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CHAPTER XXIV: French

But it was in Italy that the most brilliant success attended the French arms. The command had been given to Bonaparte. Having routed the Austrians and Piedmontese at Monte Notte and Millesimo, he compelled the king of Sardinia to sue for peace. Then followed his daring exploit at the bridge of Lodi, and his seizure of Bologna, Ferrara, and Urbino; till, at length, finding himself undisputed master of the north of Italy, he erected the Trans-padane and Cis-padane republics. -Among the other events of the year may be noticed the capture of St. Lucia and Granada, in the West Indies, by Sir Ralph Abercromble, the failure of a French expedition sent to invade Ireland, which was dispersed by adverse winds; the abandonment of Corsica by the British; some fruitless negotations for peace between England and France; and the demise of the empress Catherine II. 1

The papal states were next overrun by the French; and the pope was under the necessity of purchasing peace, not only with money and the surrender of many valuable statues, paintings, etc., but by the cession of part of his territories. Bonaparte then resolved to invade the heriditary states of the emperor; and the French armies having gained considerable advantages over their adversaries, the French directory took advantage of their position, or offered terms of peace, and a definite treaty was eventually signed at Campo Formio. By this treaty the Venetian states, which had been revolutionized by Bonaparte during the negotations, were ceded to Austria, while the Austrian possessions in the north of Italy and the Netherlands were given to France in exchange. Genoa about the same time was revolutionized, and assumed the name of the Ligurian republic. At the latter end of this year lord Duncan obtained an important victory over the Dutch fleet off the coast of Holland.

The French having no other power than Great Britain now to contend with, the year 1798 was ushered in with rumors of a speedy invasion; and large bodies of troops, assembled on the opposite shores of France, were said to be destined for this grand attack, which was to be under the direction of the victorious general Bonaparte. These preparations were met in a suitable manner by the English, whose effective male population might almost literally be said to be embodied for the defence of the country. At the same time a dangerous and extensive rebellion broke out in Ireland; but the vigilance of the government defeated the intentions of the rebels, and they submitted, though not without the severest measures being adopted, and the consequent effusion of blood.

A secret naval expedition upon a large scale, with a well-appointed army on board, under the command of Bonaparte, had been for some time preparing. It at length set sail from Toulon, took possession of Malta on their way to Egypt, and, having eluded the vigilance of Nelson, safely landed near Alexandria, which town they stormed, and massacred the inhabitants. The veteran troops of France everywhere prevailed over the ill-disciplined Mamelukes, and the whole of Egypt soon submitted to the conqueror. Meanwhile admiral Nelson discovered and totally destroyed the French fleet in the bay of Aboukir. Whilst these events were passing in Egypt, the French government prosecuted its revolutionary principles wherever its emissaries could gain admittance. Rome was taken by them, the pope imprisoned, and a republic erected. Switzerland was also invaded, and notwithstanding the gallant efforts of the Swiss patriots, the country was united to France under the title of the Helvetian republic. The territory of Geneva was also incorporated with France. These unjustifiable invasions showed so plainly the aggrandizing policy pursued by the French directory, that the emperors of Russia and Austria, the king of Naples, and the Porte united with England to check their ambitious designs.

The year 1799 presented a continued scene of active warfare. The Neapolitans, who had invaded the Roman territory, were not only driven back, but the whole kingdom of Naples submitted to the French, and the king was compelled to seek refuge in Sicily. The French armies also took possession of Tuscany and Piedmont: but the operations of the allies were conducted with vigor and success. The archduke Charles routed the French under Jourdain in the hard-fought battles of Ostrach and Stockach; and the Austro-Russian army obtained a decisive victory at Cassano, and drove the enemy to Milan and Genoa. The arms of the republic were equally unfortunate in other parts. Turin, Alessandria and Mantua were taken; and the French, under Joubert and Moreau, were totally routed at Novi. Switzerland afterwards became the principal scene of action; and there also the army of Suwarrof was successful; but another Russian army, commanded by Koraskoff, was attacked and defeated by Massena and Zurich taken by storm. In Italy, however, success still attended the allies. The French were expelled from Naples and Rome, and the papal chair was soon after occupied by Pius VII.