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DEDHAM GAZETTE
Dedham, MA., Friday, August 18, 1815
BREAKING NEWS
London, July 1, 1815
The French Provisional Government, lost not a moment to
make proposals of peace. M. Otto, a name well known in French
diplomacy, is the person selected by them to treat with England.
Having arrived at Boulogne, he sent over a despatch by a
messenger, addressed to Lord Castlereagh, which reached
Dover on Tuesday morning. The messenger was detained at Dover,
but the despatch was forwarded to town by Mr. Mantal, the Agent
for Packets. It announces the abdication of Bonaparte, the
accession of his son to the throne, and invites England to enter
into a negotiation for peace. The course which the English
Cabinet will pursue, may be easily anticipated from their past
conduct. They will refuse to treat with any of the family of
Bonaparte, or any Government emanating from or in any manner
connected with him.
A Flanders Mail arrived on Tuesday, with Brussels Papers to the
28th inst. The proposals of the new French Government to
the Allies have been rejected by Prince Blucher on
the part of Prussia -- They included a demand for an armistice.
Surely these new kinglings cannot be stupid enough to expect that
the Allies would stop short under circumstances, admitting that
this Government is unable to make any head.
German Papers to the 22nd inst. have arrived. The Bavarian
army passed the Rhine at Manheim, on the 19th. It
was followed by some Russian troops, including a
pulk of Cossacks.
The whole force is estimated at twenty thousand men. It is
probably now far advanced on its way to Paris.
LONDON, JULY 2.
Lord Castlereagh, accompanied by Mr. Planta, his
Secretary, and suit, left town at eight o'clock on Friday evening,
on his mission to the Continent. It is supposed that Prince
Metternich and Baron Hardenburgh will meet Lord Castlereagh at Brussels.
An application for passports for a French Negotiation was
received by government on Tuesday, but it was rejected; and the
officer who brought the despatch was sent back to Boulogne.
Another despatch, however, is said to have arrived from Boulogne
on Thursday night, and to have been forwarded immediately to
government. The general belief is, that it had for its object the
demand, on the part of Bonaparte, of an asylum in this
country, which dema nd it is also believed, has been rejected.
GHENT, JUNE 22.
His Majesty Louis XVIII has just left us to return to his
kingdom. A great many Frenchmen of distinction have followed the
King; the others will follow successively. The corps stationed at
Alost, Termonde, &c. are already gone forward.
BRUSSELS, JUNE 23.
A great part of the Duke of Wellington's army passed the
day before yesterday by Mons and the environs, to advance
into the French territory. Monsieur the Count D'Artois
arrived at Mons yesterday evening and the military household of
the King of France, which was at Alost, as well as the
volunteers who were dispersed in Flanders, set out today for Mons.
This little corps is estimated at 4000 men, of whom 800 are
cavalry. The Cent Swisses were to arrive at Ghent today,
whence they will follow Louis XVIII.
On the field of battle, where the glorious victory of the 18th
was gained, there are 126 French cannons which will shortly be
brought into this city, ornamented with ribbons and flowers.
There is also a portable observatory, on which Bonaparte
was mounted during the bloody action which has forever decided
his fate. Among the heaps of dead which are found there, we
remark an immense number of French cuirassiers, who
perished on that dreadful day; the ground is covered with horses,
cuirasses and arms. People are employed at this moment in burying
the dead, and piles of wood are going to be raised to consume the
bodies, which might cause an infection in the neighboring country.
Prince Talleyrand arrived here today, and is going
immediately to Mons.
JUNE 24 -- The wagons with wounded
French which arrived here yesterday, are innumerable. The
greatest care is taken of these poor sufferers.
The service of the hospital is wholly organized.
A deputation from the Hague has brought in the name of the town,
the sum of 10,000 florins for the relief of the wounded; a
deputation from Rotterdam is expected tomorrow.
The Duke of Wellington's headquarters were on the 21st at
Malplaquet, where the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene
gained, in 1709, the memorable victory over the French, commanded
by Marshal Villars. It is stated that the entrenched camp of
Maubeuge is in the hands of our troops.
BRUSSELS, JUNE 25.
Namur was on the 19th the theater of a very obstinate but
happily very short combat. The French corps, which was in
the environs of Wavre, having taken its way in the night
of Monday towards Namur, a Prussian division went
in pursuit of it. About 10 o'clock the cannonade was heard to
approach, and soon the fire of musketry was distinguished. In the
afternoon, a strong detachment of French cavalry appeared
at the gates of the town, and required to pass through in order
to go to Givet. As the place was without a garrison, it
was necessary to admit the enemy, who continued to arrive during
the day and the day following. Abut four in the afternoon, the
rear guard of the French shut the gates and commenced a brisk
fire from the ramparts upon the first columns of Prussians. About
6 o'clock the firing ceased.
The French hastily abandoned the ramparts, which were scaled by
the Prussians. A warm but short action commenced in the street,
which ended by the precipitate retreat of the enemy towards
Dinant. The glacis, the avenue to the Brussel's gate, and
part of the surrounding field are strewed with killed and wounded.
Among the great number of officers of rank who came into the town,
we remarked Marshal Grouchy and Generals Vandamme,
Excelmans and Pajol.
MONS, JUNE 22.
The Head Quarters of the Duke of Wellington are today at Cateau
Cambray, which proves how great a progress out victorious
troops have already made in the French territory.
We expect the immediate surrender of Maubeuge. It is
announced that the Duke of Berri will arrive this evening
at Alt, and that the King of France will arrive tomorrow
at Mons, from whence it is believed he will proceed to Maubeuge,
the gates of which will be opened to him by the garrison. The
accounts from the interior of France speak of the excellent
dispositions of men's minds. It is at this moment announced that
the army of General Travot, beaten in La Vendee,
has been obliged to capitulate.
JUNE 25 -- His Majesty Louis XVIII, the Count d'Artois, and
the Duke de Berri have arrived this afternoon with the royal
army at Mons; the fortresses of Maubeuge, Avesnes
and Quesnoy are, it is said, preparing to open their gates
to them.
A letter of the 18th, written by a man attached to the Head
Quarters of the English army, states, that Marshal Soult,
Major-General of the army, is dead.
LONDON, JUNE 24 -- Among the other articles
found in Bonaparte's state carriages, is a list of his agents
in different parts of Europe -- a most precious prize indeed!
Among the prisoners are mentioned Count Lobau, Generals
Vandamme, &c. Here follows a number of names of
officers reported to be captured; but the Duke of Wellington's
despatch only names two, Count Lobau and General
Cambrone.
There are two Bertrands who were generals in Bonaparte's
service. One has been a Lt. General, and is the Count Lobau
mentioned in Lord Wellington's despatch, as being a
prisoner; the other a young officer, accompanied Bonaparte
to Elba, and on his return was created a Peer, and made Grand
Marshal of the Palace. He is now following the fortunes of
his patron.
The Eagles of the 45th and 104th regiments, taken from the
French, are superbly gilt -- that of the 45th is inscribed,
"Jena, Austerlitz, Wagram, Eylau, Freidland," being the
battles which this regiment, called the Invincibles, had
signalized itself.
DEDHAM, Friday, August 18, 1815
The agitation and regret of the Bonapartists
since the confirmation of the decisive and unexampled defeat of
their master, is a subject of no small degree of amusement. The
zeal and confidence with which they asserted that the entire
success of Bonaparte, was easily deduced from Lord Wellington's
despatch, has given way to shame for their want of penetration to
repining and complaint. Some, not directly accusing Providence of
injustice, have asserted that their ideas of his justice are very
materially altered, and others, willing to ascribe to the supreme
Disposer of events good intentions, have not doubted but
he ordered what he "thought" right. One can
easily perceive in all their expressions and actions, how closely
they have connected their political existence, with the success
of the great disturber of national happiness. A partiality, so
repeatedly and warmly denied, needs now no other evidence of its
existence. No wonder after the fall of the idol, that his
worshippers tremble.
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-Napoleon Bonaparte
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