ADVERTISEMENT.
It has been the object of the Author to introduce in the following pages every interesting circumstance, political and military, that has occurred relating to the campaign in Germany and France, from the termination of the armistice of June, 1813, to the conclusion of the war. This work, therefore, forms a perfect continuation to the Author’s History of the Northern Campaigns of 1812 and 1813. In that undertaking, bis object was the same as what he professes to have had in view whilst writing the present work; and as the reception the former received from the Public induces the Author to conclude his object was attained, he flatters himself, that in the present he has been equally successful, notwithstanding the difficulty of publishing, at this early period, a correct and circumstantial account of the most important events the page of history can record.
In the Appendix to the "Northern Campaigns,’’ the Author has given translations of the whole of the bulletins issued by Napoleon Buonaparte, from the period of his invading Russia to the armistice. In the present work, the bulletins are continued from the latter event to the abdication of the thrones of France and Italy by Buonaparte. These French narratives of the war, notwithstanding the exaggerated statements they frequently contain, are documents that will always be regarded as important, and read with interest: they record the successes, the defeats, and the overthrow of the most ambitious soldier; they will shew to future ages the policy and the military talents of one who raised himself to the highest pinnacle of earthly power, and they may, at the same time, be regarded as practical lessons of modem warfare.
In the Appendix to this work, the Author has also given the interesting correspondence that took place between the ministers appointed to negociate a peace at Prague in 1813. The result of that correspondence induced Austria to join her arms to these of Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Great Britain: that junction enabled the Allies, with an overwhelming forccy to destroy lhe armies of their enemy, and to place Bourbon on the throne of France; and therefore the official notes and details of each party will never be otherwise than interesting. If the ministers of the different Powers could have concluded their labours with a peace, the government of Napoleon Buonaparte would have been greater and more firmly established than ever; but as that end was not attained, either from an impossibility on the part of the ministers of the Allied Powers, or from their having adopted a line of policy by which they expected to obtain the cooperation of Austria when the negociation should have terminated, the result has restored peace to Europe-repose to the world.
London June 13, 1814.
In the Appendix to the "Northern Campaigns,’’ the Author has given translations of the whole of the bulletins issued by Napoleon Buonaparte, from the period of his invading Russia to the armistice. In the present work, the bulletins are continued from the latter event to the abdication of the thrones of France and Italy by Buonaparte. These French narratives of the war, notwithstanding the exaggerated statements they frequently contain, are documents that will always be regarded as important, and read with interest: they record the successes, the defeats, and the overthrow of the most ambitious soldier; they will shew to future ages the policy and the military talents of one who raised himself to the highest pinnacle of earthly power, and they may, at the same time, be regarded as practical lessons of modem warfare.
In the Appendix to this work, the Author has also given the interesting correspondence that took place between the ministers appointed to negociate a peace at Prague in 1813. The result of that correspondence induced Austria to join her arms to these of Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Great Britain: that junction enabled the Allies, with an overwhelming forccy to destroy lhe armies of their enemy, and to place Bourbon on the throne of France; and therefore the official notes and details of each party will never be otherwise than interesting. If the ministers of the different Powers could have concluded their labours with a peace, the government of Napoleon Buonaparte would have been greater and more firmly established than ever; but as that end was not attained, either from an impossibility on the part of the ministers of the Allied Powers, or from their having adopted a line of policy by which they expected to obtain the cooperation of Austria when the negociation should have terminated, the result has restored peace to Europe-repose to the world.
London June 13, 1814.
Dieses Kapitel ist Teil des Buches Campaign in Germany and France. Vol. 1