By this time Bonaparte had reached St Dizier, hut there learning that the allies, unintimidated by his throwing him self into their rear, were still pushing on for Paris, and be ing moreover ill provided with many necessaries for his army, he resolved to hasten back to the capital as quickly as possible. In this march he was closely followed and constantly harassed by Winzingerode, with 10,000 horse and 40 pieces of cannon. On the 28th and 29th of March, the allies crossed the Marne near Meaux. On the night of the 29th, Monier entered Paris, where he found about S000 regulars, and 30,000 national guards, under the no minal command of Joseph Bonaparte. This force took up a strong position near the city, with their right on Belle ville, and their left on Neuiily. As soon as the allies ap proached Paris, a flag of truce, with a proclamation, stat ing that the object of their march was to protect and be nefit, not to injure France, and that they hoped to meet with the good wishes and concurrence of every Frenchman in their endeavours to destroy a government, which had occasioned so many evils, not only to the rest of Europe, but to France itself; they did not come to revenge their own wrongs on Frenchmen, nor to imitate the conduct of Bonaparte in every country which he had invaded ; they hoped, therefore, that the people of Paris would follow the example of the citizens of Bourdeaux and Lyons, both of which had deserted the cause of a man who had been the curse of France. The flag of truce, however, was re fused admittance, and it was therefore resolved to attack the enemy on the heights above Paris. In the centre of the position of the French army on these heights, there were several redoubts, and on the whole line, 150 pieces of can non. It was planned that the grand army should attack the heights at Belleville, while the Silesian army directed its attack against Montmartre. Marshal Blucher made his own dispositions for the attack.
After an obstinate resistance, the heights of Belleville were carried ; and 43 pieces of cannon and a great number of prisoners were taken. Nearly at the same time, Mar shal Blucher commenced an attack on Montmartre, from which the French were also driven with the loss of 20 pieces of cannon. Marshal Marmont, seeing no chance of saving the capital, now sent out a flag of truce, propos ing an armistice for two hours, and intimating a desire to receive the propositions of the allies, at the same time agreeing to abandon all the positions which he retained without the barriers. To this proposal Prince Schwartz enberg agreed ; and the next day the allies entered Paris, amidst the acclamations of the populace, by whom thyr were received as protectors and liberators.
Before these events took place, Bonaparte, who had ar rived at Fontainbleau, sent Canlincourt to the Emperor of Russia ; but the Emperor absolutely declined receiving a message from him. On the 2d of April, the French Se nate, which -had been assembled on the day before, at the desire of the Emperor Alexander, by Talleyrand, in his character of Vice Grand Elector, passed a decree depos ing Bonaparte, and absolving all persons from their oath of allegiance to him as their sovereign. The command of the national guard was entrusted to a French general ; but Ge neral Sacken was appointed to the military command of the city. A provisional government was established, con sisting of Talley rand, Montesquieu, Jaucourt, Bournon ville, and the Duke of Dalberg. As soon as this provi sional government was formed, they published an address to the army, telling them that they were no longer the sol diers of Napoleon.
The Emperor Alexander, on his entry into Paris, had issued a proclamation in the name of himself and his allies, promising that the conditions of peace, which they were willing to grant to France, should be now much more fa vourable than they would have been if the people of Paris had adhered to Bonaparte ; and that the limits of France, as it existed previously to the Revolution, should be scru pulously preserved. This proclamation concluded with calling upon the provisional government to prepare a con stitution, which would suit the French people. A consti tution was soon framed, and immediately presented to the Senate ; it was read twice, and a commission appointed to examine it. On the evening of the 5th of April, the com mission made its report, and the constitution was adopted unanimously. By it, Louis was to be chosen sovereign, according to a charter, of which the following are the most important articles : The French call to the throne Louis, the brother of the last king. The executive power belongs to the king. There are to be 150 senators at least, and not more than 200, named by the king ; their dignity hcredita ry, and revenues allotted to them. The princes of the blood and of the royal family are members of the senate. The legislative body remains as before ; it shall not sit for more than live years : the king may convoke, adjourn, and dissolve it ; but in this last case, he must call another le gislative body in three months at the latest. The king, the senate, and the legislative body, concur in the making of the laws ; but those relating, to contributions can be proposed only in the legislative body. The sanction of the king is necessary for the completion of a law. The legislative body has the right of discussion*: their sit tings are open. No member of the senate or legislative body can be arrested, without a previous authinity From the body to which he belongs. The ministers may be bcrs either of the senate or legislative body. Equality of proportion in the taxes is a matter of right ; no tax can be imposed or received, unless it has been previously consent ed to by the legislative body and the senate. The law shall fix the amount and the recruiting of the army. The in dependence of the judges is guaranteed ; they are to be for life, and irremoveable. The; institution of juries is preserved. The king has the right of pardon. The per son of the king is sacred and inviolable ; but all his acts must be signed by a minister, who is responsible for them. The freedom of worship and conscience guaranteed. The liberty of the press is entire, with the exception of the le gal repression of offences resulting from the abuse of that liberty. The public debt is guaranteed ; the sales of the national domains are irrecoverably maintained. No French man. can be prosecuted for opinions' or votes he may have given. The right of individuals to petition every consti tuted authority is recognised. The present constitution shall be submitted to the acceptance of the French people. Louis Stanislaus Xavier shall be proclaimed king of the French, as soon as he shall have signed and sworn by an act, stating, " I accept the constitution. I swear to observe it, and cause it to be observed." This oath shall be re peated, when he shall receive the oath of the fidelity of the French nation.