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MEETING BETWEEN THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON AND KING AND CROWN PRINCE OF PRUSSIA, AT THE CHATEAU BELLEVUE, Copied by permission from a Photograph taken on the spot by the London Stereoscopic Company.

THE

Bible Class & Youth's Magazine.

1871.

The Interview at Chateau Bellevue after Sedan.

UR beautiful coloured illustration is copied from a photograph kindly lent for that purpose by the London Stereoscopic Company.

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We cannot do better than describe it in the words of Dr. Russell of the Times:- "A short way outside Sedan, and separated from it by the river, stands a pretty country house (the Château Bellevue), provided with glass conservatories at the angles. It commands a beautiful view of the valley and the road, and is surrounded with pleasure-grounds. About two o'clock (Sept. 3, 1870) the King with his body-guard and an escort of cuirassiers, attended by the Crown Prince and a staff of general officers, proceeded to this château, which was charmingly furnished, and received the Emperor, who came, with his personal staff in charge, under escort, which was ranged on the other side of the avenue JANUARY, 1871.

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facing the cuirassiers. The King and his captive retired into the glass house off one of the saloons on the drawing-room floor, and they could be seen by the staff outside engaged in earnest dialogue. After the interview with the King, the Emperor had a few moments' conversation with the Crown Prince. His great anxiety seemed to be not to be exhibited to his own soldiers. The result was, however, that his Majesty, wishing to avoid one mischief, was exposed to a great humiliation; for his course had to be altered to avoid Sedan, and thus he had to pass through the lines of the Prussian army." His surrender was probably one of the most humiliating that has ever been recorded in history. At the same time that he surrendered himself not less than fifty marshals and generals of France and 80,000 soldiers became prisoners of war to the Germans.

We will not attempt to describe the horrors of the battle-field, nor will we follow with curious eyes the fallen Emperor into his banishment, nor try to realize the anguish of his spirit as he compared his past greatness with his present humiliation. If his conscience was not dead, how it must have been tormented with the remembrance of the sufferings his wicked ambition had brought on his country! Visions of lonely widows and weeping children, and the slaughtered thousands of the battle-field must have risen before his mind, and made his very life a torture. Napoleon little thought at the commencement of the year that before its close he would be banished from his country, a prisoner in the hands of his enemies.

Our readers have a great conflict before them, in which they must all be engaged during the year 1871, and this war is one in which they cannot remain neutral. They must be fighting under the banner of the great Captain of their salvation, Jesus Christ, or else they must be enrolled in the armies of the Lord's enemies. There is no uncertainty in the war between the soldiers of Christ, and Satan and his emissaries. All the enemies of the Lord must perish; and when death comes, it will be found that those who are on the Lord's side, and fighting under the bloodstained banner of the cross, will be enabled to conquer sin and Satan, will be saved from eternal death, and will receive the crown of victory and eternal life; while the enemies of the Lord shall be sent away into everlasting banishment from His presence. We would earnestly and lovingly entreat all our readers to "choose the good part," and place themselves under the guidance and service of the Lord, the mighty Conqueror.

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