reenforcements, expressed apprehensions of retreating behind the Var before the formidable preparations of the allies. The directory displeased and disconcerted, did what they had done when they were members of the convention, and when Kellermann instead of Scherer was the inefficient general: they consulted Bonaparte, whose claims to their attention, continued personal acquaintance, and recent events had strengthened. In January, 1796, he furnished in writing the plan of an offensive campaign on that frontier, which, added to their own conviction, and the well-known confidence of the army of Italy, in regard to his talents, determined the directory to trust for safety and conquest on that oft-contested frontier to general Bonaparte. In the beginning of March he was appointed commander in chief of the army of Italy; and, on the 9th of that month, was married to Madame de Beauharnais.

This, it may be supposed, was one of the happiest periods of his life. The woman of his choice was the wife of his bosom, and the field of glory, in which he longed to shine, was now expanded to his enterprise. Around him were the pleasures of love; before him the prospects of honour: and within him the impatience of a martial spirit fretted with the reluctance of an enraptured heart. In the pauses of hope and joy, if he looked back on the growth of his fortune, from its infancy when he was an orphan scholar of Brienne, to the vigorous promise of its present state, his reflections must have been fraught with pure and solid satisfaction. In a season of faction, strife, selfishness, suspicion, and cruelty, he had passed from subordination to eminence, without swerving for a moment from the path of independence, openness, and honour: had condescended to no solicitation, stooped to no compliance, mixed with no intrigue, contracted no obligation, participated in no injustice. Persecuted by the deputies, he had not sunk into submission; flattered by the army, he had not been inflated with self love: so that he escaped the guillotine without propitiating the government, and more difficult still, excelled his own commanders without disobliging them. His opportunities, which were common to officers of his rank, had, in every instance, been surpassed by his exploits, while his advancement always lagged behind his services. Conscious of being indebted to no man, he felt that to him generals owed their fame, armies their success, individuals their lives, and the government 7

VOL. I.

98

THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

[CHAP. V.] its existence. Such may well have been his reflections at this dawning season of his fame; for nothing is more remarkable in his history, than the direct, unassisted, and undesigning steps by which his elevation was accomplished (12). Filled with such thoughts as these, and "snuffing the battle from afar," upon the difficulty of succeeding where older generals had failed being sug. gested to him, he said, "in one campaign I shall be old or dead;" meaning that he would have gained immortality or lost his life.

A few fleeting days were given to Josephine; when, in an evil hour for his country's foes he left Paris, and, paying a brief visit to his mother at Marseilles, proceeded by rapid journies to Nice, where he arrived on the 20th of March; and, on the 27th of that month, took command of the army of Italy (13).

CHAPTER VI.

From March 1796, to May 1796.

Italy-The valley of the Po-The states and forces by which it was defended -The instructions of the directory to Bonaparte-The folly of those instructions-Comparative numbers and condition of the hostile armiesSufferings of the French-Their want of food, money, horses, and artillery -Bonaparte relieves general Scherer-His appointment acceptable to the troops-Not so altogether to Massena and Augereau-The force and ascendancy of his character-Anecdote-Transfers the head quarters to Albenga-Mutiny of the 29th regiment-Royalist emissary-The mutineers punished, and the emissary arrested-Efficacious attention of Bonaparte to the subsistence of his troops-His march to Albenga-Disdains to return the cannonade of Nelson-Address to his army-Its character and effectsHis generals and aides de camp-The high spirit of the army-Bonaparte's plan of invasion-His object frustrated by the advance of general Laharpe -Stations of the several divisions of his army-Beaulieu opens the campaign-His activity and plan of operations-He advances upon VoltriDirects Argenteau upon Savona-Bonaparte resolves to detain Beaulieu at Voltri, and to attack Argenteau-Combat of Voltri—Of MonteliginoGood conduct of Cervoni-Heroism of Kampon-Battle of MontenotteDefeat of Argenteau-Advance of the French-Beaulieu and Nelson disconcerted-Battle of Millesimo-Gallantry of Joubert-Surrender of Provera-Passage of the Bormida and storming of Dego-Defeat of Beaulieu and further advance of the French-Surprise of Dego-Retaken by the Austrians-Countermarch of Bonaparte—Battle of Dego-Heroic conduct and death of general Causse-Promptness and activity of Bonaparte— Gallantry of Lanusse and of Lannes-Sanguinary defeat of the Austrians -Recapture of Dego-Bonaparte prudent after his surprise-Sends to reconnoitre Voltri-The Austrians and Sardinians completely separated— Laharpe's division posted on the Belbo-Serrurier's divison advanced against the Sardinians-The action of the army reversed-March of the French upon Ceva-They reach the commanding height of MentezemotoThe plains of Italy in view-Feelings of the troops-Emotion and remark of Bonaparte-Attack upon Ceva-The Sardinians driven with loss from

their intrenched camp—Alarm of the court of Turin-The French pass the Tanaro-Their active pursuit-General Colli retreats behind the Corsaglio-Serrurier passes that river-Driven back-Bonaparte's dispositions for advancing-Directs Augereau to march down the right bank of the Tanaro-With Serrurier aud Massena passes the Corsaglio-Battle of Mondovi-Defeat of the Sardinians-Pursued by general Stengel with the French cavalry-His death and character-Gallantry of Murat-Rapid advance of the French army towards Turin-Serrurier enters Fossano, Massena Cherasco, and Augereau Alba-Bonaparte fortifies CherascoHis preparations for strengthening his army-The king of Sardinia sues for peace-His general proposes a suspension of arms-Answer and conditions of Bonaparte-His frankness and moderation-Armistice of Cherasco-Sufferings of the French troops for food-Their plundering-Discontent of the officers-General Laharpe tenders his resignation-Firmness and equity of Bonaparte-His measures to supply food to his troops, to repair his losses, and to strengthen his position-He equips his cavalry and prepares a park of artillery-His victories celebrated by the French legislature-His conduct approved by the directory-He resolves to invade the Italian possessions of the house of Austria.

THE Country which General Bonaparte was about to invade, nature and time had rendered strong and magnificent. Its mountains, rivers, and lakes, constitute barriers of formidable opposition, and objects of the utmost beauty and grandeur. In the bosom of its loveliest plains a foreign despot ruled its people with a leaden sceptre. It was a field tempting to the ambition of a youthful warrior, who drew his lineage from princes of the land; but, whether for the purposes of subjection or deliverance, it was not to be entered but by the boldest efforts of enterprize and skill (1).

Bonaparte has left a description of Italy, which, as a specimen of geographical painting, and statistical fullness and precision, is unrivalled. This it would be useless to transcribe, and is dangerous to abridge. That portion of Italy which, as distinguished from its peninsular and insular divisions, he calls the continental part, the great valley of the Po, embraced between the Alps and the Appennines, and stretching eastward to the Adriatic Sea, was to be the theatre of his first campaigns. Through the centre of this vast and fertile plain rolls the stately current of the Po, increased on each side by the tribute of numerous rivers. Those from the Appennines are short and rapid, and except, when

swollen by the rains of winter, are generally fordable. Those from the Alps are longer and more copious, spread into frequent lakes, and fed by melting snows, are at their full in summer. This charming country, comprehending Piedmont, Lombardy, the duchies of Parma and Modena, the Roman Legations and Venetian States, thus fortified by mountains and intersected by streams, contained many proud cities, much wealth, and a dense population. Supposing it reduced within the outlines of a regular figure, its extent might be adequately defined by stating its length from west to east at three hundred miles, and its breath at eighty. It was defended against Bonaparte not only by its mountain ramparts, but by the forces and fortresses of the king of Sardinia, the well known and wily porter of the Alps; by a powerful army under a distinguished general of the Emperor of Austria; by a contingent from Naples; these active adversaries, supported by the less direct, but not less effectual cooperation of the other states of Italy, Tuscany and Venice excepted, and by the fleets and subsidies of England.

As the instructions of the directory to their general bear a date anterior to his departure from Paris, there is reason, from that fact, to suppose they were prepared after a full consideration of his own suggestions. This inference, which is confirmed by his affirmation, arises from the character of the instructions themselves (2). They are contained in a letter dated the 6th of March, and consist of a series of military subtleties, interspersed with inconsistent directions and counteracting exhortations and restraints, superinduced upon a bold and sagacious design. This design is divided into two stages; the first comprising a detailed and limited plan of invasion; the second sketching an extensive and undefined project of conquest. The object of the immediate and elaborated plan was to compel the king of Sardinia to abandon the coalition against France, and to force Austria to enter into a treaty of peace with the republic. The drift of the vague and ulterior project was, to uproot the Austrian ascendancy, and to overawe the native governments, in Italy.

In prosecuting the first design, the general was instructed to give an alternate direction to his blows; that is, he was first to beat the Sardinians, that he might aim an unimpeded stroke at the Austrians; he was next to beat the Austrians, that he might detach the court of Turin from the coalition; and was to detach