But the most important scene of operations this year was Italy, where the Austrians were successful in several engagements, even before the junction of the Russians. This event took place about the beginning of April, and Suwarrow, who assumed the command of the combined ar my, resolved to pursue a bold plan of operations. Moreau was opposed to him, but the Russian general deceived his adversary, drove him from his entrenchments on the Adda, and obliged him to retreat to Pavia, after having suffered a dreadful loss. Moreau shortly afterwards gained some successes over a detached part of the Russian army, but Suwarrow advancing, he was obliged to continue his re treat. At this crisis, Macdonald, who commanded the French army in the south of Italy, pushed forward for the purpose of joining Moreau. But he found that it would be previously necessary to attack the allies : and Moreau endeavoured, by circulating a report that he was about to receive reinforcements, to withdraw the attention of Suwar row from Macdonald. The latter began his operations on the 13th of June; and succeeded so far as to enter into Parma on the 14th ; but his progress was arrested on the 17th. As soon as Suwarrow was informed of his advance, he left Turin at the head of 20,000, and came up with him on the banks of the 'redone : for three days, there was a succession of desperate battles ; and the victory was at last obtained by the Russians, in consequence of General Kray, who commanded the army besieging Mantua, arriving, in direct opposition to his orders, with large reinforcements. Su warrow was indefatigable in his pursuit of the beaten army, and having surrounded their rear guard, it was obliged to surrender : the remainder took refuge in the Apennines and in the Genoese territory. Moreau, in the mean time, was victorious over the Austrian general Bellegarde ; but his victory availed little, in consequence of the success of Suwarrow, and the Italian fortressess fell into the hands of the allies. Soon afterwards, in consequence of a poli tical change in Paris, Joubert was ordered to supersede Moreau, who, however, continued in the army as a volun teer. It was the plan of Joubert to bring Suwarrow to battle as speedily as possible ; and being reinforced by the remains of Macdonald's army, he succeeded in his plan at Novi, on the 15th of August. Scarcely had the engage ment commenced, when Joubert was killed, and Moreau resumed the command: the victory was doubtful, till it was decided by the right flank of the French being turned. This division immediately fled, and the rest of the army joined in the retreat, which they continued till they took up a strong position in the Genoese territory. The sur render of Tortona was almost the only result of this victory.
The Directory, thus unsuccessful in Italy, resolved to make Switzerland the grand scene of operations, and to adopt a new plan. In the month of August, Massena had the command here of 70,000 men ; and being superior to the Archduke, whose position he threatened, Suwarrow marched to his relief. But the cabinet of Austria, jealous of the success of the Russian general, ordered the Arch duke to go into Suabia with upwards of 50,000 men, and Switzerland was thus left exposed. Of this Massena re solved to take advantage, by attacking the remainder of the Austrian army before Suwarrow joined them. The French were successful, though the combat was long and obstinate. Massena next advanced to meet Suwarrow ; and surrounded him in such a manner that it was thought impossible he should escape ; but that general having dis covered one pass in the mountains unoccupied by the French, he made his way through it, with the loss of his cannon and baggage. Disgusted and indignant at the want of support from the Austrians, lie withdrew his for ces to the neighbourhood of Augsburg, and transmitted his complaints to Petersburg. In the mean time, the Di
rectory had sunk into contempt ; and by their disputes among themselves, as well as the imbecility of their con duct, promised an easy overthrow to any daring adventurer. Such a man was Bonaparte, who at this time returned from his expedition to EGYPT ; an account of which i' given in the Histories of that country and of BRITAIN. Bonaparte had several friends in the councils and Direc tory, the most active of whom were Sieyes and Talleyrand. After several discussions, they resolved that a consulate should be formed, and Bonaparte placed at its head. This scheme was concealed from Moreau, Berthier, and the other generals who were then in Paris. The majority of the assembly of Elders agreed to the proposal ; but as the Jacobins preponderated in the Council of Five Hundred, they resisted it ; Bonaparte, however, rushed into their hall, while they were deliberating, on the 10th of Novem ber, 1799, with a military force, and expelled the members. Three chief magistrates were appointed, with the appella tion of Consuls, of whom Bonaparte was at the head, and Cambaceres and Lebrun the other two, The senate was to be composed of 80 individuals ; 100 were to form a tribu nate, and 300 a legislative body. In order to render this violent change of the constitution less obnoxious, it was decreed that the First Consul should hold his office only for ten years, and the other two for five years. This change was defended, on the ground that it was necessary to give to the government a greater degree of consistency and sta bility than it had hitherto possessed.
One of the first measures of Bonaparte, after lie had gained the supreme power, was to propose peace to Bri tain ; but his proposal being rejected, he began vigorous and extensive preparations for hostilities in Italy, and on the Rhine ; while an army of reserve, amounting to 60,000 men, was ordered to be assembled at Dijon, under his im mediate command.
In Italy, at the beginning of 1800, the French retained scarcely any of their conquests, except the republic of Genoa, and this the Austrians were preparing to wrest from them. In the city of Genoa, Massena took the com mand, and resolved to defend it to the last extremity. In the beginning of April, the Austrian general Melas, and a British fleet, invested it so completely, that the communi cation with France was cut off. General Melas having thus prevented the possibility of its relief, left some troops before it, and marched with the main body against the French general Suchet, whom, on the 7th of May, lie to tally defeated. In consequence of this defeat they crossed the Var, and entered France, and the Austrian general became master of the whole department of the maritime Alps.
On the Rhine, general Moreau was opposed to general Kray; but the latter was fettered by the orders which he received from the council of war at Vienna, whereas Mo reau refused to act according to the instructions sent him by the Chief Consul, except where his own judgment and observation convinced him they were wise and practicable. The plan of Moreau was to cross the Rhine ; in this he succeeded, and drove Kray before him as far as Ulm: here he fortified himself; but Moreau, manoeuvring in such a manner as to threaten to cut him off from his magazines, the Austrians were obliged to fight at Hochstet. The French were victorious, and the Austrian general, after in vain endeavouring to oppose the enemy again at Newburg, was obliged to fall back to Ingolstadt. The electorate of Bavaria was conquered : the hereditary dominions of Aus tria were threatened, and at Vienna the populace demand ed peace.