ot and Massena, in Portugal, in 1808 and 1809,
were equalled on the banks of the Elbe, by Davoust, in the summer of
1813.

While the Emperor paused at Dresden, Ney made various demonstrations in
the direction of Berlin, with the view of inducing the allies to quit
Bautzen; but it soon became manifest that they had resolved to sacrifice
the Prussian capital, if it were necessary, rather than forego their
position; by adhering to which they well knew Buonaparte must ultimately
be compelled to carry his main force into a difficult and mountainous
country, in place of acting in the open plains of Saxony and
Brandenburg. They were, moreover, desirous to remain in the
neighbourhood of Bohemia for another reason. The Austrian Emperor had
again renewed his negotiation with Napoleon; urging him to accept his
mediation for the conclusion of a general peace, and at the same time
giving him to understand that such a peace could not be obtained, unless
he would consent to be satisfied with the frontier of the Rhine, and
restore effectively the independence of the German nation. Napoleon's
conferences with Bubna, the Austrian envoy, were frequent and long; but
they ended where they began. He was well aware, however, that the
Emperor Francis was increasing his military establishment largely, and
that a great body of troops was already concentrated behind the
mountainous frontier of Bohemia. He could not but see that Austria
regarded herself as enabled and entitled to turn the scale on
whichsoever side she might choose; and he determined to crush the army
which had retreated from Lutzen, ere the ceremonious cabinet of Vienna
should have time to come to a distinct understanding with the
headquarters of Alexander and Frederick William. Victory, he clearly
saw, could alone serve his interests with the Austrian.

Having replaced by woodwork some arches of the magnificent bridge over
the Elbe, at Dresden, which the allies had blown up on their retreat,
Napoleon now moved towards Bautzen, and came in sight of the position on
the morning of the 21st of May. Its strength was obviously great. In
their front was the river Spree: wooded hills supported their right, and
eminences well fortified their left. The action began with an attempt to
turn their right, but Barclay de Tolly anticipated this movement, and
repelled it with such vigour, that a whole column of 7000 dispersed and
fled into the hills of Bohemia for safety. The Emperor then determ