Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-08

Il
On the 9th March he received in his retire
| ment letter from the war minister, dated the
\ 9Th, which was brought HIM by an ABIDE camp
| The minister ordered the marshal to proceed in
all haste to the sixth military division, the govern
| ment OF which was entrusted to him
The minister entered into no explanation on
| the cause OF that order not word was said
respecting Bonaparte or his temperance. The
officer, who himself knew nothing of it, CONVEX
sed with the marshal only ON the pleasure of the
capital.
Immediately on the respect of this order,
the marshal commenced his journey for his des-
tination. He passed through Paris, where he
leais,ed the landing Of Bonaparte. Early in the
morning of the 9TH of March, the marshal called
on the due de Berri, and afterwards on the mnis-
ter for the war department. Both gave HIM
reass.a to apprehend that he could not possibly
obtain an opportunity of taking leave of the king.
They advised him to depart without loss of time
The marshal, however, resolved to compensate
for one or two hours of delay by sacrificing so
much of his rest, and persisted in waiting until
lie could have the honor of being admitted to hls
ne esty.
Why this earnestness 1t certainly was not,
as has been reported, for the purpose of asking
from his m,iesty employment IN the expedition
against Bonaparte, or to solicit command The
marshal was in active service, and urged even by
the letter OF the minister to proceed to his post
The marshaldid not come to offer mself; he
obeye the orders which called HIM.
At the august aspect of the monarch, all of
whose traits breathe bounty tn marshal, electro
fled by the hattering words in which his m .jesty
was pleased to address him, warmly participated
l in the solicitude with which all minds seemed TO
| be occupied Those who knew the ardor of his
liberal soul, and the promptitude of his language
in seconding if, never would mistake for false
hood or stratagem any thing which the marshal
| may have said TO the king, even in language bold
| ly fguratiye. Could Implicitly have induc ed hm
to utter such accents, it would have led to no ad
vantage.
"This is place for decidedly contradcting
calumny directed against marshal Ney, with the
view forever discrediting him.
" 1t has been invented and circulated with af-
fectation in public, that MS departure the king
ordered him sum, according to some, of 500, 900
and according to others, from to z, and even
| 100000 franks, to secure as far possible his
| fidelity.
"This isa falsehood. It's not true that either
\ the srng any of his ministers ordered marshal
| Ney either 100000 franks or any sum whatever,
| On this point he nvol6es with the most respectful
confidence the testimony of his majesty.
| "Neyertheless this false and injurious insinua-
| ton has hitherto been generally credited.
" On leaving the kiNg, the marshal repeated TO
| his family and his friends the same language ne
had held at the Thuilleries-He mounted his
! carriage and set out for Bessncon. All the mar
| shals, all the general officers were already at
! their posts. He had no idea and no opportunity
| OF forming concert with any one"
] The expose proceeds 10 state that Ney found
Besancon quite bare of troops that the due de
1 Ma,lle on the l1tl of March, informed HIM of
thetroops at Grenobe having gone over to 30.
nhparte, and that the latter might be able to en-
ter Lyons on the llth. He (Ney) resolves re-
pair 10 Lons-le-Salnier. He writes to Suchet
that 1t was unfortunate Bonaparte had not been
l attacked-Ney's force consisted only of four
| regiments, without single piece of artillery
| The expose then states the dispositions ne made,
l and tue letter he wrote to OudnOt to hasten the
| arrival of troops-"we are on the eve ola great
] evolution, 1t IS only cutting up the evil by the
roots that we shall have to avoid 1t" HIS pc-
| vanced guard passed over to Bonaparte AT
/ Lyons the troops renamed inactive. He found
4 himself IN the centre of Insurrectlon. His army
was aiIenated from him, and threatened him II
ne prevented their going over t. Bonaparte.
= On the night of the 18th of March, me en-
'ssaries of Bonaparte came to the marshal, whom
they found IN the greatest agtation, accessible TO
all impressions, and trembling for the fate OF
France. They brought letter from Bertrand
who told him
That Bonaparte had concerted his enter.
prize with Austria, through the Austrian general
| KoiIler
England had favored his escape.
Murat advanced rapidly TO the north ofItaly
to assist his brother-in-law.
The troops of Russia had returned to theu
distant quarters.
Sc Prussia could not contend alone against
France
F" That ifNey continued to resist he would
give up France TO ali the horrors OF civil war.
/ These last words completed the triumph
over the marsha's best resolutions"
| Alter some attempts to excuse this step, the
expose proceeds
Before repairing to Auxerre, the marshal
drew up hartly long series OF grVances which
Was to be read to Bonaparte. 1t began with the
seyerest qualifications, and the bitterest re
Ip;Daches
am not come to join you (said he in sub
stance either from respect or attachment to YOU
: person. You have been the tyrant OF my coun
Try you have brought SORROWS mo AL famili Is
: and despair INTO several you disturbed In,
peace OF those who called you, that your sole fu
: ture study will be to the whole world, &c
swear, then, since fate has repaired The evil YOU
have inflicted on France-that you will render
the people happy. I call upon you 10 take uu
arms only for the maintenance of our limits, and
never more to pass them or the purpose OF at.
temptng useless conquess, &c. On tnese con
ul'olis, renounce opposing your projects.
yled, IN order to preserve my country from the
4 distractions with which II IS menaced, &c.
" Bonaparte submitted 10 every thing demand
ed ny tue marshal, and even promised much
more OF the prosperity OF France
i " Soon after BOnaparte's return 20 Paris. the
marshal retired to his estate, not disgraced, as
Was SAID, but because he was soon undece,ved