to be apprehended. A few skirmishes enabled him to subdue, in less than a month, all that appeared formidable in the insurrection, and reduced the insurgents to only a small set of detached bodies. This fortunate event was forwarded in no inconsiderable degree by the prudent orders of Bonaparte for restoring the churches to the communes for the purpose of performing divine service, and for celebrating a pompous funeral ceremony in honour of the late prosecuted Pius VI.

As to the chiefs of the Chouans, Georges and Frotté were the most formidable. Georges having learnt that Brune was reconnoitering that portion of the country which was termed his government, boldly advanced to a place near the village of Theix, followed only by three Chouans, and after an interview of an hour with Brune, who met him for the purpose in a field, Feb. 9, 1800, he engaged to dismiss his troops, and yield up his arms. Frotté had written to Hedouville, declaring his willingness to surrender; but before he could receive an answer, his correspondence with an officer of his own party fell into the hands of the republicans. In these papers he advised the Chouans to submit to every thing except the privation of their arms, and unguardedly mentioned the place of his concealment. He was by this means apprehended, and brought to trial before a military commission at Verneuil. His behaviour excited the highest admiration: he appeared with his accustomed intrepidity; and in the course of the trial asking for some wine, drank with his companions the sentiment so odious to republican ears, Vive le roi! The next day, Feb. 19, he was conducted to execution, and still maintained the same unconcern. He went on foot, attended by his staff; and one of the escort observing to him that he had lost the step, "You are right," he calmly answered, "I did not think of it," and immediately changed. They were all shot standing, and would not have their eyes blindfolded. The officer through whose imprudence he had been discovered, VOL. I. No. XIX.

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terminated his own existence with a pistol. The republic was thus freed from all alarm from the Chouans, the bold remnant left by Charette; but the departments were not yet restored to civil government, being kept under the controul of the military.

The first consul's next business was to prepare to open the campaign of 1800, and to infuse new vigour and energy into the republican armies, by every exertion of liberal encouragement and heroic example. On the death of Championnet, the command of the French army of Italy had devolved on Massena; and the death of Suwarrow, who in chagrin had terminated his days in his native country, prevented even the probability of another Russian army appearing in that quarter. The Austrians remained under general Melas, who, with eighty thousand men, was in full possession of all the fortresses at the entrance of the Alps, from the fort of Bard in the valley of Aosta to Coni, and bad been during the whole winter in the enjoyment of every necessary, the English fleet having conveyed to him abundant supplies, and facilitated the formation of his magazines for the approaching campaign. The French in the mean while, shut up in various posts from the Bochetta to the Alps of Dauphiny, in the midst of snows, and unassisted by any friendly intercourse, had suffered every privation and hardship; and with a force not amounting to fifty thousand men, had to defend positions against eighty thousand of their enemies.

The lines of the French army on the frontier of Germany extended from Ehrenbreitstein to the Valais; but, on the other band, the archduke Charles, indignaut perhaps at the part he had been obliged to act in the last, and displeased with some circumstances in the plan of the present, campaign, renounced the command, which was conferred on field-marshal Kray. As the principal efforts were intended to be made on the side of Italy, the troops were put in motion. Melas quitted Milan on the 6th of April, 1800, to besiege Genoa, having previously addressed a procla

mation to his troops, reminding them of the glory they had acquired in the last year, and the necessity of maintaining it by new exploits. He attacked the Bochetta in person, while field-marshal the baron d'Elnitz assailed the heights of Vado, and another column of the army reached Savona by the road of Acqui and Sassello. These combined efforts drove Massena into Genoa, while a British squadron cruised off the coast, and the Austrian general made great exertions to gain the surrounding heights. A party in Genoa adverse to the French interest facilitated the dispersion of a proclamation from general Melas, assuring the inhabitants that bis intentions were not. to subdue, but to deliver them from a yoke which had reduced them to a condition truly deplorable. He promised to respect property and defend the true religion, to establish a provisional government, make their harbour a free port, and protect their commerce. These offers were rendered more impressive by the blockade of the port by lord Keith and the great want of provisions, which obliged Massena to have recourse to severities to limit the consumption.

The Austrians got possession of the heights of Montenotte and San Giacomo, made themselves masters of Finale, Vado, and Savona, and drove general Suchet after many severe conflicts into the county of Nice. In these several actions the French lost nearly ten thousand men they captured many Austrians, but were obliged to set them at liberty on parole for want of provisions. The besiegers gained possession of the suburb of San Pietro d'Ancona, and made an unsuccessful attempt to force the gate called la Lanterne. Beset with internal as well as external foes, and determined to defend his post to the last extremity, Massena took measures for organizing the Cisalpine refugees within the walls, invited the citizens to deposit their private stock of provisions in the public stores, and by proclamations exhorted his followers to resist the efforts of malevolence, and maintain good discipline; and animated the inhabitants to endure with