CHAPTER II.

THE REIGN OF GEORGE III. (_continued_).

Rancour of the Americans towards England--Their Admiration of Napoleon--The Right of Search and consequent Disputes--Madison's warlike Declaration--Opposition in Congress--Condition of Canada--Capture of Michilimachimac--An Armistice--Repulse of the Invasion of Canada--Naval Engagements--Napoleon and the Czar determine on War--Attempts to dissuade Napoleon--Unpreparedness of Russia--Bernadotte's Advice to Alexander--Rashness of Napoleon--Policy of Prussia, Austria and Turkey--Overtures to England and Russia--Napoleon goes to the Front--His extravagant Language--The War begins--Disillusion of the Poles--Difficulties of the Advance--Bagration and Barclay de Tolly--Napoleon pushes on--Capture of Smolensk--Battle of Borodino--The Russians evacuate Moscow--Buonaparte occupies the City--Conflagrations burst out--Desperate Position of Affairs--Murat and Kutusoff--Defeat of Murat--The Retreat begins--Its Horrors--Caution of Kutusoff--Passage of the Beresina--Napoleon leaves the Army--His Arrival in Paris--Results of the Campaign--England's Support of Russia--Close of 1812--Wellington's improved Prospects--He advances against Joseph Buonaparte--Battle of Vittoria--Retreat of the French--Soult is sent against Wellington--The Battles of the Pyrenees--The Storming of San Sebastian--Wellington forbids Plundering--He goes into Winter-quarters--Campaign in the south-east of Spain--Napoleon's Efforts to renew the Campaign--Desertion of Murat and Bernadotte--Alliance between Prussia and Russia--Austrian Mediation fails--Early Successes of the Allies--Battle of Lützen--Napoleon's false Account of the Battle--Occupation of Hamburg by Davoust--Battle of Bautzen--Armistice of Pleisswitz--Failure of the Negotiations--The Fortification of Dresden--Successive Defeats of the French by the Allies--The Aid of England--Battle of Leipsic--Retreat of the French across the Rhine--The French Yoke is thrown off--Castlereagh summons England to fresh Exertions--Liberation of the Pope--Failure of Buonaparte's Attempt to restore Ferdinand--Wellington's Remonstrance with the British Ministry--Battles of Orthez and Toulouse--Termination of the Campaign--Exhaustion of France--The Allies on the Frontier--Napoleon's final Efforts--The Congress of Châtillon--The Allies advance on Paris--Surrender of the Capital--A Provisional Government appointed--Napoleon abdicates in favour of his Son--His unconditional Abdication--Return of the Bourbons--Insecurity of their Power--Treaty of Paris--Bad Terms to England--Visit of the Monarchs to London 32