NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 271 public men and the title to estates. The army was disgusted at the appointment to commands of emigres who had fought against France. The Church began to cause alarm to the holders of national property ; and by the release of prisoners and the return of the garrisons of German fortresses, very large numbers of Napo- leonic soldiers became dispersed over France. The coalition, too, broke up, and fresh alliances began to be sought with a view to check the aggressive spirit which Russia seemed inclined to manifest. Altogether affairs in Europe and France were in such a state as to make it not impossible that the magic of Napoleon's name might replace him in power. He accordingly resolved on making the at- tempt, left Elba on February 26, 1815, and landed on the French coast on March 1st. On the 20th he entered Paris, having been joined by the army. Europe had declared war against him, and a new coalition had been formed, but only two armies were immediately ready to take the field ; a mixed force under the Duke of Wellington in Belgium, and a Prussian army under Blucher in the Rhine provinces. The English army had its base on the sea, and the Prus- sian on the Rhine, so that they had diverging lines of operation. Napoleon's idea was to strike suddenly at their point of junction before they could concen- trate, push in between them, drive them apart, and then defeat each separately. The plan was unexceptionable, resembling that of his first campaign in 1796, and the opening moves were successtully carried out. Napoleon left Paris on June 1 2th, his army being then echeloned between Paris and the Belgian frontier, so that the point where the blow would fall was still doubtful. On the 15th he occupied Charleroi, and was between the two allied armies, and on the i6th he defeated BlUcher at Ligny before Wellington could come to his assistance. So far all had gone well with him ; but now, apparently, his energy was not sufficient to cope rapidly with the difficulties that no doubt beset him through the shortcomings of his staff, and the spirit of mutual distrust that reigned among his officers. He did nothing till the morning of the 17th, and it was not till 2 p.m. that he sent Grouchy with 33,000 men to follow the Prussians in the supposed direction of their retreat toward Liege, and keep them at a distance while he turned against Wellington. But he had lost his opportunity ; the wasted hours had enabled the Prussians to disappear, and he did not know the fact that Blucher had taken the resolution to move on Wavre, giving up his own communications in order to re- unite with Wellington. The latter had retired to a previously chosen position at Mont St. Jean, and received Bliicher's promise to lead his army to his assistance. So on the i8th, when Napoleon attacked the duke, unknown to him the bulk of the Prussian army was hastening up on his right flank, while Grouchy was fruit- lessly engaged with the Prussian rear-guard only. This led to the crowning de- feat of Waterloo, where Napoleon's fortunes were finally wrecked. He fled to Paris, and abdicated for the last time on June 22d ; and, finding it impossible to escape from France, he surrendered to Captain Maitland, of the Bellerophon, at Rochefort, on July 15th. He was banished by the British Government to St Helena, where he arrived on October 15, 181 5, and died there of cancer of the stomach on May 5, 182 1.
