The American Encyclopedia of History, Biography and Travel: Comprising Ancient and Modern History: the Biography of Eminent Men of Europe and America, and the Lives of Distinguished Travelers.Prescott, Thomas H.
History
The American Encyclopedia of History, Biography and Travel: Comprising Ancient and Modern History: the Biography of Eminent Men of Europe and America, and the Lives of Distinguished Travelers.
Prescott, Thomas H.
Biography; World history
In the measures for settling France, Great Britain concurred by her
representative Lord Castlereagh, who attended the allies during the
campaign of 1814; and peace was proclaimed in London on the 20th of
June. France was deprived of all the acquisitions gained both under
the Republic and the Empire, and restored to the rule of the ancient
royal family in the person of Louis XVIII. The emperor of Russia and
the king of Prussia visited England in June, and were received with
all the honors due to men who were considered as the liberators of
Europe. Wellington, now created a duke, received a grant of £400,000
from the House of Commons, in addition to one of £100,000 previously
voted; and had the honor to receive in person the thanks of the House
for his services. Representatives from the European powers concerned
in the war, met at Vienna, October 2, in order to settle the disturbed
limits of the various countries, and provide against the renewal of a
period of war so disastrous. Throughout the whole arrangements, Great
Britain acted with a disinterested magnanimity, which, after her great
sufferings and expenses, could hardly have been looked for, but was
highly worthy of the eminent name which she bore amidst European
nations.
In March 1815, the proceedings of the Congress were interrupted by the
intelligence that Napoleon had landed in France and was advancing in
triumph to the capital. He had been encouraged by various favorable
circumstances to attempt the recovery of his throne; and so unpopular
had the new government already become, that, though he landed with
only a few men, he was everywhere received with affection, and on the
20th of March was reinstated in his capital, which had that morning
been left by Louis XVIII. The latter sovereign had granted a charter
to his people, by which he and his successors were bound to rule under
certain restrictions, and with a legislature composed of two chambers,
somewhat resembling the British Houses of Parliament. Bonaparte now
came under similar engagements, and even submitted to take the votes
of the nation for his restoration; on which occasion he had a million
and a-half of affirmative, against less than half a million of
negative voices, the voting being performed by ballot. His exertions
to reorganize an army were successful to a degree which showed his
extraordinary influence over the French nation. On the 1st of June he
had 559,000 effective men under arms, of whom 217,000 were ready to
take the field.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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