appearance, so extraordinary in its origin and progress, and so
ephemeral in its endurance.

The very day before the ceremony of coronation, (that is, on the 1st of
December,) the senate had waited upon the Emperor with the result of the
votes collected in the departments, which, till that time, had been
taken for granted. Upwards of three millions five hundred thousand
citizens had given their votes on this occasion; of whom only about
three thousand five hundred had declared against the proposition. The
vice-president, Neufchateau, declared, "this report was the unbiassed
expression of the people's choice. No government could plead a title
more authentic."

Sir Walter occupies his sixth volume with details of the celebrated
battles that were fought between the French and English armies in the
Spanish territories, and which are told with great truth and develope
the extraordinary powers of this celebrated writer. The divorce of
Josephine, and marriage of Maria Louisa, commence the succeeding volume.
The sterility of Bonaparte's wife was now an irremediable evil; and
political motives were to supersede the ties of endearment, affection,
talents, and virtue. Fouche the minister of police, made Josephine the
means of suggesting to Napoleon, the measure of her own divorce, and
subsequently Napoleon made Josephine acquainted with the cruel
certainty, that the separation was ultimately determined upon.


NAPOLEON DIVORCED FROM JOSEPHINE.

When this sentence had finally dissolved their union, the emperor
retired to St. Cloud, where he lived in seclusion for some days.