rear of Bonaparte, and at the same time to watch the motions of a body of Russians who were assembled in Franconia.

The corps of marshal Ney, supported by the Bavarians, under general Deroi, had, in the mean time, entered the Tyrol at Fuessen; and, after having pene trated by passes of great difficulty, with which this

country abounds, succeeded in storming the forts of Scharnitz and Newstark; upon which occasion, there fell into the hands of the French, 1700 prisoners, sixteen pieces of cannon, and one standard.

On the 16th (of November, 1805) marshal Ney entered Innspruck, the capital of the Tyrol, where he found an arsenal and magazines well supplied with stores. On the 20th, he fixed his head-quarters at Bolzano, and pushed his outposts as far as Trent.

By these movements, the archdukeJohn found himselfunable to maintain his ground any longer in the Tyrol, nor indeed were there many outlets by which he could retreat, as he was nearly surrounded by the enemy. At length he came to the resolution of attempting a junction with his brother, the archduke Charles, in Carniola; the best measure perhaps which, in this juncture of affairs, he could possibly adopt, though the execution of it was pregnant with difficulty and danger. However, the task was accomplished, though not without considerable loss.

The Tyrol was thus completely evacuated by the Austrians; and the archdukes, Charles and John, marched towards Vienna; while Massena advanced

to Laybach, which the Austrians had evacuated; and shortly afterwards took up positions for occupying the attention of the archduke Charles; and the corps of marshal Ney and general Marmont approached the Danube, for the purpose of supporting the main body of the French army.

Immediately after the capture of Vienna, marshal Davoust had marched to Presburg, and attempted to negociate with the archduke Palatinate, for the neutrality of Hungary. The archduke seemed inclined to listen to the proposals of the French; but Davoust soon discovered for no other purpose than delay, and therefore hastened to join the main body.

Thus, by a serious of judicious movements, the French emperor had brought nearly the whole of his army to a central point, in perfect order, flushed with victory, and eager to meet the combined AustroRussian army, which had lately received strong reinforcements, and had determined on a general action.

CHAP. XIX.

Mock Attempts at Negociation.---Confidence of the Russians.---Force of the contending Armies.--Preparations for a general Battle.---Dreadful Battle of Austerlitz.---Death of Mr. Pitt, &c.

IT will be recollected, that in the last chapter but one, we left the hostile armies in sight of each other, in Moravia; that the Russians had been greatly reinforced; and that a general action seemed unavoidable. On the 27th of November (1805) counts Stadion and Giulay were sent, on the part of the emperor Francis, in order to open a negociation for peace with Napoleon, and, at the same time, count Haugwitz arrived at Vienna, to offer the mediation of the king of Prussia. Whether Francis was only attempting to amuse Bonaparte by this apparent attempt at negociation, will, most likely, never be positively known; but assuredly it was viewed in a suspicious light by the French emperor; who, though he seemed to listen to the proposal, made every possible preparation for meeting the enemy.

Notwithstanding the seeming desire of the emperor of Austria for negociation, early on the morning of the 28th, the Russians attacked the French advanced posts at Wishan,forced them to fall back, and made some pri

soners; upon which, the main body of the Russian army advanced, and took up a position in the rear of

that town.

The emperor of Russia joined his army a day or two prior to this transaction, and the news of his arrival no sooner reached Bonaparte, than he sent one of his aids-de-camp, general Savary, a keen, penetrating, and wily Frenchman, for the avowed purpose of complimenting the mighty autocrat, and manifesting a sort of pacific disposition. This officer was politely received, and very imprudently suffered to remain a day or two within the Russian lines; which gave him an opportunity of observing the disposition of their army, which was virtually, no doubt, the main object of his mission. Savary also had time to remark that confidence and presumption, which prevailed among the Russian officers, and particularly of several who had great influence over the emperor Alexander.

Of this, no person knew better how to take advantage than Napoleon; but still further to feed the vanity of those thoughtless officers of the Russian army, as well as to disguise generally his own views, the French emperor caused his army to retreat in the night, and to take up a position three leagues in the rear, which he seemed also very eager to fortify, by hastily throwing up works, planting batteries, &c.

Thus situated, Napoleon proposed an interview with the Russian emperor, which was declined by the latter; who, however, sent prince Dolgorucki, his aid-de-camp. To carry on the delusion, Bonaparte

met the Russian prince at the outposts of the French army, as if unwilling that he should witness the wretched state of the troops. Dolgorucki swallowed the bait; and big with the notion that Napoleon dreaded an engagement, peremptorily required that he should renounce the possession of Belgium, as also the crown of Italy. The French emperor returned an evasive answer, and prince Dolgorucki went away, fully persuaded that the total defeat at least of the French army was at hand.

It need hardly be said, that the combined army lost no time in attacking the French; but before the dreadful battle of Austerlitz is described, it will be necessary to state, as precisely as possible, the force of the contending parties.

The French army consisted of the corps of Soult, Lannes, Bernadotte, and Davoust, together with the cavalry commanded by Murat; also, the imperial guards under marshal Bessieres, and a body of grenadiers commanded by general Duroc, forming a corps of reserve. The French force amounted in the whole to about 80,000 men.

The Austro-Russian army was composed of 104 battalions of infantry, twenty of which were Austrians; and 159 squadrons of cavalry, fifty-four of which were Austrians, and the rest chiefly Cossacs; amounting in the whole to at least 75,000 men. The Russians were commanded by general Kutusow; and the Austrians by prince John of Lichtenstein. The emperors of Russia and Austria were also with the