Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-09-19

lintcrrogated them one by one, and heard from
them one after another the details ofthe battle
the retreat of their corps, the loss ofther rcgi
mcnts, and the breaking up of their forces. Tn,
bodies of four thousand men strcwed the enyj
rons of Paris. At these rccitals. which werc
mutually confirmed and even arrravated b,
tnc different relators, Napoleon at length gave
up the idea of sending back this wreck of the
army upon Paris or going thither himself. lie
reverted to the idea of negotiating again, for q
remnant of the Empire, before the enemy should
occupy his palace. He rccollccted that he wa.
the friend of Alexander, that he was the son-in
law of the Emperor Francis He thought thai
these titles, and the shadow of his own name
would arrest in time the last PROCLAMATION of his
crown. lie took CauanCourt aside, and or
dered him to get horse saddled, and to pene.
trate before daybreak to the quarter general o.
the allies. Ride full speed, he said to his con.
tilential negotiator. Ride | am given ur
and sold See if have time yet to intervene
IN the treaty which is signing, perhaps al
ready, without me and against inc. | give YOU
full powers Do not lose an instant | await
yon here Return at a moment, and let me
Know my fate Caulaincourt rode off, and
cleared at Il gallop the short distance which
separated them from Vicuif. Napoleon or
dared Beliard to bivouac the troops as they ar
rived from the other side of the river Essonnc
lie then entered the hotei, followed bv Bell
lard and Berthier. Meanwhile Caulancourt
arrived at the advanced posts Of the enemy,
gave his name, and demanded in vain pass
age as being charged with 4 mission from
the Emperor. lie was obliged to give up the
hope OF passing; and returned, two hours after
his departure, to find his master and acquant
him with his frultlesS attempt. But nothing
sltlshcd Napoleon, who wished at every haz-
ard, that his name should appear in the treaty,
either as Emperor or General. A treaty in
winch, should his name and interests be omit
ted, would be at once to pronounce his dis
throncm2nt. He only allowed Caulaincourt
time to get fresh horse and then sent him to
try ano her route. 'The wrctchcs,' he ex-
claimed, while Cauaincourt wiped the perspi-
ration from his brow; the towards only ask
them to hold out twcnty-four hours There is
Marnont, who hld sworn that he would be cut
to pieces under the walls of Paris, and Joseph.
my brother, setting my troops the example of
retreat. Nevertheless, they knew that on the
2nd OF April, the day after tomorrow, ! should
be at the head Of 10000 men at the raes I.
And there Is my brave guard and my young
military schools. and the volunteers, who are
astounded at that National Guard who had
sworn to me to defend my wife and nv son 4!
They have cap.tualed, They have BETRAYED
their brother, their country, their sovereign
They have dlshonoured France in the ewes of
Europe! They have permitted the encmy's
columns, which was in pursuit of. to enter
capital Of l,OO0,O ,OO0 If souls Then. turning
to Cauialncourt: : II stem lie cried. 'OuicF,
quick. Force an entrance to the Emperor
Alexander! I'll Sign whutcver you conclude
with them have no other hope but in you--
This night contains my fate and that of the En-
pire' After these broken expressions. the
Emperor held out his hand to Caulaincourt.
who pressed it as he raised it to his lips The
night was now far advanced, rs Caulaincour.
galloped once more into deep obscurity, by an
other road to Paris, the lights of which he saw
glimmering before him. Napoleon, rcnoun-
cling for the moment an armed return to his
capital, mounted his horse. and slowly and in 81
lence took the route to Fontancblclu.'