a peaceful termination.  He agreed to an armistice, and in arranging its conditions agreed to fall back out of Silesia; thus enabling the allied princes to re-open communications with Berlin.  The lines of country to be occupied by the armies, respectively, during the truce, were at length settled, and it was signed on the 1st of June.  The French Emperor then returned to Dresden, and a general congress of diplomatists prepared to meet at Prague.

CHAPTER XXXIII

     Napoleon’s Interview with Metternich—­Advice of his Ministers and
     Generals—­Intelligence from Spain—­Battle of Vittoria—­Congress of
     Prague Dissolved—­Austria declares War—­Battle of Dresden—­Death of
     Moreau—­Battle of Culm—­Surrender of Vandamme—­Battles of
     Grossbeeren, Wahlstadt, and Dennewitz—­Napoleon retires from the
     Elbe—­The Battle of Leipsig—­The Battle of Hanau—­The Allies on the
     Rhine.

England alone refused to send any representative to Prague, alleging that Buonaparte had as yet signified no disposition to recede from his pretensions on Spain, and that he had consented to the armistice with the sole view of gaining time for political intrigue and further military preparation.  It may be doubted whether any of the allied powers who took part in the congress did so with much hope that the disputes with Napoleon could find a peaceful end.  His recent successes were to the general view dazzling, however in reality unproductive, and must have been supposed to quicken the flame of his pride.  But it was of the utmost importance to gain time for the advance of Bernadotte; for the arrival of new reinforcements from Russia; for the completion of the Prussian organisation; and, above all, for determining the policy of Vienna.

Metternich, the Austrian minister, repaired in person to Dresden; and, while inferior diplomatists wasted time in endless discussions at Prague, one interview between him and Napoleon brought the whole question to a definite issue.  The Emperor had hitherto seen in Metternich only a smooth and elegant courtier, and he expected to bear him down by military violence and rudeness.  He assumed at once that Austria had no wish but to drive a good bargain for herself, and asked broadly, What is your price?  Will Illyria satisfy you?  I only wish you to be neutral—­I can deal with these Russians and Prussians single-handed. Metternich stated plainly that the time in which Austria could be neutral was past; that the situation of Europe at large must be considered.  Napoleon insinuated that he would be happy to dismember Prussia, and give half her territories to Austria.  Metternich replied that his government was resolved to be gained by no share in the spoils of others; that events had proved the impossibility of a steadfast peace, unless the sovereigns of the continent were restored to the rank of independence; in a word, that the Rhenish Confederacy must be broken up; that France must be contented with the boundary of the Rhine, and pretend no longer to maintain her usurped and unnatural influence in Germany.  Napoleon replied by a gross personal insult:  Come, Metternich, said he, tell me honestly how much the English have given you to take their part against me?