At length, however, even the Emperor of Austria was convinced that no peace could be made with Bonaparte; accordingly, on the 18th of March, the final and complete rupture of the negotiation took place. Immediately after this event, Bonaparte directed all his efforts in a most des perate manner against Blucher : for two days he poured his battalions against the immoveable army of that general; but finding that he could make no impression, lie bent his efforts southwards against. the grand army of the allies. On the 21st, the two armies were near, and opposite each other, ready for battle ; but Bonaparte, perceiving that he had not the smallest chance of success, moved off his co lumns on the road to Vitrey. At first he proceeded in a northern direction, but afterwards turned to the east on St Dizier, and thus found himself on the 24th of March exact ly where he was on the 25th of January, when he opened the campaign.
Let us now tarn our attention to the movements and ope rations of Lord Wellington. Though his army was in the south of France, yet from the vicinity of its situation to the foot of the Pyrenees, the weather was so very unfavourable, that he could not advance till the 23d of February. His first movement was across the Adour and two other rivers: These were successful; and by the 27th of February, the Whole army had taken up a position within four miles of the French forces under Soult, which were posted in front of the town of ()rifles. Although the position of the French general was very strong, hi's centre being thrown back, and both his flanks advanced on very commanding heights, Lord Wellington resolved to attack him. Iiis plan was, that Marshal Bercsford should turn the right of Soult's ar my, while the third and sixth divisions attacked his left and centre ; but the fourth division, to which the attack on the right was entrusted, meeting with great opposition, and being unable to possess itself of the heights on which the enemy was placed, Lord Wellington changed his plan, and turned the third and sixth divisions against the right of the French ; and thus forced him to ahandon the heights, lest he should be completely surrounded. \Ve have been thus more than usually particular in describing the, manoeuvres of the British during the battle of Orthes, as they afford a striking proof of the characteristic promptitude and deci sion of Lord Wellington's mind. While these operations were going on in this part, Soult found his centre attacked and his left threatened, by the British division of Sir Row land Hill having carried a position on which it appuycd : Here, however, the French having a numerous artillery, made a vigorous and formidable resistance, hut the two points of the base line of his position, (for it was in the form of a triangle,) being hard pressed by flank-attacks, and the centre at the same time yielding to the British, he gave or ders for a retreat. At first his troops retreated without
confusion ; but soon disorder spread among them, and they dispersed and made the best of their way, in the same man ner as they had done in the battle of Vittoria. In the night they retired across the Adour, the British being so much exhausted that they could not pursue them to any conside rable distance that night. On the 24th, however, they con tinued the pursuit to St Sevre, where General Beresford, having crossed the Adour, advanced to the chief town in the department of the Landes. At first Soffit retreated in the direction of Bourdeaux, but being defeated by Sir Row land in an attempt to defend his magazines at Aire on the Adour, he changed his route, and retreated in the direc tion of Toulouse. The main British army followed him, while Sir John Hope began the siege of Bayonne. Such was the battle of Orthes,—certainly one of the most gene ral and hard fought in which Lord Wellington had been engaged since the commencement of the Peninsular war ; and it may be added, that not only in the positions which Soult fixed on, but in his conduct during the engagement, he fully made out his claim to talents and preseverance as a military man.
The people of the south of France, notwithstanding all the efforts to represent the English as even worse than the Cossacks, received Lord Wellington and his army as friends; treating them with the utmost confidence and kindness, and evidently chewing that they dreaded more from their own soldiers than from them. But though they openly express ed their wish to receive back the Bourbons, Lord Wel lington could not proclaim or support their cause, as the negociations for peace with Bonaparte were still going on. As soon, however, as the city of Bourdeaux, which had suf fered dreadfully from the revolution, and especially from the measures of Bonaparte against commerce, and in which there were many merchants descended from British fami• lies, learned that Lord Wellington had entered France, that Soult was entirely defeated, and that his retreat was towards Toulouse, it determined to declare for the Bourbons. A proclamation to this effect was issued by the mayor ; de puties were sent to Louis XVIII, and the British were im plored to enter the town, and protect it against the forces of Bonaparte. Lord 'Wellington accordingly gave tions for pit of his army to march thither ; and the Duke of Angouleme, who had been for some time with Lim, though not acknowledged or received pub.iely, hastened to chew himself to the citizens of The recep tion both of the British and of the Duke was most flatter ing, not only in the town, but in the country through which they passed.