On the 27th of October, the Convention was dissolved, and the new legislature began to act. Their first measure was the election of the Executive Directory. Sieyes, Bar ras, RucbcII, La RevelHere Lepaux, and Letourneur de La Manche, were chosen. Sicycs, however, declining the honour, Carnot was appointed in his place. All the mem bers of the Directory, except La Reveillere Lepaux, had been connected with the Mountain party.
At the commencement of the campaign of 1794, the King of Prussia had received a subsidy from Briuin, on condition that he brought into the field an army of 60,000 men ; but as this army never arrived, it was suspected that he was about to make peace with France. This suspicion was confirmed ; for on the 20th of April, 1795, a treaty of peace with him was ratified by the Convention. Shortly afterwards, the Kings of Sweden and Spain, and the cantons of Switzerland, also concluded a peace with France ; and towards the end of August, several of the German princes followed their example. The rest were on the point of act ing in the same manner, when victory began to desert the French standard.
Before this reverse, however, the military successes of the French had been very great. \Ve have already men tioned, that, after the reduction of Nimeguen, their army halted in its career of victory. It is probable that they would not have invaded the province of Holland at this season of the year, (the winter of had not the frost, setting in with uncommon severity, opened for them a safe and easy passage over the ice of those very rivers and lakes, which it was hoped would have served as a secure protection. The allies in vain attempting to oppose their progress, they took possession of Amsterdam, without re sistance, on the 16th of January 175. They were well received by the people, and increased their influence and popularity by the abolition of the Stadtholdership.
Soon after this conquest, the Diet of Ratisbon seemed disposed for peace. The allies, instead of overrunning and dividing France, as they had planned and expected, beheld the republic increased by an additional population of nearly 14 millions ; while in the course even of the campaign of 1794, and before the conquest of Holland, the French had taken 2000 pieces of cannon, and 60,000 prisoners. The
wish of the Diet, however, notwithstanding these wonder ful successes of the French, and the probability that they would continue, was not met either by Britain or Austria. The former was still successful by sea ; and hoped, by nourishing and supporting the royalist party in La Vendee, to accomplish that which the allied army had failed in ef fecting ; but the most disastrous expedition to Quiberon extinguished her hopes in that quarter. • Austria directed her efforts with more wisdom. By the middle of June, the French were in possession of the whole left bank of the Rhine, except Mentz. In August, Jourdan crossed this river, in order to besiege Mentz ; while Pi chegru succeeded in gaining possession of 'Manheim. The Austrians having been driven back, the siege of Mentz was begun ; but Jourdan was soon obliged to give it up, in consequence of a defeat which Pichegru experienced from General Wurmser. It was now necessary for both the French armies to recross the river ; and after they had ef fected this, and the Austrians had recovered Manheim, an armistice for three months was agreed to.
In the mean time, the Directory and the Jacobins were continually at variance, and, as usual, each endeavoured to enlist the citizens of Paris in their favour. The more respectable classes were decidedly inclined to support the directory ; but the mob, and the Legion of Police, as they were called, consisting of 10,000 men, were as zealous for the Jacobins. Relying on these, the latter attempted to carry into execution a plot, according to which, the mem bers of the Directory were to be murdered, and a new di rectory and legislature appointed from among the most violent of their own party ; but the plot was discovered, and the principal agents in it arrested. On the 9th of June, this year, the Dauphin died in the temple, and his sister was soon afterwards delivered up to the Emperor of Gel many, in exchange for the commissioners, whom Duman rier had sent prisoners to the Austrians, and for two Frenchmen, who had been seized on their way to Turkey.