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fought the partially successful battles of Fleurns and Ligny. On the 18th occurred the signal and well-known victory of Waterloo, in which British. intrepidity made so successful a stand under the Duke of Wellington, until aided into decisive victory by the timely arrival of the Prussians. under Bulow.
The conduct of marshal Grouchy. commanding the French reserve, was deemed doubtful on this occasions but the conquered, frequently make these allegations, and it is quite as likely that, the moral operation of success having passed away, similar distrust and want of confidence began to pervade the French armies, to that which had formerly distinguished those of the allies. In the battle, out of 95,000 men, it is thought that the French lost nearly 50,000. Napoleon immediately returned to Paris, but the charm was now utterly dissolved; and, şoured by the result of the battle, and fearing another occupation of the capital, a strong party, was openly formed against him, and even his friends urged him to abdicate. He was prevailed upon at length, with some difficulty, to take this step in favour of his son It need not be said that all this sort of expedient was now too late, and that the fate of this once all-powerful chieftain drew to its tristful termination For some time he entertained the idea of embarking for America, but fearful of British cruizers, he at length determined to throw himself on the generosity of the only people who had never materially yielded to his influence. He accordingly resigned himself, on the 15th July, into the hands of Captain Maitland, of the Bellerophon, then lying at Rochefort, and was exceedingly anxious to land in England. On giving himself up, he addressed the Prince Regent in a well-known letter, in which he compared himself to Themistocles.
