, already sufficiently great, the prospect of finding a new
enemy stationed on the line of his march to France. He entreated the
Austrian to request for him the personal intercession of Francis. "I
will renounce Poland and Illyria," said he, "Holland, the Hanse Towns,
and Spain. I will consent to lose the sovereignty of the kingdom of
Italy, provided that state remain as an independent one--and I will
evacuate all Germany. Adieu! Count Mehrfeldt, when on my part you name
the word armistice to the two Emperors, I doubt not the sound will
awaken many recollections."

It was now too late: the Allied Princes had sworn to each other to
entertain no treaty while one French soldier remained on the Eastern
side of the Rhine. Napoleon received no answer to his message; and
prepared for the difficult task of retreating with 100,000 men, through
a crowded town, in presence of an enemy already twice as numerous, and
in early expectation of being joined by a third great and victorious
army.

During the 17th the battle was not renewed, except by a distant and
partial cannonade. The Allies were resolved to have the support of
Bernadotte in the decisive contest.

At eight in the morning of the 18th it began, and continued until
nightfall without intermission. Buonaparte had contracted on the south,
as well as on the north, the circuit of his defence; and never was his
generalship, or the gallantry of his troops, more brilliantly displayed
than throughout this terrible day. Calm and collected, the Emperor again
presided in person on the southern side, and again, where he was
present, in spite of the vast superiority of the enemy's numbers, the
French maintained their ground to the end. On the north, the arrival of
Bernadotte enabled Blucher to push his advantages with irresistible
effect; and the situation of Marmont and Ney (now also stationed on that
side) was further perplexed by the shameful defection of 10,000 Saxons,
who went over with all their artillery to the enemy, in the very midst
of the battle. The two marshals, therefore, were compelled to retire
from point to point, and at nightfall lay almost close to the walls of
Leipsig. Three cannon shot, as before, marked the general termination of
the battle.

The loss on either side had been great. Napoleon's army consisted
chiefly of very young men--many were merely boys--the produce of his
forestalled conscriptions: yet they fought as bravely as the guard. The
behaviour of t