during the retreat. The remnant of the French army arrived in France reduced to a few thousands, from that of 400,000 men. Napoleon imputed the disasters of his army entirely to the elements, and, as there could be none to dispute the assertion, he so far enlisted the sympathies of his people favourably to his views, that in a few weeks he had again at command an army of 380,000 men.
Buonaparte after this seldom was successful in any engagement, and in the year 1814 signed the following document of abdication:-
“The Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the sole obstacle to the peace of Europe, he declares that, in conformity with his oath, he will descend from the throne, quit France, and even relinquish life, if his country should require such sacrifice. He seeks only the welfare of France, inseparable, as it is, from the rights of his son, from those of the Regency in the person of the Empress, and from the maintenance of the laws of the empire.
“Done at our Palace at Fontainebleau, April the 4th, 1814.
Napoleon afterwards accepted the conditions proffered by Alexander; and renouncing for himself and his heirs the thrones of France and Italy, consented to receive the sovereignty of Elba. In consequence of the Bourbon government unpaying
