the first time its inhabitants heard the thunder of hostile artillery. It capitulated on the 31st of March. On the 2nd of April, Napoleon was formally deposed by the senate; on the 11th, he resigned the crown of France on condition that he should retire to Elba (a residence of his own choice) retain his imperial titles, and have that island and its dependencies assigned to him as sovereign, with a revenue of 2,000,000 francs; Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, were at the same time secured to the empress Maria Louisa, and her descendants; nor were his other relations left unprovided for. He set out for his new dominions on the 20th.

XV.-England from the treaty of Amiens 1802 to
the death of George III. 1820.

1. The treaty of Amiens was soon found to be little better than a hollow truce. Napoleon who now as first consul swayed the destines of France, entertained great animosity against England, and took every means in his power to re-kindle war, while the English government exhibited a spirit of hasty retaliation, combined with harshness of conduct, by no means creditable,' and scarcely in accordance with the strict rules of international law. In May, 1803, the British government commenced hostilities by laying an embargo on the French shipping in their ports, while a naval force was employed to occupy such of the West Indian islands as still belonged to the enemy. In retaliation, the first consul issued a decree for the detention of all the English then in France and Holland as prisoners of war. About 12,000 English subjects were thus suddenly deprived of their liberty, nor, with very few exceptions, were any of them able to regain it for nearly eleven years.

2. In June, 1803, the French made themselves masters of Hanover, and excluded British commerce from Hanburg, while an immense flotilla was collected at Boulogne for the invasion of England, which gave such a vigorous impetus to British patriotism, as to materially strengthen the hands of the government. In 1804, Mr. Pitt was again placed at the head of affairs, and in the following year a new coalition of Russia, Sweden, Austria and Naples was organised to oppose the ambition of Napoleon, who not content with being almost absolute master

of the continent of Europe, now made exertions to obtain the empire of the sea. The decisive victory obtained by the British squadron under Nelson, over the combined French and Spanish fleets off Cape Trafalgar, completely frustrated the schemes of the French ruler, and highly advanced the naval power and credit of Great Britain. This glorious victory was purchased with the life of England's greatest naval commander. Nelson fell early in the action, his body was brought to England, and buried with great pomp in the centre of St. Paul's Cathedral.

3. On the continent of Europe all the exertions of the allies to check the career of Napoleon proved futile. The great victory of Austerlitz, again prostrated the power of Austria, and enabled him to dictate a peace very humiliating to the Austrian emperor. This event proved a death blow to Mr. Pitt, who expired on the 23rd of January, 1806, in the forty-seventh year of his age. His remains were interred in Westminster Abbey, and a monument erected to him at the public expense.

4. A new ministry was now formed under Mr. Fox, who lived to retain office but seven months. His remains were interred in Westminster Abbey, within a few inches of those of his great rival, Mr. Pitt. During the short existence of the Fox administration, fresh attempts were made to terminate the war by negotiation, but the determination of the French ruler to retain some of the most important parts of Europe rendered accommodation impossible.

5. In March, 1807, a total change of the ministry took place. Mr. Perceval was the recognized leader. The new cabinet, suspecting that Napoleon designed to occupy Holstein, and convert to the purposes of an invasion of the British dominions, the Danish marine, despatched an armament to Copenhagen, to seize and carry off all the Danish ships of war. The object of the expedition was accomplished, but with the sacrifice of 2,000 lives, and the almost total destruction of the Danish capital. This sudden and unexpected attack on a brave people, not at war with England, will ever be viewed as an act of unwarrantable tyranny and oppression. The emperor of Russia haviug made peace with France, seized this opportunity to commence hostilities against Great Britain. On the 31st of October,

he recalled his ambassador, and proclaimed anew the principles of the armed neutrality.

6. At this period the royal family of France_took refuge in England. The rigid measures adopted by Bonaparte to ruin the commerce of Great Britain, naturally drew from the latter retaliatory expedients. These embarrassments to trade excited great uneasiness in all parts of the world, and involved England in a very unpleasant dispute with the United States of America.

7. Down to this period the contest had been one more of the governments, than of the people. But now the latter began also to view Napoleon as their common enemy. The Spaniards and Portuguese were the first to exhibit this spirit of patriotism. They applied to England for assistance, and both the government and people of Great Britain and Ireland espoused their cause with much enthusiasm. Subscriptions were opened in all the leading cities of the British empire. Several military corps volunteered their services, and government supplied them immediately with 300,000 pounds in dollars, 5,000 muskets, 30,000 pikes, and an abundance of powder, ball, and other necessary stores; and promised more effectual aid hereafter, which promise was strictly fulfilled. An army of about 10,000 men, commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley, landed at Corunna, on the 20th of July, 1808, and defeated the French under Junot, at Vimiera on the 21st of August. Immediately afterwards a convention was entered into at Cintra, between Sir H. Dalrymple, who had subsequently taken the command of the British forces, and the French general, Kellerman, for the speedy evacuation of Portugal, by the French troops.

8. The chief command of the British forces was now conferred on Sir John Moore, who immediately led them into Spain. He however being unable to keep the field in the presence of an enemy so much superior in numbers, retreated under very disadvantageous circumstances towards the port of Corunna, whither he was closely pursued by Marshal Soult. Here on the 16th of January, 1809, the celebrated battle of Corunna was fought, in which Sir John Moore was killed. The French were however repulsed, and the English embarked in safety. The French now made the most vigorous exer

tions for the complete subjugation of Spain and Portugal. For a short period, success crowned their efforts.

9. In April, Sir Arthur Wellesley landed at Lisbon with a British armament, consisting of about 30,000 men, and speedily compelled the French to abandon Oporto, and on the 28th of July, he defeated a formidable army under Jourdan and Victor, at Talavera. But the enemy being speedily reinforced, he was obliged to fall back upon Portugal. For the great skill and bravery displayed in this action he was created a peer, with the title of Viscount Wellington.

10. About this time a powerful armament composed of carly 40,000 men, under lord Chatham, was sentout to get possession of Flushing and the Island of Walcheren with the French fleet in the Scheldt, but the unhealthiness of the climate, combined with the want of skill and experience in the commander, brought about a most disgraceful and disastrous issue.

11. In 1810 the French army in Spain was largely reinforced, for the avowed purpose of driving the English out of the Peninsula. The British army, being greatly inferior in numbers to the French, Wellington entrenched his troops on the summit of the mountain of Buzaco. His opponent, suspecting he was actuated by fear, attacked him in his fastness, on the 27th of September; a desperate encounter ensued, which terminated in the defeat of the French: the victor, however, deemed it prudent to retire to an impregnable position on Torres Vedras, where he remained on the defensive.

12. Towards the close of the year the intellect of his majesty George III. completely gave way; the prince of Wales was in consequence appointed regent. Though great changes in administration had been contemplated, the same ministry, with few exceptions, was continued in office.

13. In May, 1812, Mr. Perceval the premier, was shot in the lobby of the House of Commons, by a lunatic of the name of Bellingham, and lords Liverpool and Castlereagh, were placed at the head of affairs. The differences between the English and American governments, now wore a serious aspect. All attempts to bring about a pacification having failed, the Americans declared war against Great Britain, and resolved upon the conquest of Canada; but the vigilance of the British

generals frustrated their designs, and compelled them to desist from the enterprise. They were, however, more successful at sea, and captured several English vessels. The contest was of little interest compared with that waged on the continent of Europe; it ended in 1814 without settling the more important points in dispute.

14. In the meantime the situation of Napoleon had become extremely critical, the invasion of Russia had annihilated his grand army, which all Europe hailed as a signal for their deliverance. Early in 1813 Alexander formed an alliance with Sweden and Prussia, and aided by several minor princes, commenced hostilities; a short ruce was agreed upon, during which period, Austria joined the league in the Peninsula, Wellington had gained the memorable victory of Salamanca, and took possession of Madrid; though, through unavoidable circumstances, he was compelled to again retreat into Portugal. In May, 1813, he again took the field, and on the 21st of June completely defeated the French at the battle of Vittoria, and driving the fugitives across the Pyrenees, entered France on the 7th of October. During this time the allies, who had commenced operations with much vigour in the north of Germany, steadily advanced onwards by different routes, crossed the Rhine early in 1814, speedily approached Paris, gained a victory under its walls on the 30th of March, and on the following day entered the city in triumph. Shortly afterwards, Napoleon agreed to abdicate, and content himself with the sovereignty of the Island of Elba, when Louis XVIII., after an absence of twenty-three years, returned to assume the crown of France.

15. On the 30th of May, a definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris between Great Britain and France, by which France was reduced nearly to the limits she had possessed in 1792, but received back all her colonial possessions, with the exception of the isle of Malta, the Mauritius, Tobago, and the Cape of Good Hope, which were ceded to Great Britain. It was agreed that all other matters should be settled by a congress of the leading powers to be held at Vienna at some future period. The emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia, shortly afterwards paid a congratulatory visit to the prince regent of England, and were received in London with reat rejoicings.