their victories, than the glory of delivering nations from tyranny.

These ideas had fpread far and wide among the Italians, together with the hope of feeing their country re-attain its independence and ancient fplendour. The remembrance of those celebrated names, that had done it fo much credit of old, was now recalled with enthufiafm. Peculiar honours were paid to the spot where Virgil was born. A monument was erected to his memory, and fimilar memorials were intended to perpetuate the fame of other illuftrious men, who had adorned their country either in former times, or in modern ages.

Numerous were the effufions and teftimonials of their gratitude to the French, for reviving their expectations to recover thofe free governments, under which fome of the Italian ftates had once made fo flourishing a figure. While the republican army was advancing towards Rome, fome of its many well-wishers in that city had already reared in their determinations a ftatue to its commander, with an infcription to commemorate the reftitution of the fenate and people to their primitive power and dignity.

At Faenza, the inhabitants actually erected a triumphal arch to the honour of the French, and of Buonaparte, specifying their victory over the papal army, and fecuring thereby the liberty of that city. The fact was, that the governments exercised over the different people of Italy, in the ecclefiaftical ftate efpecially, were fallen fo low in the estimation of the public, that a large proportion of the inhabitants were heartily defirous of a change.

The clergy in the pope's dominions engroffed all the authority, and the other countries were in the hands of foreigners. Hence the national fpirit of the natives was extinct, and they felt no intereft in the tranfactions of their rulers, looking upon themselves, as wholly unconcerned either in the good or the ill fuccefs of their measures.

While Buonaparte was putting the laft hand to the fettlement of differences with the court of Rome, and of the affairs of the newly conftituted republics, the councils of the Imperial court, were no lefs bufily occupied in preparing the means of difputing, once more, the empire of Italy, with this fortunate commander. The point, that seemed chiefly in contemplation, was whom to appoint fucceffor to thofe generals, whom he had fucceffively defeated. Several were proposed; and in truth, the Auftrian armies were not deficient in officers of experience and reputation; but the general voice feemed to pronounce in favour of the archduke Charles. His conduct and fucceffes, during the laft campaign, had made him very confpicuous, and his clofing it with the taking of Kehl, and by compelling the French to retire within their own limits, had raised him a great name in all Germany. Thefe circumstances determined the Imperial miniftry to fix upon this young prince as the fittest rival to oppofe to Buonaparte.

In order to fend him to the field with all the advantages that could be procured, every exertion was made throughout the Auftrian dominions, to furnish him with an army fit to revive the hopes of his family and his country, both which, rightly confidered the efforts that

were making for another trial of fortune, to be the laft that could poffibly be made. Full of this perfuafion, a most formidable army was again collected, from the numerous divifions and garrifons in the Auftrian fervice. Their patriotifin and honour were equally excited by every motive that could ftimulate either. To do the Auftrians juftice, they had displayed enough of both to preferve their character unfullied. But the extremity to which their fovereign and their country was now reduced evidently called for greater exertions than ever.

The archduke Charles, though a prince of high spirit, and of an enterprising difpofition, was not by the public reputed an adequate match for Buonaparte. This latter, had raised himself entirely by his talents and merit; but the former owed what he was evidently to his royal birth. No expectations were formed, by thofe who attended to their respective characters, that he would be able to cope with the abilities of the French general.

The Auftrians had been fo completely defeated, at the battle of Rivoli, that they had ever fince been averfe to take the field against the French. They were cautiously pofted on the northern fide of the Piava, waiting for the reinforcements of which the Archduke's army was chiefly to confift. The French, on the south of that river, and of the Lavifio, were watchful of their motions, conftantly repelling them whenever they attempted to crofs either. Part of February and of March were confumed in hoftilities of this nature.

As foon as the archduke had affumed the command, the French determined to march against him,

before he had received a farther addition to the ftrength already arrived. To this intent they advanced to the Piava, in three divifions. The first commanded by Maffena, effected its paffage over, near Feltri, on the tenth of March, and compel led the Auftrians to withdraw to Belluno, higher up that river. The fecond divifion, under Serrurier, proceeded to Afola, in the neighbourhood of which, he also crossed on the twelfth, after putting to the rout a body of Auftrians that oppofed him. Several other corps were encamped near this one: but they did not venture to fupport it, and they all made a precipitate retreat, in apprehenfion of being furrounded, and cut off by the two divifions that had already croffed, and by another that was then croffing the river. It was headed by general Guiaux, who advanced that very evening to Conagliono, and, on the next day, the thirteenth, to Sacali, where he overtook the rear guard of a large divifion of the Auftrians, and made a

number of prifoners. Maffena, after taking pofleffion of Balluno, purfued the enemy that was retreating to Cadora, and took fome hundreds. On the fixteenth, all the French divifions directed their march to the Tagliomento. The Auftrians were intrenched on the oppofite fide, in hope of being more fuccefsful, in defending the paffage of this river, than of the Piava. The archduke commanded them in perfon, and was duly fenfible of the neceflity of flopping the progrefs of the French, and that, by paffing this river, they would be able to over-run a large extent of country. This action, which both he and Buonaparte confidered as decifive, began at mid-day. The

French

French were by this time arrived on the banks of the river, and the paffage was immediately commenced. Their right and left, protected by a formidable artillery, were directed by Buonaparte, to cross the river, and to attack the enemy in flank, while the centre made its paffage in their front. His orders were executed with the completeft fuccefs. Both the cavalry and infantry of the Auftrians were drawn up with the utmost skill, and behaved with fo much firmness, in their refpective pofitions, as for a while to balance the fortune of the day but the paffage being at length effected every where, and the repeated charges of the Austrians having failed to make that impreffion upon the French, which was hoped, from the bravery of the foldiers, and the judgement of those who conducted them, it was found neceffary to have recourse to a retreat. The principal lofs, in this affair, fell upon the officers of the Imperialifts: one of their generals was flain, and several officers of rank were made prifoners, with fome hundreds of men, befides those that were flain.

The defeat of the Auftrians was chiefly owing to the fuperiority of the French artillery. It ftruck them with fuch terror, that, after quitting the field of battle, they could not be prevailed on to make a stand. The archduke had taken an advantageous poft at a village, where he proposed to maintain his ground, and risk another combat, the next morning; but the difcouragement of his men, and the impetuofity with which it was affailed by the French, notwithstanding a dark and tempeftuous night, compelled him to abandon his defign. The Auftrians were driven from their poft, and it was

with difficulty, that he effected his own escape.

The pallages of the Piava, and of the Tagliamento, decided the contest between the archduke and Buonaparte. The whole country to the north of these rivers now lay open to the French. The republican army fpread itfelf immediately into every direction, the Imperial troops retiring before them with a vifibly diminished refifiance. Thefe evacuated Palmanova, of which the French took poffeffion, on the eighteenth, with immense magazines of provifions. They advanced on the nineteenth to Gradifca, a town of importance on the river Lizonzo. The Auftrians were posted in force on the oppofite bank: but the French having ef fected a paffage, made themselves mafters of the heights commanding the town, upon which it was obliged to furrender, and the garrifon, confifting of the best troops in the archduke's army, were made prifoners of war, to the amount of three thousand. Another French divifion proceeding northward from the Tagliamento, drove the retreating enemy as far as Ponteba, after repeatedly defeating him, and making numbers prifoners, with vast quantities of ftores.

The capture of Gradifea was followed by that of Gotitz, on the twenty-firft of March. The Auftrians withdrew from this place in fuch hafte, that they left fifteen hundred fick and wounded in the hofpitals, with all their provifions and stores. Both thefe towns be longing to the emperor, the French commander fettled a municipal government in them, on the republican form, declaring them in poffeffion of all the rights and privileges

were making for another trial of fortune, to be the laft that could poffibly be made. Full of this perfuafion, a moft formidable army was again collected, from the numerous divifions and garrifons in the Auftrian fervice. Their patriotifin and honour were equally excited by every motive that could ftimulate either. To do the Auftrians justice, they had displayed enough of both to preferve their character unfullied. But the extremity to which their fovereign and their country was now reduced evidently called for greater exertions than ever.

The archduke Charles, though a prince of high spirit, and of an enterprifing difpofition, was not by the public reputed an adequate match for Buonaparte. This latter, had raised himself entirely by his talents and merit; but the former owed what he was evidently to his royal birth. No expectations were -formed, by those who attended to their respective characters, that he would be able to cope with the abilities of the French general.

The Auftrians had been fo completely defeated, at the battle of Rivoli, that they had ever fince been averse to take the field against the French. They were cautioufly pofted on the northern fide of the Piava, waiting for the reinforcements of which the Archduke's army was chiefly to confift. The French, on the fouth of that river, and of the Lavifio, were watchful of their motions, conftantly repelling them whenever they attempted to crofs either. Part of February and of March were confumed in hoftilities of this nature.

As foon as the archduke had affumed the command, the French determined to march against him,

before he had received a farther addition to the ftrength already arrived. To this intent they advanced to the Piava, in three divifions. The firft commanded by Massena, effected its paffage over, near Feltri, on the tenth of March, and compel led the Auftrians to withdraw to Belluno, higher up that river. The fecond divifion, under Serrurier, proceeded to Afola, in the neighbourhood of which, he also croffed on the twelfth, after putting to the rout a body of Auftrians that oppofed him. Several other corps were encamped near this one: but they did not venture to fupport it, and they all made a precipitate retreat, in apprehenfion of being furrounded, and cut off by the two divifions that had already crossed, and by anotheṛ that was then croffing the river. It was headed by general Guiaux, who advanced that very evening to Conagliono, and, on the next day, the thirteenth, to Sacali, where he overtook the rear guard of a large divifion of the Auftrians, and made a number of prifoners. Maffena, after taking poffeffion of Balluno, purfued the enemy that was retreating to Cadora, and took some hundreds. On the fixteenth, all the French divifions directed their march to the Tagliomento. The Auftrians were intrenched on the oppofite fide, in hope of being more fuccefsful, in defending the paffage of this river, than of the Piava, The archduke commanded them in perfon, and was duly fenfible of the neceffity of stopping the progrefs of the French, and that, by paffing this river, they would be able to over-run a large extent of country. This action, which both he and Buonaparte confidered as decifive, began at mid-day. The

French

French were by this time arrived on the banks of the river, and the paffage was immediately commenced. Their right and left, protected by a formidable artillery, were directed by Buonaparte, to cross the river, and to attack the enemy in flank, while the centre made its paffage in their front. His orders were executed with the completeft fuccefs. Both the cavalry and infantry of the Auftrians were drawn up with the utmost skill, and behaved with fo much firmness, in their refpective pofitions, as for a while to balance the fortune of the day but the paffage being at length effected every where, and the repeated charges of the Auftrians having failed to make that impreffion upon the French, which was hoped, from the bravery of the foldiers, and the judgement of those who conducted them, it was found neceflary to have recourse to a retreat. The principal lofs, in this affair, fell upon the officers of the Imperialifts: one of their generals was flain, and feveral officers of rank were made prifoners, with fome hundreds of men, befides thofe that were flain.

The defeat of the Auftrians was chiefly owing to the fuperiority of the French artillery. It ftruck them with fuch terror, that, after quitting the field of battle, they could not be prevailed on to make a stand. The archduke had taken an advantageous poft at a village, where he proposed to maintain his ground, and risk another combat, the next morning; but the difcouragement of his men, and the impetuofity with which it was affailed by the French, notwithstanding a dark and tempeftuous night, compelled him to abandon his defign. The Auftrians were driven from their poft, and it was

with difficulty, that he effected his own escape.

The paffages of the Piava, and of the Tagliamento, decided the contest between the archduke and Buonaparte. The whole country to the north of these rivers now lay open to the French. The republican army fpread itfelf immediately into every direction, the Imperial troops retiring before them with a vifibly diminished refiftance. Thefe evacuated Palmanova, of which the French took poffeffion, on the eighteenth, with immense magazines of provifions. They advanced on the nineteenth to Gradifca, a town of importance on the river Lizonzo. The Auftrians were pofted in force on the oppofite bank: but the French having ef fected a paffage, made themselves mafters of the heights commanding the town, upon which it was obliged to furrender, and the garrifon, confifting of the beft troops in the archduke's army, were made prifoners of war, to the amount of three thoufand. Another French divifion proceeding northward from the Tagliamento, drove the retreating enemy as far as Ponteba, after repeatedly defeating him, and making numbers prifoners, with vast quantities of stores.

The capture of Gradifea was followed by that of Goritz, on the twenty-firft of March. The Auftrians withdrew from this place in fuch hafte, that they left fifteen hundred fick and wounded in the hofpitals, with all their provifions and ftores. Both thefe towns be longing to the emperor, the French commander fettled a municipal government in them, on the republi can form, declaring them in poffef fion of all the rights and privileges