter statements, were it not for the falsehood it bears on its own face. The whole scene is unnatural; and to wind up with a charge of cowardice on the part of each, is supremely ridiculous. For two men who had fought side by side at Lodi, Arcola, and Castiglione, and stormed together over so many battle-fields, to accuse each other of cowardice at that late hour, would be a child's play that Augereau might stoop to-but Napoleon never.

Here is another account of this interview by Mr. Alison: "At noon on the following day, he accidentally met Augereau on the road, near Valence, both alighted from their carriages, and ignorant of the atrocious proclamation, in which that Marshal had so recently announced his conversion to the Bourbons, the Emperor embraced him, and they walked together on the road for a quarter of an hour in the most amicable manner. It was observed, however, that Augereau kept his helmet on his head as he walked along. A few minutes after, the Emperor entered Valence, and beheld the proclamation placarded on the walls." It need not be remarked, that the latter is the most reliable account of the two. A great many of the incidents of Napoleon's life, which have been gathered up by English writers, are as fabulous as the first account of this interview between him and Augereau.

Louis XVIII. rewarded him by making him Peer of France, and bestowing on him the Cross of St. Louis, and the command of the 14th Division in Normandy.

On Napoleon's landing from Elba, Augereau was struck with astonishment to find himself proclaimed by the Emperor as a traitor. He, however, made no reply,

hoping by a seasonable conversion, to extricate himself from the difficulties that surrounded him. Republican as he was, he never allowed his principles to interfere with his self-interest, nor his conscience with his safety. No sooner had Napoleon entered Paris in triumph, than Augereau issued a proclamation to his soldiers, urging them once more to "march under the victorious wings of those immortal eagles, which had so often conducted them to glory." Napoleon, who had never respected him, and after his infamous proclamation at Valence, thoroughly despised him, paid no attention to this delicate compliment of his flexible Marshal. Knowing him too thoroughly to trust him, and disdaining to molest him, he let the betrayer of two masters pass into silent neglect. Poor Augereau, robbed of all his plumes, retired to his country estate, where he remained till the second restoration, when he again sent in his protestations of devotion to the king. But there is a limit, even to a Bourbon's vanity; and Louis, turning a deaf ear to his solicitations and flattery, he again retired to his estate, where he died in June, 1816, of a dropsy in the chest.

Augereau was essentially a mean man, though a brave one. He was a weak-headed, avaricious, selfish, boasting soldier; yet possessing courage that would not have disgraced the days of chivalry. His soldiers loved him, for he kept strict order and discipline among them, and exposed himself like the meanest of their number in the hour of danger. Without sufficient grasp of thought to form a plan requiring any depth of combination, or even intellect enough to comprehend one already furnished to his hand; he nevertheless surveyed a field of battle with

imperturbable coolness, and his charge was like a falling thunderbolt.

His want of education, and the early habits and associations he formed, were enough to spoil a man of even more strength of character than he possessed. He came under the influence of Napoleon's genius at too late an age to receive those impressions which so effectually remoulded some of the younger lieutenants.

MARSHAL DAVOUST.

His Character-Battle of Auerstadt-Cavalry Action at Echmuhl-Retreat from Russia.

It is hard to form a correct opinion of sucn a man as Davoust. The obloquy that is thrown upon him, especially by English historians, has a tendency to destroy our sympathy for him at the outset, and distorts the medium through which we ever after contemplate him. Positive in all his acts, and naturally of a stern and fierce temperament, he did things in a way, and with a directness, and an abrutpness, that indicated a harsh and unfeeling nature. But if we judge of men by their actions, and not also by the motives which prompted them, we shall be compelled to regard the Duke of Wellington as one of the most cruel of men. His whole political course in England-his steady opposition to all reform-his harsh treatment of the petitions of the poor and helpless, and heartless indifference to the cries of famishing" thousands, argue the most callous and unpitying nature. But his actions-though causing so much suffering, and awakening so much indignation, that even his house was mobbed by his own countrymen, and his gray hairs narrowly escaped being trampled in the dust by an indignant populace-have all sprung from his education as a military man. Every