many miles beyond La Belle Alliance, cut down the lingerers without
mercy.

Napoleon at length halted at Philippeville: from which point he designed
to turn towards Grouchy, and take in person the command of that
remaining division, leaving Soult to re-assemble and rally, at Avesnes,
the relics of Waterloo. But hearing that Blucher was already at
Charleroi (which was true), and that Grouchy had been overtaken and made
prisoner (which was false), the Emperor abandoned his purpose, and
continued his journey, travelling post, to Paris.

On the 19th the capital had been greeted with the news of three great
victories, at Charleroi, at Ligny, and at Quatre-Bras--100 cannon fired
in honour of the Emperor's successes--his partisans proclaimed that the
glory of France was secured--and dejection filled the hearts of the
royalists. On the morning of the 21st it transpired that Napoleon had
arrived the night before, alone, at the Elysee. The secret could no
longer be kept. A great, a decisive field had been fought;--and the
French army was no more.

[Footnote 72: The fiction of the Duke of Wellington having been
_surprised_ on this great occasion has maintained its place in almost
all narratives of the war for fifteen years. The Duke's magnanimous
silence under such treatment for so long a period will be appreciated by
posterity. The facts of the case are now given from the most
unquestionable authority.]

[Footnote 73: The fact of Wellington and Blucher having met between the
battles of Ligny and Waterloo is well known to many of the superior
officers then in the Netherlands; but the writer of this compendium has
never happened to see it mentioned in print. The horse that carried the
Duke of Wellington through this long night journey, so important to the
decisive battle of the 18th, remained till lately, it is understood, if
he does not still remain, a free pensioner in the best paddock of
Strathfieldsaye.]

CHAPTER XLI

Napoleon appeals in vain to the Chambers--Abdicates for the second
time--Is sent to Malmaison--And then to Rochefort--Negotiates with
Capt. Maitland--Embarks in the _Bellerophon_--Arrives at
Torbay--Decision of the English Government--Interview with Lord
Keith, &c.--Napoleon on board the _Northumberland_--Sails for St.
Helena.

On how sandy a foundation the exile of Elba had rebuilt the semblance of
his ancient authority, a few hours of adversity were more than
suff