CHAP. LXIX.--Military Proceedings in the North of Germany--Luckau submits to the Crown-Prince of Sweden--Battles of Gross-Beeren and Katzbach--Operations of Ney upon Berlin--He is defeated at Dennewitz, on the 6th September--Difficult and embarrassing situation of Napoleon--He abandons all the right side of the Elbe to the Allies--Operations of the Allies in order to effect a junction--Counter-exertions of Napoleon--The French Generals averse to continuing the War in Germany--Dissensions betwixt them and the Emperor--Napoleon at length resolves to retreat upon Leipsic, 279 CHAP. LXX.--Napoleon reaches Leipsic on 15th of October--Statement of the French and Allied Forces--BATTLE OF LEIPSIC, commenced on 16th, and terminates with disadvantage to the French at nightfall--Napoleon despatches General Mehrfeldt (his prisoner) to the Emperor of Austria, with proposals for an armistice--No answer is returned--The Battle is renewed on the morning of the 18th, and lasts till night, when the French are compelled to retreat, after immense loss on both sides--They evacuate Leipsic on the 19th, the Allies in full pursuit--Blowing up of one of the bridges--Prince Poniatowski drowned in the Elster--25,000 French are made prisoners--The Allied Sovereigns meet in triumph, at noon, in the Great Square at Leipsic--King of Saxony sent under a Guard to Berlin--Reflections, 289 CHAP. LXXI.--Retreat of the French from Germany--General Defection of Napoleon's Partisans--Battle of Hannau fought on 30th and 31st October--Napoleon arrives at Paris on 9th November--State in which he finds the public mind in the capital--Fate of the French Garrisons left in Germany--Arrival of the Allied Armies on the banks of the Rhine--General view of Napoleon's political relations--Italy--Spain--Restoration of Ferdinand--Liberation of the Pope, who returns to Rome--Emancipation of Holland, 303 CHAP. LXXII.--Preparations of Napoleon against the Invasion of France--Terms of Peace offered by the Allies--Congress held at Manheim--Lord Castlereagh--Manifesto of the Allies--Buonaparte's Reply--State of Parties in France--The Population of France, in general, wearied of the War, and desirous of the Deposition of Buonaparte--His unsuccessful attempts to arouse the National Spirit--Council of State Extraordinary, held Nov. 11th, when new taxes are imposed, and a new Conscription of 300,000 men decreed--Gloom of the Council, and violence of Buonaparte--Report of the State of the Nation presented to Napoleon by the Legislative Body--The Legislative Body is prorogued--Unceasing activity of the Emperor--National Guard called out--Napoleon, presenting to them his Empress and Child, takes leave of the People--He leaves Paris for the Armies, 317