It may not be improper to observe here, that the British lost a most excellent opportunity of entering and keeping Genoa, which, being masters of the seas, they might so easily have defend+ ed. Nor could the subsequent loss of Italy by the Austrians have affected the important possession of Genoa by the British forces, as its approaches by land are so extremely difficult.

Even Buonaparte had reproached the English Ministry with not knowing how to carry on the war with a real advantage, by not entering Genoa as soon as General Masséna had evacuated that highly valuable city, the possession of which was far superior and preferable to that of Ferrol, and even to that of Cadiz.

Whilst these events took place in Italy, the Minister of War, Carnot, went to review the Army of the Rhine; and after having had several interviews with General Moreau, he returned to Paris, and made no scruple to affirm, that the successes of that army were insured for the whole campaign.

Whatever might be the degree of presumption in Carnot's assertion, the events proved that he guessed right.

Moreau's army advanced boldly into Germany, where the glorious successes of that modest and intrepid General had not been forgotten. Not revolutionary successes, as those of Buonaparte in Italy, but successes most deservedly obtained by an uncommon display of military tactics and discipline.

The Army of the Rhine directed its march over Suabia towards Bavaria and Austria.

The Franco-Batavian army, under General Augereau, marched over Franconia towards Bohemia.

And the Army of the Grisons, under General Macdonald, advanced over Switzerland and the Grisons towards Tirol.

The Austrian power was then threatened with a total dissolution, and nothing but a speedy peace could save it from utter ruin.

The armistice which had taken place in Italy, was soon extended to the armies in Germany; and the Austrian cabinet had sufficient time to reinforce the Emperor's armies, thinking, perhaps, that some unforeseen event might still turn the chances of the war.

Buonaparte, proud of his good fortune, and blind with usurped glory, returned to Paris, where he found his dignified slaves more abject and debased, if possible, than when he left them.

The Corsican tyrant was stunned with the repeated vociferations of long live Buonaparte!, But let us not conclude, that Buonaparte was consequently beloved by the French people.

The vociferations of mobs are very often commanded and paid for. And a few persons hired for the purpose of shouting, will soon be followed by crowds of thoughtless beings.

This practice has been very common in France, during the revolution, in order to popularise men

and measures.

And mobs have been hired at the rate of forty sous (twenty pence) per head, for the sole purpose of vociferating on many such

occasions.

The fulsome language of senators, legislators, tribunes, and all the rest of the consular rabble, was even imitated by foreign ambassadors and ministers.

Some allowance might indeed be made for the Ambassadors and Ministers from Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, and some petty states of Germany, as they could only be considered as tributary subjects to France; but no excuse could be made for degrading in the eyes of the Corsican usurper, certain powers who had nothing to fear from the insolence of Buonaparte.

It may justly be said, that from the battle of Maringo arose the unbounded power of this odious tyrant. Until that time he had shewn some slight regard for his abject and mock senators, legislators, tribunes, counsellors of state, &c. ; but from that epoch he treated them all with an unfeigned contempt, and such as they deserved.

Still the mixed faction seemed wholly devoted to Buonaparte, as on him depended the undisturbed possession of the revolutionary robberies, and the impunity for heinous crimes.

Thus the absolute sway of an insolent adventurer over debased Frenchmen, was strongly supported by those who had plundered and murder

ed, and even by some weak persons who were afraid of losing their own property.

Buonaparte wished, at this time, to have terminated the continental war, but on such conditions as the Austrian cabinet deemed highly dishonourable, although nothing could be more so than the shameful capitulation of the Austrian army in Italy.

CHAPTER VIII.

Convention for evacuating Egypt; it is rejected - by the British Admiral.-Battle of Heliopolis. Murder of General Kleber; he is succeeded by General Menou.-Buonaparte establishes eighteen ruinous lotteries every month, and encourages all sorts of gaming. Disastrous consequences. General Brune is appointed to the command of the Army of Italy, in the room of General Masséna. The Austrians are once more driven from Italy. Battle of Hohenlinden.

VARIOUS had been the reports concerning the French Army in Egypt.

A kind of buffoon, called Emile Gaudin, a worthy member of the honourable Tribunate, wishing to give a very high specimen of his knowledge of the Greek language, and thereby attract the attention of his Corsican master, fabricated some Greek letters, said to be written in Egypt and in Smyrna, and received at Amsterdam.

The learned Emile Gaudin, then translated into bad French, those pretended Greek letters, which he had the honour to address to his sovereign, Buonaparte.