your brother's orders:" the grenadiers shouted, "Down with the assassins!" and Lucien left the hall with his guard.

Meanwhile, Napoleon had descended to the court, mounted on horseback and appealed to the soldiers, assuring them that when he was about to point out to the Council the means of saving the country, the deputies had answered him with poniards. Lucien soon joined him, corroborated his words, and urged the troops to dissolve the Council by force. The word was given, the grenadiers advanced with fixed bayonets into the hall, and the members of the Council, in dismay, threw themselves out of the windows to avoid the charge. At eleven o'clock that night, a portion of the members of both Councils, not exceeding sixty persons in all, assembled, and unanimously passed a decree abolishing the Directory, expelling sixty-one refractory members of the Councils, adjourning the Legislature for three months, and vesting the executive power in the mean time in the hands of Napoleon, Siêyes and Roger Ducos, under the title of provisional consuls. Two commissions of twenty-five members each, were also appointed from each Council, to unite with the consuls in the formation of a new Constitution. Some discussion arose in arranging the details of that instrument; but it ended in the assumption of supreme power by Napoleon, as First Consul, associated with two other consuls holding nominal authority. To these were added eighty senators, a hundred tribunes, and three hundred legislators, who forthwith proceeded to exercise all the functions of government. Siêyes and Roger Ducos soon resigned their offices, and Napoleon appointed in their stead Cambacérès and Le Brun. Talleyrand was made minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouché was retained in the Police, and La Place received the portfolio of the Interior. The new Constitution, on being submitted to the people, was approved by three millions eleven thousand and seven votes: that of 1793 had but one million eight hundred and one thousand nine hundred and eighteen; and that of 1795, one million and fifty-seven thousand three hundred and ninety.

One of Napoleon's first measures, on arriving at the consular throne, was to make proposals of peace to the British government, which he did through the medium of a letter, in his own name, to the King of England. His communication was couched in general terms, expressive, indeed, of a desire for peace, but filled with vague questions as to the continuance of the war, instead of designating some conditions by which it might be brought to a close. Lord Grenville's answer was more explicit, disclaiming any intention, on the part of his majesty, to control or interfere with the internal policy of France, but resolving nevertheless to resist her foreign aggressions; and at the same time avowing a disposition for peace whenever the French government should evince a similar desire, accompanied by a declaration of its principles and the requisite proofs of its stability.

The debate on the question of continuing the war was prolonged through several weeks in Parliament; and at length, on the 3rd of February, 1800, the belligerent measures of the ministry were sustained by a vote of two hundred and sixty-five to sixty-four. This was followed by a vote of supplies to the army and navy proportioned to the importance of the contest. Several domestic measures of consequence, were also adopted during this session. The Bank charter was renewed for twenty-one years, in consideration of which, the directors made a loan to the government of

three millions sterling, for six years without interest. The union of Ireland with Great Britain, after a stormy debate in both houses of the Dublin Parliament, was carried by a large majority, to which event the powerful abilities of Lord Castlereagh greatly contributed. By the treaty of union, the Irish peers for the united imperial Parliament were limited to twentyeight temporal and four spiritual; the former elected for life by the Irish peerage, and the latter, by rotation; and the commoners were limited to one hundred. The churches of England and Ireland were united, and provision made for their union, preservation, discipline, doctrine and worship. Commercial privileges were fairly participated, the national debt of each was imposed as a burden on its own finances, and the general expenditure for the next ensuing twenty years, ordered to be defrayed in the proportion of fifteen for Great Britain and two for Ireland. The laws and courts of both kingdoms were maintained on their present footing, subject to such alterations as the united Parliament might deem expedient. This important measure was carried in the British House of Commons, by a vote of two hundred and eight to twenty-six, and in the Lords, by seventyfive to seven.

Since the financial crisis of 1797, when the suspension of specie payments took place, the prosperity of the British Empire had been steadily and rapidly increasing. Prices of every kind of produce had risen, and the industrious classes were, generally speaking, in affluent circumstances. Immense fortunes rewarded the efforts of commercial enterprise; the demand and value of labor, increased by the withdrawal of nearly four hundred thousand soldiers and sailors, was almost unlimited; and even the increasing weight of taxation and the alarming magnitude of the national debt, were but little felt amid the general rise of prices and incomes resulting from the profuse expenditure and lavish issue of paper by the government. One class only, that of annuitants, and all depending on a fixed income, experienced a decline of comforts, which in many cases was greatly aggravated by the high prices and scarcity following the disastrous harvest of 1799. The attention of Parliament was early directed to the means of alleviating the famine of that year. An act was passed to lower the quality of all the bread baked in the kingdom; the importation of rice and maize was encouraged by liberal bounties; distillation from grain was prohibited, and by these and other means an additional supply of grain, to the enormous amount of two and a half millions of quarters, was procured for the use of the inhabitants.

The jealousies which led to a rupture between the Austrians and Russians at the close of 1799, were soon after extended to the relations of the Emperor Paul with Great Britain, and were greatly augmented by the issue of the expedition against Holland. Napoleon promptly availed himself of this state of affairs, and sent back to the Emperor all the Russian prisoners taken in the last campaign, not only without exchange, but newly equipped in their native uniform: and this was followed by a succession of civilities and courtesies, between the cabinets of St. Petersburg and Paris, which terminated in the dismissal from Russia of Lord Whitworth, the English minister; and the arrival at Paris of Baron Springborton, the Russian ambassador.

The Archduke Charles made great exertions in the close of the year 1799, to reorganize the military forces of Austria; at the same time, after the secession of Russia was confirmed, he urgently recommended the

Aulic Council to take advantage of the present opportunity to conclude a peace with France, which Napoleon offered on the basis of the Campo Formio treaty. But the Council were bent on prosecuting the war, and they went so far as to requite the sound and prudent advice of the Archduke, by dismissing him from the service and appointing Kray in his place.

Napoleon's measures for maintaining the war were befitting his talents and energy, and were besides much facilitated by the new regulations, which he introduced in the management of the national finances. On the conditional refusal of Great Britain to treat for peace, he issued an exciting proclamation, telling the people that the English ministry had rejected his proposals for peace, and that to attain it, he needed money, iron and soldiers; and he swore that, these being conceded, he would combat only for the happiness of France, and the peace of the world. A conscription was ordered for the whole youth of France, without any exemption on account of rank or fortune, which produced a supply of one hundred and twenty thousand men ; and thirty thousand experienced soldiers were gained, in addition, by a demand for all the veterans who had obtained leave of absence during the eight preceding years. Various improvements were effected in the artillery department, which greatly. augmented the efficiency of that important arm of the public service. Twenty-five thousand horses, brought from the interior provinces, were distributed among the artillery and cavalry on the frontier; and all the stores and equipments of the armies were repaired with a celerity so extraordinary that it would appear incredible, if long experience did not prove, that confidence in the vigor and stability of a government operates as rapidly in increasing, as the vacillation and insecurity of democracy does in withering the national resources.

While these energetic measures for conquest were in progress, Napoleon applied himself to ulterior projects, which he had already resolved

on.

He endowed the officers of state, and all the members of the legislature, with ample salaries; even the tribunes, who were professedly created as barriers for the people against governmental encroachments, received each an annual compensation of seventeen thousand francs. He also commenced the demolition of all ensigns and memorials, which recalled the ideas of liberty and equality: the engraved image of the Republic, at the head of official letters, was cancelled; and the habili ments of authority were replaced by the military dress, so that the court of the first magistrate of the Republic bore the appearance of a general's head-quarters. These acts were followed by a total suppression of the liberty of the press; and not long after, preparations were made by Napoleon for removing from his place of residence to the Tuileries, which was accomplished on the 19th of February, 1800, with great pomp and military display. On that day, royalty was, in effect, restored in France, somewhat less than eight years after it had been formally abolished by the revolt of the 10th of August. No sooner was Napoleon established at the Tuileries, than the usages, dress and ceremonial of a court were resumed. The anterooms were filled with chamberlains, pages and esquires; footmen, in brilliant liveries, crowded the lobbies and staircases; and Josephine presided over the drawing-room, with a grace well becoming the brilliancy of the assemblage.

CHAPTER XVII.

FIRST CAMPAIGN OF 1800.

Ar the opening of the campaign of 1800, Field-marshal Kray had his head-quarters at Donauschingen, but his chief magazines were in the rear at Stockach, Engen, Moeskirch and Biberach. His right wing, twenty-six thousand strong, under Starray, rested on the Maine; the left, consisting of twenty-six thousand men and seven thousand militia, under the Prince of Reuss, was in the Tyrol; and the centre, under Kray in person, forty-three thousand strong, was stationed behind the Black Forest: while a reserve of fifteen thousand, commanded by Keinmayer, guarded the passes from the Renchen to the Valley of Hell, and formed the link connecting the centre with the right wing. Thus, although the total Imperialist force exceeded one hundred and fifteen thousand men, the divisions were stationed at such distances from each other as to be incapable of rendering effectual aid in case of need.

The French army was also divided into three corps. The right, thirtytwo thousand strong, under Lecourbe, occupied the Cantons of Switzerland from the St. Gothard to Bâle; the centre, under St. Cyr, consisted of twenty-nine thousand men, and occupied the left bank of the Rhine from New Brisach to Plobsheim; the left, under Sainte Suzanne, twenty-one thousand strong, extended from Kehl to Haguenau. In addition to these, Moreau, who was general-in-chief of the whole force, was at the head of twenty-eight thousand men in the neighborhood of Bâle. Moreau had also at disposal, the garrisons of the fortresses in his vicinity, which together might be estimated as a reserve of thirty-two thousand men; and his possession of the bridges of Kehl, New Brisach, and Bâle, gave him the means of crossing the Rhine at pleasure. The plan for opening the campaign, as arranged between Moreau and Napoleon, was to make a feint against the corps of Keinmayer and the Austrian right; and, having thus drawn Kray's attention to that quarter, to concentrate the French centre and left upon the Imperial centre, break through the Austrians' line, cut off their communication with the Tyrol and Italy, and force them to the banks of the Danube.

The preliminary movements of this plan were executed with precision, and the Austrian generals, perplexed at the apparently contradictory character of the French evolutions, were in great uncertainty as to the point where the storm was really to burst; and were therefore compelled to await it without any material change of position. Under these circumstances, Moreau directed Lecourbe to move toward Stockach, and separate the Austrian left wing from its centre; this order was promptly executed, and the French general, falling in with an Austrian corps, under the Prince of Lorraine, defeated it with a loss of three thousand prisoners and eight pieces of cannon. On the same day, May 2nd, Moreau attacked the main body of Austrians, in the plain before Engen. Kray maintained his ground with great resolution until nightfall, when the French, being reënforced by St. Cyr, renewed the battle and forced the Austrians to retreat. The loss on each side was about seven thou

sand men; but the advantages of the victory remained with the French, by reason of its moral effect on the troops of both armies.

On the 4th of May, Kray retired to a strong position in front of Moeskirch, the natural and military defences of which place seemed to render it almost inaccessible to an attacking army. The French soon advanced in great force, preceded by Lecourbe, who, in hastening to form a junction with Moreau, arrived on the ground sooner than the designated time. He immediately attacked, without waiting for the main army to come up; but he was received with such a storm from the Austrian batteries, that he soon fell back, and took refuge in a neighboring wood, to avoid the shot. Moreau now approached, and ordered the division of Lorges to attack Kray's intrenchments on the left: but this corps, too, was thrown into confusion, and routed by the Austrian fire. Encouraged by this success, Kray made a sally with his right wing, which was, however, promptly repulsed by the French; and Moreau, following up this advantage by a simultaneous attack on all points of the Austrian left, pushed his columns into the village of Moeskirch, and carried that part of the Imperialist position. Kray now withdrew his defeated left wing, and bravely maintained the action with his centre and right. Both parties redoubled their efforts, but at length the day closed, leaving a part of the field in the hands of the Austrians, while the French retained the remainder. The loss on each side was about six thousand men.

Kray retired across the Danube on the following day, and on the 7th, was joined by Keinmayer's division, at Sigmaringen. With this augmented force, he recrossed the Danube and moved toward Biberach, in order to secure the magazines at that place, and transport them to the intrenched camp at Ulm. But on the 9th, St. Cyr came up with an Austrian detachment at Biberach, and by means of his superior force, entirely routed them. Pursuing his success, the French general advanced into the town, seized the magazines before the Austrians had time to destroy them, and compelled Kray to continue his march upon Ulm, where he arrived two days afterward, having lost in this affair at Biberach, twenty-five hundred men in killed, wounded and prisoners, and five pieces of cannon.

The Austrian commander, in retiring to Ulm, separated himself from his left wing in the Tyrol; but in other respects he occupied, there, a very advantageous position. Its location was central; its defences were nearly impregnable, and daily accessions of strength were coming in from Bohemia and the hereditary states: while the French, unable to dislodge them by a sudden attack, and equally unable to advance into the Austrian dominions, leaving such a formidable army in their own rear, were brought to a stand, in spite of their previous successes.

Nevertheless, as it was indispensable to the progress of the campaign that Kray should be driven from this stronghold, Moreau devoted all his energies to the task. He first divided his forces into three columns, and advanced to the Austrian intrenchments on three different points, hoping, by distracting the enemy's attention, to find a practicable opening in his lines. Kray narrowly watched this movement, and discovered that the French division under Sainte Suzanne was so far separated from the other two columns as to be precluded from their support. The Archduke Ferdinand was therefore dispatched against this corps, and, by an im petuous and brilliant charge, completely routed Sainte Suzanne, and