lands, the forts in it, and lined the French frontiers from Ostend to Luxemburg. The total force for this point was not much short of 320,000 men. The Grand army, under Prince Schwartzenberg, with whom were the Sovereigns of Russia, Austria, and Prussia, consisted of Russians, Austrians, Bavarians, and the roops of the other German States, not under the command of Lord Wellington, and of the Prussian Guards. These lined the French frontiers from Luxemburg to the Rhine, occupied different forts, and extended along the Rhine to Basle. Their numbers could not be less than 465,000 men. Switzerland, though yet neutral, had an army of from 35 to 40,000 men up. on her vulnerable side, and in front of Besancon. On the frontiers of Savoy and Piedmont, General Frimont, with an army of Austrians and Piedmontese, joined to some English troops, held the fortifications in that line, and lined the French frontiers from Switzerland to the Mediterranean. Their numbers could not be fewer than 120,000 men. On the side of the Pyrenees, Spain had about 60 or 80,000 men, but these not well prepared: the whole may stand thus: Austrians on the Rhine, at least... Three Russian armies of 80,000 each Bavarians, Badeners, Hessians, Wirtemburghers, &c.... 100,000 ... ... .. 100,000 ... ... 240,000 Austrians, Piedmontese and English, in Piedmont and Savoy, 120,000 all veteran troops, and under experienced leaders. It must be observed, however, that all these were not assembled in the immediate neighbourhood of the French frontiers; but were cantoned at a considerable distance in several places; while others, as yet, had a considerable way to march, but all were hastening towards France, or were stationed at no great distance, as it was found most convenient and easy to procure forage and provisions. Although their insidious professions of peace restrained in some degree the usual menacing boasts, and predictions of the French nation, still the latter were too strong to be entirely kept concealed; and, in defiance of prudence, and their earnest pacific professions, these from time to time shewed themselves. Europe was daily reminded how generous France had been, when she had repeatedly conquered their united strength. It was plainly stated that France was more able than formerly to do the same thing. "The French army," said the Gazette de France, "is ready to accept the challenge." Wo to those who shall intermeddle with our affairs," said the Usurper upon his arrival at Paris. The allies, said the Moniteur, will "no more succeed in disuniting than in conquering us. They will learn, to their cost, what 29,000,000 of people, 500,000 veterans, and 30,000 officers, who have triumphed in more than 50 battles, are capable of performing."+ In the Chamber of Representatives, said a Deputy," the allies may find too soon how faithful the French army will be to the oath it has taken." The overthrow of the allies was not only confidently predicted and anticipated, but a recurrence to the same system of aggrandisement, on the part of France, was confidently looked forward to by her rulers and the generality of her people. Nor were they singular in their predictions and in their hopes. These met advocates and supporters in other places, "Most assuredly," said the Morning Chronicle," the same outrage on their territory will produce the same exasperation, the same enthusiasm, the same spirit of revenge; and then it will be scen that, with all its suffering, France has prospered by the revolu tion-That it has more physical force-more fighting blood—and that many millions more than heretofore are interested in preserving the soil intact. The French, with a revenue of twenty millions sterling per annum, above the interest of their national debt, would be able to call forth the levy en masse, to resist our unprovoked and unmeaning attack."‡ Continuing a similar strain, the same Journal again proceeds: "With more than six ? millions of men, individually interested in the preservation of their estates, with fourteen fortresses on their frontiers, fully garrisoned, and with 600,000 armed soldiers, led by experiGazette de France, April 15th, 1815. + Moniteur, Paris, May 8th. Morning Chronicle, April 14th, 1815. enced Generals in the field, can it be believed that France will be subjugated in one Campaign? and if not in one Campaign, what will be the fate of Europe? We shall not be able to feed the Continental powers with money, and they cannot maintain themselves. The French people will be ready to disengage Bonaparte from the offers he has made, and Europe may be again overturned." So certainly thought-nay, such certainly were the views and the intentions of France. It was in vain to tell her or her admirers, that the spring which produced their success was broken.-No! the times lately so dif ferent, said M. d' Angers, "may yet be reproduced." Let us examine this point a little more closely. Can the times that are past, and in which the throne of oppression stood firm, be reproduced? Can the days which are fled, and in which unlimited ambition ruled triumphant, be recalled? All the experience of history-the whole constitution of human works-all the express declarations of revelation, were forgotten by those who could maintain or hope for this. The individual nation, which, by the fraud and injustice of its neighbour, has lost its independence, may regain it; but can the Empire, founded by ambition and extended by violence, when once it is broken to pieces and divided, resume its former sway? It cannot. The Emperor and the French nation, in order to lessen their disgrace, asserted that they were only worsted by contending against "the age."* This was a new name, invented by that denationalizing jargon which the French revolution produced, in order to corrupt and mislead the moral and religious principles of the human mind; and which alone form, or can form, to man, the secure guide for his footsteps or rule of his conduct. They may give their unparalleled disasters any name they please; but we, as Christians, know, that them and their Emperor contended against a just and unerring Providence; against those eternal laws of justice, morality and truth, immutable as their Author, and omnipotent as their Judge. Seconded by the French nation, their Emperor endeavoured, without reason, and in open defiance of justice, to extend the French Empire, by human. strength and human wisdom misapplied; till its extension produced, to use their own significant phrase, a re-action, which • Moniteur, April 5th, 1815, shook the building to its foundations. Him and them, with hearts cankered by resentment, and with feelings dipped in the spirit of revenge; from the basest, most useless, and most unworthy motives, endeavoured to extend a system of fraud and violence, peculiarly their own, and incompatible with the enlightened state of Europe, and in opposition to the dictates and commandments of the Most High, till its violence and injustice arrayed against it, and drew down on their heads, the anger of man, and the wrath of Omnipotence. Their Head and themselves fell in the mighty contest. His dominion and his power vanished with him. He was driven from his throne and from his glory; in his fortune a warning to every age. He spurned his fate. He returned; and in doing so he still contended against the age. He still dared to enter the lists against his former adversaries. He endeavoured to revive the dominion which he had lost-to reproduce the gigantic fabric, which the united energies of Europe, in furtherance of the decrees of the Almighty, had broken to pieces. Vain effort! The proud diadem was torn from his brows by that invincible power, to whom, in the days of his prosperity, he scorned to acknowledge that he owed it. By a decree, as just as it was irreversible, the kingdom was departed from France, never to return. Such bas been, and will continue to be, the fate of all similar Empires, raised, as this was, by violence, and supported by injustice. Justice follows, with a proportionate speed, the proudest State, and the most profligate individual. We have an unerring rule for our guide in these matters, provided we will attend to it. Man may despise and forget this rule, but that does not alter its precepts nor impair its strength. "Can length of time on God himself exact, Or make that fiction which was once a fact?”• The history of the world, through every age, affords numerous and striking examples of this important truth. The nations that extended their sway with the extension of knowledge, and conformable to just laws, remained stable, while others were shaken from the earth. Even when the former forgot their honourable pursuits, though their power perished, their name and their institutions lived. Not so was it with those whose • Cowper. Constitution was the sword. They left nothing behind them that claimed the attention of mankind, except to load their name with reproach. If we search the records of profane history, how strongly is this exemplified? The Carthaginians, Parthians, Vandals, Goths, Huns, Saracens, Tartars, and Turks, who alternately covered this earth with misery, and millions with. mourning; what stupendous fabrics they reared!-To be feared, and to be lost. Except the Saracens, whose power is destroyed, and the Turks, whose empire is declining fast, not a vestige remains to trace the nations which produced them, nor do mankind wish that they could. If we turn unto sacred history, where our way is clear and our ground is sure, we see the character and fate of insatiable ambition traced in inimitable characters. Egypt, which overawed Africa, and contended for the Empire of Asia; who perpetrated every crime, and followed every superstition; who said, "My river is my own, and I have made it for myself;"" has been and still is, what the terrible denunciation of Ezekiel, 2400 years ago, threatened that it should be, namely; "a base Kingdom." The Assyrian and Babylonian, as they were similar in their conduct to each other, so also they have been similar in their fate. Where are they! Though the historian may with difficulty record a few of the deeds of the latter-the geographer trace its limits-can the traveller find the nation that created it, the spot where its capital stood? Evil cannot approach me; "I will be like the Most High," was her impious boast. Therefore, "I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of Hosts."§ The Persian Empire, still more powerful, is vanished. The nation, indeed, yet remains; but how changed and enfeebled? Yet, in its humble and degraded state, it affords a remarkable instance, that as its political conduct was in general less oppressive and unjust to its neighbours than that of the others were, so the fate of the nation has been less disastrous than theirs. The name, and a separate people, still exist. The Macedonian Empire, still more formidable and violent, is also disappeared from the earth. Its power, once feared to the rising Sun, is known no longer. The parts which composed it are sunk |