[163] "We all manœuvred to extort his abdication. There was a multitude of messages backwards and forwards, parleys, objections, replies--in a word, evolutions of every description: ground was taken, abandoned, and again retaken. At length, after a warm battle, Napoleon surrendered, in full council, under the conviction that longer resistance was useless; then turning to me, he said, with a sardonic smile, 'Write to those gentlemen to make themselves easy; they shall be satisfied.' Lucien took up the pen, and drew, under Napoleon's dictation, the act of abdication."--FOUCHÉ, tom. ii., p. 283. [164] Moniteur, June 23. [165] Moniteur, June 23. [166] Carnot, Fouché, Grenier, and Quinette, had all voted for the death of Louis XVI. [167] "I was present at the moment of abdication; and, when the question of Napoleon's removal was agitated, I requested permission to participate in his fate. Such had been till then the disinterestedness and simplicity, some will say folly, of my conduct, that, notwithstanding my daily intercourse as an officer of the household, and member of his council, the Emperor scarcely knew me. 'Do you know whither your offer may lead you?' said he, in his astonishment. 'I have made no calculation about it,' I replied. He accepted me, and here I am at St. Helena."--LAS CASES, tom. i., part i., p. 9. [168] Dated Malmaison, June 25. See Fleury de Chamboullon, tom. ii., p. 294. [169] Hobhouse's Letters from Paris, vol. ii.; Fleury de Chamboullon, tom. ii., p. 298. [170] "The secretary found himself equally incapable of putting his name to such a communication. Was it sent or not?--this is a point which I cannot decide."--LAS CASES, tom. i., part i., pp. 17-20. [171] "Fouché knew that General Beker had a private pique against the Emperor; and therefore did not doubt of finding in the former a man disposed to vengeance; but he was grossly deceived in his expectations, for Beker constantly showed a degree of respect and attachment to the Emperor highly honourable to his character."--LAS CASES, tom. i., p. 17. [172] Las Cases, tom. i., p. 20. [173] Parl. Debates, vol. xxx., p. 373. [174] "It is not to be understood as binding his Britannic Majesty to prosecute the war with a view of imposing upon France any particular government."--_Parl. Debates_, vol. xxx., p. 798. [175] Memoirs, tom. ii., p. 292. CHAPTER XCI.