illages of St. Amand and Ligny. They were innately attacked by the Emperor in person. After orous resistance tie took possession of St. Amand. ext advanced against Ligny, where the combat >f the most desperate and sanguinary description, ive hours the battle raged with doubtful success; mally the Prussians were repulsed and obliged to 2, leaving an immense number of killed and ided on the held of battle.

consequence of the retreat of the Prussians, the e of Wellington retired to Waterloo. On the 18th me, Napoleon began to put his troops in motion • ;ach army prepared to decide the fate of Europe, lines were nearly parallel; at the distance of from ve to fourteen hundred yards apart, and expending it two mi/es in length. The eminences possessed ach army were lined with 300 pieces of artillery. his was the first time Bonaparte had met WellingBoth these commanders were in full view of the when the battle begun. The details of this Jful conflict are too well known to need a descriphere. Napoleon was completely defeated; 300 ?s of artillery fell into the hands of the Allies, and d0 prisoners were taken. The number killed is rtain. But the loss to the French on the 16th I Glh was estimated at 40,000 left on the field. On 16th the French killed 1G,000 Prussians, and on 8th lord Wellington lost in killed, 13,000. . apoleon made his escape to Paris, where his arrispread universal consternation. He demanded her army to oppose his enemies, but he was given nderstand that his abdication was expected. To he was obliged to consent, and accordingly issued • Juration, in which he declared that his political was terminated, and proclaimed his son as heir to throne, under the title of Napoleon II. ivitig given this rapid sketch of the principal

events of Bonaparte's life, without adverting to General La Fayette, we now return to show the connection he had with the government of France during that period.

CHAPTER X.

orge conduct of General, LA FAYETTE DURING THE REtGN of Box APARTE, &c.

Soon after the return of La Fayette to France, the question of . Bonaparte First Consul for life, became a subject of great interest to those who considered its consequences. La Fayette saw that the liberties of France would be placed in jeopardy by such a measure, and with that candour and patriotism which always belonged to his character, he wrote Bonaparte as follows, on the subject.

“General,

“When a man, who is deeply impressed with a sense of the gratitude he owes you, and who is too ardent a lover of glory to be wholly indifferent to yours, connects his suffrage with conditional restrictions, those restrictions not only secure him from suspicion, but prove amply, that no one will more gladly than himself, behold in you, the Chief Magistrate for life, of a free and independent Republic.

“The 18th of Brumaire saved France from destruction; and I felt myself reassured and recalled by the liberal declarations to which you have connected the sanction of your honour. In your Consular authority, there was afterwards discerned that salutary dictatorial prerogative, which, under the auspices of a genius like yours, accomplished such glorious purposes; yet less glorious, let me add, than the restoration of liberty would prove.

“It is not 1. General, that you, the first amidst that order of mankind, which surveys every age and every country, before the stations of its members in the scale can be determined, that you can desire that a revolution, marked by an unexampled se

ric« of stupendous victories, and unheard of sufferings, shall give nothing to the world, but a renovated system of arbitrary government. The people of this country have been acquainted with their rights too long to forget them forever; but perhaps they may recover and enjoy them better now, than during the period of revolutionary effervescence. And you, by the strength of your character, and the influence of public confidence, by the superiority of yourtafents,

Jirour power aud your fortune, in re-establishing the iberties of France, can allay all agitations, calm all anxieties, and subdue ail dangers.

'* When I wish, then, to see the careerof your glory crowned by the honours of perpetual magistracy, 1 but act in correspondence with my own private sentiments, and am influenced exclusively by patriotic considerations. But all my political and moral obligations, the principles that have governed every action of my life, call on me to pause, before I bestow on you my suffrage, until I feel assured, that your authority shall be erected on a basis worthy the nation and yourself.

"I confidently trust, General, that you will recognize here, as you have done on all other occasions, a steady continuance of my political opinions, combined with the sincerest prayers for your welfare, and the deepest sense of all my obligations towards you."

The Frst Consul saw from this letter, that La Fayette could neither recognize his principles as a security to the liberties of France, nor promote his desire of being confirmed as the Chief Magistrate of the kingdom during life.

From this moment, all intercourse ceased between the First Consul and La Fayette, nor did the latter lee him again until his return from Elba. This letter ne\erwas answered, and although ihe quiet and retired habits of La Fayette did hot subject him to the machinations of the times, Napoleon took dare that he should feel that he had not been forgiven for his opposition, by his treatment towards his son. George Washington La Fayette, only son of the General, served from the commencement of the war in 1800. He was attached to the guards of the First Consul; and afterwards General Grouchy appointed him one of his aids. Grouchy was exceedingly attached to him as a brave and intelligent officer, and besides, owed him a debt of gratitude; young La Fayette having, at a period of great hazard and difficulty, saved the life of his General. Grouchy made a report to Napoleon of the meritorious conduct of young La Fayette, and requested as a favour, conferred on himself, as well as a reward for his bravery and good conduct, that he might be promoted. But Napoleon replied, “these La Fayettes cross my path every where,” and would not permit his name to be mentioned in the bulletins. He continued to serve, notwithstanding, until the ratification of the treaty of Tilsit, and afterwards retired to the family mansion at La Grange, where he remained during the reign of Napoleon. “* The restoration of the Bourbons in 1814, made no change in La Fayette's relations. He presented himself once at court, and was kindly received; but the government they had established was so different from the representative government, which he had assisted to form, and sworn to support in 1789, [1790] that he did not again present himself at the palace.— The Bourbons, by neglecting entirely to understand or conciliate the nation, the end of the year brought back Buonaparte, who (as we have already seen) landed on the first of March, 1815, and reached the capital on the 20th. His appearance in Paris was like a theatrical illusion, and policy seemed to be to play all men, of all parties, like the characters of a great drama, around him. Immediately on his arrival upon