mpelled to sign his second abdication. He did
this in favour of his son; but the chambers refused to pronounce his son
emperor, and formed a temporary government for the purpose of conducting
the administration. In the meantime the allies had been marching towards
Paris. They were opposed by French troops at St. Cloud, Issy, and
Mendon, but no successful opposition could be made; and Blucher prepared
to take a terrible revenge on Paris for the calamities brought on
suffering Europe. His vengeance, however, was averted. On the 3rd
of July Massena, commander-in-chief of the French forces, signed a
capitulation with the allies, by which it was agreed that Louis XVIII.
should be restored to his throne; that the French troops should evacuate
Paris; and that Paris should be garrisoned by the allied armies Thus
deserted, Napoleon resolved to retire from France. A frigate was waiting
at Rochefort to convey him to America; but the English cruisers were
hovering about the port, and he found escape impossible. In this
extremity he presented himself with his suite on board the English ship,
Bellerophon, from whence he wrote a letter, asking the prince regent's
protection. He imagined that he would be allowed to reside in England
in a private capacity; but his known restless ambition precluded the
possibility of this favour being extended to him. Taught by experience
that his ambition was irrepressible, an order was given to convey him to
St. Helena; and soon afterwards he was conveyed to that rock which was
destined to be his retreat, his restraint, and for a time his tomb. The
dream of his ambition had passed away for ever.

"Fame is the shade of immortality,
And in itself a shadow; soon as caught
Contemn'd, it shrinks to nothing in the grasp."
--Young

{GEORGE III. 1814-1818}

RETURN OF LOUIS XVIII. TO PARIS.

Louis XVIII. returned to his capital on the 8th of July. It was
not, however, until the 7th of October that the two French chambers,
corresponding with the British parliament were assembled. At that time
a treaty or convention of the allies was formally announced, and on
the 20th of November it received the final signature of the contracting
powers. By this treaty--seven French fortresses were to be occupied by
150,000 of the allied troops at the expense of France for a period not
exceeding five years, and France was to pay 700,000,000 francs as an
indemnity. Among the concessions made, was th