In consequence of the rapid advance of the allies, the more young and active members of the Bourbon family left England, and embarked for the continent towards the end of January. This step they took entirely of their own accord, since none of the allied powers had given them to believe that declare or support Louis XVIII. On the contrary, they had solemnly engaged not to interfere in the internal government of France, and were even disposed to treat with Bonaparte. But the Bourbon princes knew their adherents were numerous in different parts of France, and these they wished to increase and ar,i mate by their presence and example.
The situation of Bonaparte, already extremely embar rassing, was rendered still more so, by the stoppage of the national bank of France. By the report of the directors, it appeared that their ready money amounted only to 600,0001., which, from the eagerness of the holders of notes to obtain payment, would be exhausted in a very few dal s. In order therefore to pre% ent the draining of the bank, it was announced, that whatever number of notes might be presented for payment in the course of the day, not more than the value of 20,0001. would be paid ; and that no one would be paid, unless lie were the bearer of a number delivered to him by the mayor of his quarter. This measure was by no means calculated to remedy the evil effectually ; and even as far as it was efficacious, it only produced an evil of greater magnitude, by diminish ing the public confidence, and proclaiming to the people, that their just demands on the bank were to depend for payment on the certificate of those who were entirely under the controul of Bonaparte.
At length Bonaparte, having appointed Maria Louisa regent, left Paris on the 25th of January. The French armies were retreating from different quarters towards Chalons on the Marne, for the purpose of assembling with in the line of the Meuse. The allied armies were concen trating and pressing on the same point. Blucher by the way of Nancy and Toul, and Schwartzenberg, who had the chief command of the Austrian and Russian armies, by Langres and Chaumont. About the beginning of Fe bruary, these two grand armies came entirely into com munication with each other, when two corps of Austrians were placed under the command of Blucher. This gene ral immediately made his dispositions for attacking the French, who rested their right at Dienville, their centre at La Rotherie, and their left near Tremilly. After some
partial movements and operations, by which part of the allies got possession of an important position, which Bona parte in vain attempted to recover, a most desperate en gagement took place at La Rotherie. Bonaparte led on his troops in person, and at first was successful ; but the allies, fighting under the eye of their sovereigns, and ani mated by the example of Blucher, who bore a deadly ha tred to Bonaparte, opposed them with superior firmness and perseverance. The battle lasted till ten at night, when the Russians remained masters of La Rotherie, though the French held the ground beyond it, and at midnight, on the 1st of February, were in possession of the heights of Bricnne, near which their right had been posted at the commencement of the engagement. Bonaparte, folly sen sible of the extreme importance of La Rotherie, made many desperate attempts to regain it, but being opposed by Blucher in person, he was in all of them unsuccessful ; and at last he was compelled to retreat, with a loss of 40 pieces of cannon, and 4000 prisoners. He retreated first to Troyes, and afterwards to Nogent. On the 5th of Fe bruary, Marshal Macdonald was defeated by D'York, be tween Vitrey and Chalons.
The allies followed the beaten and retreating foe as rapidly as they could. On the 7th of February, they enter ed Troyes, where Prince Schwartzenberg fixed his head quarters, Marshal Blucher being about 20 miles to the north of this town. The French people beheld these dis asters of their monarch, and the advance and successes of the allies in general, with equal indifference. Notwith standing Bonaparte painted in the most dreadful colours the cruelties of the Cossacks, and called upon them to rise en mese to defend their country from these barbarians, they remained unmoved and quiet. The allies did not in vite them, much less require them to rise in favour of the Bourbons ; and even in some cases, as they were still negotiating with Bonaparte at Chatillon, they rather re pressed the loyal expressions of the people in favour of their legitimate sovereign. As therefore they Felt no affec tion for Bonaparte, and found that the aides performed their promise in neither forcing the Bourbons on them, nor plundering their country, they gladly remained quiet, and, to all appearance, almost indifferent spectators of the great contest that was carrying on in tile midst of them.