THE WATERLOO YEAR
Lord Sheffield's forebodings--Talleyrand and the Senate--Vagabond
Royalty--Mr. North and Napoleon--The rout of the Bourbon
Government.
1814-1816.
The two years which intervened between Edward Stanley's second and third
visits to France saw the Empire regained and lost by Napoleon, and the
French Crown lost and regained by Louis XVIII.
In spite of the rose-coloured description of the comforts and pleasures
of his journey with which the correspondence of 1814 closes, neither the
Rector nor his brother found it possible to travel on the Continent in
1815, which Lady Maria had foretold would be "a much more favourable
time."
Such hopes must soon have been dashed by the proceedings of the Congress
of Vienna, which, as was said, "danse mais n'avance pas," and gloomy
forebodings are shewn in two letters from Lord Sheffield to his
son-in-law, which were received at Alderley in the autumn of 1814 and
the spring of 1815.
The first gives Lord Sheffield's view of the situation, and the second
describes Napoleon's own remarks upon it to Lord Sheffield's nephew, Mr.
Frederick Douglas.
_Lord Sheffield to Sir John Stanley_.
SHEFFIELD PLACE, _October 30, 1814_.
It is time I should provoke some symptom of your existence. I have no
letters from Frederick North,[94] but I can acquaint you that we had
himself here, which is still better, and that he has been infinitely
entertaining, after three or four months' tour on the Continent, from
whence he arrived about three weeks ago, and where he proposes to return
next week, to pass the winter at Nice with the Glenbervies and Lady
Charlotte Lindsay, who are gone there, and, I might add, with many other
English families. I begin to think I shall have more acquaintances on
the Continent than in England; the migration there is beyond
calculation.
The present is an anxious period. Perhaps there isn't in the History of
the world a more complete instance of political imbecility than was
exhibited in the late Peace at Paris, especially in the Allies not
availing themselves of the very extraordinary opportunity of securing
the tranquillity of Europe for a long time.
I conceive that the most selfish ambition will not have been more
hurtful than liberality run mad. And as I am not without apprehension of
that fanaticism, which for some time has interfered even with
Parliament, and to which there has been too much concession, I incline
to the opinion that enthusiasm, as fanaticism, is generally more hurtful
to society than scepticism. The fanatic measures are evidently
systematic and combined.
Everybody now looks eagerly towards the Congress of Vienna. Talleyrand
displays the cloven foot, by refusing to recognise the junction of all
the Netherlands. However, the Bourbons, France, and all Europe may be
thankful to Talleyrand.
You have often heard of Barthélemy.[95] His brother, a banker at Paris,
first moved in the Senate the déchéance of the Buonaparte family.
Alexander was treating respecting a Regency. The King of Prussia did not
attempt to take a lead, but was well disposed to put down the dynasty.
The Emperor of Austria had always declared that he would treat with
Buonaparte for Peace, under restrictions, still co-operating with the
Allies.
While matters were in this state Talleyrand took the opportunity of
sending a message to the Senate, saying that the family was deposed, and
by this step decided the business.
Buonaparte never showed a disposition to treat and to agree to terms;
but when he had seemingly agreed, he denied or broke off the next day.
The failure or desertion of the Marshals completed his overthrow.
It is surprising that he did not attempt to join Augereau's Army,[96]
and retire into Italy, where he had forty thousand very good troops. At
all events we must rest upon the pinnacle of glory and honour, although
we have not secured a permanency of them. By premature concession we
have yielded the means of securing the advantages we had gained.
The affair at Lake Champlain[97] has been most unlucky, as it will
encourage the Yankies, under the present inveterate and execrable
Government, to persevere in a ruinous warfare--ruinous to the American
States, and galling to this country, liable to be distracted by the
efforts of an interested and mischievous faction, which, through lack of
firmness in Government, often paralyses measures of the utmost
consequence.
I have seen several letters from Madrid, and I have one from thence now
before me of the 3rd inst.
A degree of infatuation prevails there which you could hardly conceive
possible. The account comes from a very respectable and rational
quarter. The most respectable characters are most violently persecuted,
and the persons arraigned are confined in dungeons, no communication
permitted; and persons convicted of the most atrocious acts are not even
in disgrace.
While officers and soldiers invalided by wounds are starving, the
King[98] is profuse to persons of no merit, and has given a pension of
1,000 dollars to a young lady who sang before him, &c., &c.
The Spanish Funds, which on the King's arrival were at 85, are now at
50. The Revenue is less than 20 millions of Dollars, the expenditure
nearly 50.
Spain is likely to be in as bad a state as ever, excepting the presence
of a French Army; consequently I conceive their Transatlantic Dominions
will be lost to them.
Nothing, however, could be more favourable to our Commerce than their
emancipation. Such an event, and a proper Boundary between us and the
American States, would be the most favourable result of the war to this
country.
There is an uncommonly good Pamphlet published on this subject entitled
"A completed View of the points to be discussed in treating with the
American States." I cannot do less than admire it, because it seems
taken from my shop, or at least it adopts all the principles, with a
considerable amelioration, by taking the Line of Mountains into the
Lakes, and all the Lakes within our Boundary.
I am very much entertained with an Anecdote in a letter of the 8th inst.
now before me, from Switzerland, which states that the Princess of Wales
dined a few days before with the Empress Maria Louisa and the
Archduchess Constantine,[99] at Berne, and after dinner the Empress and
Princess sang Duets, and the Archduchess accompanied them. Two years ago
nobody would have believed such an event possible.
All this vagabond Royalty is found extremely troublesome by travellers,
filling up all the beds, and carrying away all the horses. The above
dinner party reminds me of Candide meeting at the Table d'Hôte during
the Carnival at Venice, with two ex-emperors, and a few ex-kings.
The Princess of Wales could not be prevailed on to remain more than ten
days at Brunswick. She left Lady Charlotte Lindsay[100] and Serinyer
behind her, and proceeded with Lady Elizabeth Forbes to Strasburg, where
she found Talma, the renowned Actor, and halted there ten days.
_Lord Sheffield to Sir John Stanley._
SHEFFIELD PLACE, _February 1, 1815_.
We are much entertained with Fred Douglas's[101] account of his visit of
four days to the Isle of Elba.
On the third evening he had an interview with Buonaparte for an hour and
a half--the conversation very curious. He says that Buonaparte is not at
all like any of his Prints; that he is a stout, thick-set figure, which
makes him look short; his features rather coarse and his eyes very
light, and particularly dull; but his mouth, when he smiles, is full of
a very sweet, good-humoured expression; that at first he strikes you as
being a very common-looking man, but upon observing him and conversing
with him, you perceive that his countenance is full of deep thought and
decision.
He says he received him with much good humour, and talked to him of the
English Constitution, with which he seemed well acquainted; said that
France never could have the same, because it wanted one of the principal
parts of it, "Les Nobles de Campagne." He talked also much about our
church Laws, of which he appeared to be well informed, but said he heard
there was much ill humour in Scotland on account of the _Union_!
Frederick thought he meant Ireland, but found he really did mean
Scotland, and had no idea that the Union had taken place above a hundred
years ago.
He said he did not think the Peace would last; that the French Nation
would never submit long to give up Belgium, and that he would have
yielded all except that; that he would have given up the Slave Trade, as
it was a Brigandage of very little use to France. He had a most
extraordinary idea of how it should be abolished, viz., he said he
would allow Polygamy among the Whites in the West Indies, that they
might inter-marry with the Blacks, and all become Brothers and Sisters.
He said that he had consulted a Bishop upon this, who had objected to it
as contrary to the Christian Religion.
He seemed very anxious to know concerning the quarrels of the Regent and
his wife, upon which subject F., of course, evaded giving him any
answers. He said, "On dit qu'il aime la Mère de ce Yarmouth--mais vous
Anglais, vous aimez les vielles Femmes," and he laughed very much. He
avoided speaking of Maria Louisa, but spoke of Joséphine with affection,
saying, "Elle étoit une excellente Femme." He said that the motive of
his expedition into Russia was, first, that it was necessary to lead the
French Army somewhere, and then that he wished to establish Poland as an
independent kingdom; for that he had always loved the Poles, and had
many obligations to them. He talked of all his battles as you would of a
show, saying "C'étoit un Spectacle magnifique."
* * * * *
When Napoleon had fulfilled his own prophecies of the prompt disturbance
of the Peace of Europe by landing at Cannes, just six days from the date
of this last letter, Lord Sheffield writes again, after war had been
declared by the Allies.
_Lord Sheffield to Sir John Stanley._
SHEFFIELD PLACE, _March 24, 1815_.
I was greatly oppressed by the first intelligence of Napoleon's
Invasion. I was afterwards re-elevated, and now I am tumbled down again.
To be sure, there never was such an execrable nation as the French. The
much more respectable Hindoos could not more meekly submit to any
conqueror that chooses to run through their country at the head of a set
of miscreant soldiers. The Pretorian band that in the time of Imperial
Rome used to dispose of Empires is perfectly re-established. Immediate
notice was sent me from Newhaven of the Duke of Feltre's[102] (Minister
of War) arrival there, and of poor Louis's flight from Paris.
I immediately set out, with the intention of rendering service to the
variety of wretches that were pouring in upon our coast, English and
French, but on my way called at Stanmer, where I found that this famous
Minister of War was gone forward to London, that the few ship-loads that
had got over to Newhaven were disposed of, and an embargo having been
laid on the Ports of France, of course there was nothing more to be done
on our coast.
I returned home at night, and just as I was going out of Stanmer Park I
met the Duke of Taranto[103] entering, for whom Lord Chichester had sent
his carriage. The Duke of Feltre brought the intelligence that the King
was at Abbeville.
I was considerably annoyed, because it seemed like inclining to England,
and relinquishing all hopes of France. At Abbeville he certainly might
turn off to Lisle, where I hope he is gone, and there, if there be any
loyal Frenchmen, they may flock round his standard.
All accounts, and letters, that I have seen from France agree that the
country is almost universally against Buonaparte, and it is very clear
all the Army is for him, and that all the Marshals adhere to Louis,
except two. If so, and Napoleon has not the aid of his old Generals, he
may find it difficult to manage the many Armies that he must keep on
foot to repel the attacks that will be made on him from all sides.
I cannot help thinking he is in a bad situation still. When all the
Russians, Cossacks, Croats, Hungarians, Austrians, and all Germany
clatter round him, and our very respectable army from the Netherlands
advances, if he has nothing but the army in his favour, he will be
considerably bothered, and I hope the sentimental, silly Alexander will
never be suffered to interfere with his "beaux sentimens" in favour of
the monster. If he should be taken and I had the command I should never
trouble Alexander nor anybody else, but take him by the Drum head,
giving something like the sort of trial the Duc d'Enghien had and
immediately extinguish him by exactly the same process, ceremony, &c.,
as he practised on the Duc d'Enghien.
After all, and the worst of all, is that I apprehend we must pay the
piper to enable the above-mentioned Hordes to take possession of France,
and when there I flatter myself they will live upon the country. If we
do not make some effort of the kind, all the money we have shed may be
in a great degree thrown away. One great difficulty occurs to me, how
will it be possible to dispose of the present French Army if it should
be conquered, and how raise a French Army to maintain Louis's dominion?
If Napoleon should be utterly extinguished, it may be possible to do
something, but if he escapes (yet I know not where he can go) a large
foreign Army must remain a long time in France.
I must conclude by observing what a very extraordinary, strange creature
a Frenchman is! Instead of attending the King, or suppressing Navy
Depôts where there are only fifty loyal men, the Minister of War flies
to England, and, as he represented, in order to join the King in
Flanders. At Paris he was certainly nearer Flanders than he was at
Dieppe....
Yours ever,
SHEFFIELD.
The Victory of Waterloo ended all fears of a fresh Imperial Despotism,
and also all the hopes of those who, like Lord Sheffield and the Stanley
family, were no great admirers of the Bourbon Dynasty.
Edward Stanley's desire to revisit France was now coupled with a wish to
realise the scene of the late Campaign, and he planned his journey so as
to arrive there on the first anniversary of the battle, June 18, 1816.
He was accompanied by Mrs. Stanley, by his brother-in-law, Edward
Leycester Penrhyn,[104] who had travelled with him in 1814, and by their
mutual friend, Donald Crawford.
Mrs. Stanley's bright and graphic letters contribute to the story of
their adventures, and are added to make it complete.
[Illustration: _Corn Mills at Vernon, July 11 1816._
_To face p. 247._]