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king and country； and exhorting them to union and peace。 This
address was unanimously adopted and signed by all present； and
amongst the signatures were those of the principal Protestants of
Nimes。 But this was not all： the next day it was printed and
published； and copies sent to all the communes in the department over
which the white flag still floated。 And all this happened； as we
have said； on April and； eleven days after Napoleon's return to
Paris。
The same day word arrived that the Imperial Government had been
proclaimed at Montpellier。
The next day； April 3rd； all the officers on half…pay assembled at
the fountain to be reviewed by a general and a sub…inspector； and as
these officers were late； the order of the； day issued by General
Ambert； recognising the Imperial Government； was produced and passed
along the ranks； causing such excitement that one of the officers
drew his sword and cried； 〃Long live the emperor！〃 These magic words
were re…echoed from every side； and they all hastened to the barracks
of the 63rd Regiment； which at once joined the officers。 At this
juncture Marshal Pelissier arrived； and did not appear to welcome the
turn things had taken； he made an effort to restrain the enthusiasm
of the crowd； but was immediately arrested by his own soldiers。 The
officers repaired in a body to the headquarters of General Briche；
commandant of the garrison； and asked for the official copy of the
order of the day。 He replied that he had received none； and when
questioned as to which side he was on he refused to answer。 The
officers upon this took him prisoner。 Just as they had consigned him
to the barracks for confinement； a post…office official arrived
bringing a despatch from General Ambert。 Learning that General
Briche was a prisoner； the messenger carried his packet to the
colonel of the 63rd Regiment； who was the next in seniority after the
general。 In opening it； it was found to contain the order of the
day。
Instantly the colonel ordered the 'gineyale' to sound： the town
guards assumed arms； the troops left the barracks and formed in line；
the National Guards in the rear of the regular troops； and when they
were all thus drawn up； the order of the day was read； it was then
snatched out of the colonel's hands； printed on large placards； and
in less time than seemed possible it was posted up in every street
and at every street corner； the tricolour replaced the white cockade；
everyone being obliged to wear the national emblem or none at all；
the city was proclaimed in a state of seige； and the military
officers formed a vigilance committee and a police force。
While the Duc d'Angouleme had been staying at Nimes； General Gilly
had applied for a command in that prince's army； but in spite of all
his efforts obtained nothing； so immediately after the dinner at
which he was insulted he had withdrawn to Avernede； his place in the
country。 He was awoke in the night of the 5th…6th April by a courier
from General Ambert； who sent to offer him the command of the 2nd
Subdivision。 On the 6th； General Gilly went to Nimes； and sent in
his acceptance； whereby the departments of the Gard； the Lozere； and
Ardeche passed under his authority。
Next day General Gilly received further despatches from General
Ambert； from which he learned that it was the general's intention； in
order to avoid the danger of a civil war； to separate the Duc
d'Angouleme's army from the departments which sympathised with the
royal cause； he had therefore decided to make Pont…Saint…Esprit a
military post； and had ordered the l0th Regiment of mounted
chasseurs； the 13th artillery； and a battalion of infantry to move
towards this point by forced marches。 These troops were commanded by
Colonel Saint…Laurent； but General Ambert was anxious that if it
could be done without danger； General Gilly should leave Nimes；
taking with him part of the 63rd Regiment； and joining the other
forces under the command of Colonel Saint…Laurent； should assume the
chief command。 As the city was quite tranquil； General Gilly did not
hesitate to obey this order： he set out from Nimes on the 7th； passed
the night at Uzes； and finding that town abandoned by the
magistrates； declared it in a state of siege； lest disturbances
should arise in the absence of authority。 Having placed M。 de
Bresson in command； a retired chief of battalion who was born in
Uzes； and who usually lived there； he continued his march on the
morning of the 8th。
Beyond the village of Conans； General Gilly met an orderly sent to
him by Colonel Saint…Laurent to inform him that he； the colonel； had
occupied Pont Saint…Esprit； and that the Duc d'Angouleme； finding
himself thus caught between two fires； had just sent General
d'Aultanne； chief of staff in the royal army； to him； to enter into
negotiations for a surrender。 Upon this； General Gilly quickened his
advance； and on reaching Pont…Saint…Esprit found General d'Aultanne
and Colonel Saint…Laurent conferring together at the Hotel de la
Poste。
As Colonel Saint…Laurent had received his instructions directly from
the commander…in…chief； several points relating to the capitulation
had already been agreed upon； of these General Gilly slightly altered
some； and approved of the others； and the same day the following
convention was signed：
〃Convention concluded between General Gilly and Baron de Damas
〃S。A。R。 Mgr。 le Duc d'Angouleme； Commanderin…Chief of the royal army
in the South； and Baron de Gilly； General of Division and
Commander…in…Chief of the first corps of the Imperial Army； being
most anxiously desirous to prevent any further effusion of French
blood； have given plenary powers to arrange the terms of a convention
to S。A。R。 M。 le Baron de Damas； Field…Marshal and Under…Chief of
Staff； and General de Gilly and Adjutant Lefevre； Chevalier of the
Legion of Honour； and Chief of the Staff of the first Army Corps；
who； having shown each other their respective credentials； have
agreed on the following terms：
〃Art。 1。 The royal army is to be disbanded； and the National Guards
which are enrolled in it； under whatever name they may have been
levied； will return to their homes； after laying down their arms。
Safe conducts will be provided； and the general of division
commanding…in…chief guarantees that they shall never be molested for
anything they may have said or done in connection with the events
preceding the present convention。
〃The officers will retain their swords； the troops of the line who
form part of this army will repair to such garrisons as may be
assigned to them。
〃Art。 2。 The general officers； superior staff officers and others of
all branches of the service； and the chiefs and subordinates of the
administrative departments； of whose names a list will be furnished
to the general…in…chief； will retire to their homes and there await
the orders of His Majesty the Emperor。
〃Art。 3。 Officers of every rank who wish to resign their commissions
are competent to do so。 They will receive passports for their homes。
〃Art。 4。 The funds of the army and the lists of the paymaster…
general will be handed over at once to commissioners appointed for
that purpose by the commander…in…chief。
〃Art。 5。 The above articles apply to the corps commanded by Mgr。 le
Duc d'Angouleme in person； and also to those who act separately but
under his orders； and as forming part of the royal army of the South。
〃Art。 6。 H。R。H。 will post to Cette； where the vessels necessary for
him and his suite will be waiting to take him wherever he may desire。
Detachments of the Imperial Army will be placed at all the relays on
the road to protect His Royal Highness during the journey； and the
honours due to his rank will be everywhere paid him； if he so desire。
〃Art。 7。 All the officers and other persons of His Royal Highness'
suite who desire to follow him will be permitted to do so； and they
may either embark with him at once or later； should their private
affairs need time for arrangement。
〃Art。 8。 The present treaty will be kept secret until His Royal
Highness have quitted the limits of the empire。
〃Executed in duplicate and agreed upon between the above…mentioned
plenipotentiaries the 8th day of April in the year 1815； with the
approval of the general commanding…in…chief； and signed；
〃At the headquarters at Pont…Saint…Esprit on the day and year above
written
（Signed） LEFEVRE
Adjutant and Chief of Staff of the
First Corps of the Imperial Army
of the South
（Signed） BARON DE DAMAS
Field…Marshal and Under…Chief of
Staff
〃The present convention is approved of by the General of Division
Commanding…in…Chief the Imperial Army of the South。
（Signed） GILLY〃
After some discussion between General Gilly and General Grouchy； the
capitulation was carried into effect。 On the 16th April； at eight
o'clock in the morning； the Duc d'Angouleme arrived at Cette； and
went on board the Swedish vessel Scandinavia； which； taking advantage
of a favourable wind； set sail the same day。
Early in the morning of the 9th an officer of high rank had been sent
to La Palud to issue safe…conducts to the troops； who according