after the Easter recess, lord Sidmouth sug-mined to strike a decisive blow at the Ausgested the propriety of removing lord Mel-trians. Towards the close of August he orville from the privy-council; but Pitt, wish-dered the Boulogne flotilla to be dismantled, ing to avoid that measure, conceived that and the troops to march to the Rhine; the both parliament and the country would be bulk of his force in Holland and Hanover satisfied with the noble lord's resignation of was also directed to proceed to the banks of his office as first lord of the admiralty. the Danube: and, as soon as he received inNeither party was disposed to yield, and telligence that the Austrians had entered lord Sidmouth, the earl of Buckinghamshire, Bavaria, he convened the senate, stating, in and Mr. Vansittart, expressed their deter- a speech from the throne, that he was about mination to throw up their several appoint-to place himself at the head of his army. ments; but this extremity was for the pres- On this occasion two important decrees ent averted by the erasure of lord Melville's were proposed: the one for the immediate name from the list of the privy-council, and levy of eighty thousand conscripts, and the the vote of impeachment which afterwards other for reorganizing the national guard. passed against that nobleman. However, Having crossed the Rhine at Kehl, Buonaon the fifth of July, lord Sidmouth went out parte, at the head of one hundred and fifty of office; and his example was followed thousand men, by a series of bold and rapid by the earl of Buckinghamshire. These movements, gained a position between Vinoblemen were succeeded by earl Camden enna and the Austrian army under general and lord Harrowby, while lord Castlereagh Mack. That army, consisting of nearly was appointed to the foreign department, ninety thousand men, dispersed over а the office of first lord of the admiralty hav-wide extent of country, was beaten in deing been previously conferred on Sir Charles tail, and reduced to thirty thousand, who, Middleton, who was called to the upper with their commander, were blocked up in house under the title of lord Barham. Ulm. On the seventeenth of October Mack

For more than four years Pitt had labor- agreed to surrender, and on the twentieth ed under all the inconveniencies resulting the whole of the Austrian troops in that city from a weak stomach, and the consequent laid down their arms before the French emfailure of appetite; and it will be easily peror, and, with the exception of the fieldconceived that mental anxiety is peculiarly officers, who were permitted to return home calculated to aggravate the effects of such a on their parole, surrendered themselves prisdisorder. This anxiety the unprosperous oners of war, with all their artillery and state of affairs on the continent tended fur- magazines. Buonaparte, having sent for the ther to increase. The continued encroach- Austrian generals, and kept them near his ments of Buonaparte, who had crowned him- person while the troops defiled, complained self king of Italy at Milan, and annexed of the injustice and aggression of the emGenoa to France, had roused the powers of peror: "I desire nothing,” said he, “ on the the continent to resistance, and a treaty be- continent. France wants only ships, colotween Russia and England had been signed nies, and commerce; and it is as much your at St. Petersburgh on the eleventh of April, interest as mine that I should have them.” to which Austria and Sweden soon acceded, The king of Prussia had been provoked and of which the object was to restore, in to some show of indignation by the march some degree, the balance of power in of French troops through part of the PrusEurope, by driving the French out of Han- sian neutral territory of Anspach without over and the north of Germany; by estab- asking permission, and was disposed to relishing the independence of Holland and sent the insult; but, on learning the fate of Switzerland; by restoring the king of Sar- Mack's army, he relapsed into passive neudinia to his throne; and by compelling the trality. Buonaparte, immediately after the French to evacuate the kingdom of Naples, and the whole of Italy. This great object it was promised to accomplish by an army of five hundred thousand men, in addition to the forces to be employed by Great Britain, who herself engaged to contribute to the common efforts both by sea and land, and to assist the different powers by subsidies. SURRENDER OF GENERAL MACK-BUONAPARTE ENTERS VIENNA.-MOVE

capitulation of Ulm, made the most active exertions for the further prosecution of the campaign. The first division of Russians, under general Kutusoff, had already arrived upon the banks of the Inn, and united itself to the Austrians in that quarter: it was of importance, if possible, to attack this force before the arrival of the second division, and with this view the French army, having been joined by the contingents of Bavaria, Baden, and Wirtemburg, advanced by rapid WHILST two Russian armies of fifty thou- marches towards the Inn, which they passed sand men each were advancing towards the in the face of the allies, who retreated step Danube, Buonaparte, in whose plans prompt- by step on the road to Vienna, to effect a itude was always the leading feature, deter-junction with the second Russian division, VOL. IV.

MENTS IN ITALY.

43

TREATY OF PRESBURGH.-TREATY BE-
TWEEN FRANCE AND RUSSIA.

which was advancing under general Bux-BATTLE OF AUSTERLITZ-ARMISTICEhovden. In this situation of affairs, the emperor of Austria, desirous of averting the evils with which he was menaced, by ne- MARSHAL DAVOUST, leaving the principal gotiation, proposed an armistice, in order part of the French army at Vienna, prothat negotiations might be commenced for a ceeded with his division towards Presburgh, general peace. Buonaparte demanded that when he received overtures from count the Russian forces should return home, that Palfy, the governor, in the name of the the Hungarian levies should be disbanded, archduke Palatine, proposing that the miliand that the Austrian troops should with- tary preparations in Hungary should be disdraw from the dutchy of Venice and the continued, on condition that the French genTyrol; but as these terms would place the eral would guaranty the neutrality of that imperial crown at his mercy, the emperor kingdom. To this proposal the marshal resolved still to struggle with his difficul- readily acceded, and the principal resources ties, and, perceiving the danger which threat- of the house of Austria were thus reduced ened his capital, retired with his court to to the army of the archduke Charles, and Brunn, in Moravia. to the small force of prince John of LichtenVienna was entered by the French on the stein, which had united itself to the Russian thirteenth of November, and Buonaparte, on division under Kutusoff, who, perceiving the the second day after that event, proceeded difficulties of his situation, sent the baron to join the main army in Moravia, which de Winzingerode to Murat, to propose terms was advancing with such rapidity that the of capitulation; and a convention was conAustrian court found it necessary to remove cluded, which permitted the Russian army to Olmutz. The Russians, who had crossed to retire into their own territory; but Buothe Danube at Krems, were retiring through naparte, conceiving them to be in his power, that country to unite with the forces under refused to ratify it. In the mean time, genthe command of the emperor, and, after suf-eral Kutusoff had retired with the utmost fering severely in two spirited actions at expedition to Znaim, leaving the division Hollbrunn and Guntersdorf, they retreated under prince Bagration, consisting of six through Znaim to Brunn, which they were thousand men, opposed to thirty thousand of compelled to evacuate on the eighteenth, the enemy, by whom he was surrounded, leaving large quantities of ammunition and when he bravely cut his way through them, provisions. Buonaparte established his head- and arrived with comparatively little loss at quarters there on the twentieth, and his the head-quarters of Wischau. The French main army took up a position at Withau, in pursued their advantages in every direction: face of the Austro-Russian army posted on on the twentieth of November Buonaparte the plains of Olmutz. arrived at Brunn, and received a deputation The Italian campaign was opened upon from the Moravian states, with a bishop at the Adige on the eighteenth of October. their head; Ney was already master of The Austrian army was strongly posted near Brixen; and Bernadotte occupied Iglau, on Verona, on the left bank of the river; while the confines of Bohemia. Many prisoners the French troops, under marshal Massena, and much baggage fell into their hands in occupied the city upon the opposite bank. the various encounters; and, on the twentyThe communication was by means of two third, they had pushed their reconnoitring bridges, and both parties had guarded against parties to the gates of Olmutz. The comthe passage of them by strong works, raised bined forces at that place amounted to nearly at the opposite extremities. The archduke one hundred thousand men, of which the Charles, however, was not in a condition to Russians formed the greater part; but they undertake offensive operations: the attack were harassed by constant exertions, and enwas therefore begun by the French, who feebled by continual privations. The provforced the Austrian intrenchments; and the inces to a great distance around them were archduke, having obtained information of the wasted, and no alternative remained but to disaster at Ulm, fell back towards Vienna. commit the fortunes of the campaign to the The archduke John, severely pressed in the last desperate valor of their troops. On the Tyrol, adopted the same resolution, and, arrival of the emperor of Russia in his camp, after encountering many difficulties, the two Buonaparte sent his aid-de-camp, general brothers effected a junction at Laybach, in Savary, to compliment that prince, and to Carniola. Massena, who had advanced propose an interview, which he declined, closely in pursuit, established a communica- but in return dispatched prince Dobgoruski tion with the corps of Ney and Marmont, to explain his sentiments. In the mean time who, after the reduction of the Tyrol, ap- Savary, who had been indiscreetly suffered proached the Danube to support the main to remain within the Russian lines for three body of the French army. successive days, had returned to the French

camp, and reported that, in spite of the de- suspension of hostilities, and his country plorable state of their troops, presumption, prostrate at the foot of a man, who, in the imprudence, and indiscretion, reigned in hour of triumph, suffered no generous imtheir military councils. Availing himself pulse to soften his political resolves. of this intelligence, Buonaparte issued or- A definitive treaty was signed at Presders for his army to retire under cover of burg on the twenty-sixth of December, the the night, as if apprehensive of an engage- provisions of which were, that the Venetian ment with so formidable an enemy, and to territory should be united in perpetuity to take up a strong position in the rear, where the kingdom of Italy; that the royal title the troops were throwing up intrenchments, assumed by the electors of Bavaria and Wirand forming batteries, when prince Dobgo- temburg should be acknowledged; that the ruski made his appearance. These disposi- margraviate of Burgau, the principality of tions appear to have been attended with the Eichstadt, part of the territory of Passau, desired effect. The head-quarters of the the country of the Tyrol, and the lordships emperors of Russia and Germany were re- of Voralberg, should be ceded to the king of moved to Austerlitz, and a general attack Bavaria; that the Austrian emperor's poswas commenced at daybreak, on the second sessions in Franconia, Suabia, and Bavaria, of December, in which Buonaparte suc- should be divided between the kings of Baceeded in completely insulating the centre varia and Wirtemburg, and the elector of of the allies, and, by possessing himself of Baden; that the county of Saltzburg and of the heights of Pratzen, decided the fate of Berchtoldsgaden, belonging to the archduke the day. The Russians made many brave Ferdinand, should be incorporated with the but fruitless efforts, and at night-fall retreat- Austrian empire, and that the archduke ed upon Boscovitz, covered by the Austrian should receive from the king of Bavaria, in cavalry. The loss of the allies was esti- compensation, the territory of Wurtsburg. mated at a fourth part of their force; and By this treaty it was estimated that the emthis tremendous conflict, which was styled peror lost in subjects more than two million by the French soldiers, The battle of the seven hundred thousand souls, and in revethree emperors, and by Buonaparte, The bat-nue sixteen million of florins, about one miltle of Austerlitz, terminated the campaign lion six hundred thousand pounds sterling; and the war. The Austrian emperor, dis- but the diminution of power and influence mayed by his loss, solicited an immediate which he sustained in abandoning his posarmistice; and on the fourth an interview sessions on the side of Italy, and in relintook place, at the French advanced posts, quishing the line of country through which between Napoleon and the emperor of Aus- he formerly maintained his connexion with tria, when a suspension of arms was agreed Switzerland, was a severe stroke upon his upon, the terms of which were, that the political consequence.

FRENCH FLEETS-SIR ROBERT CAL-
DER'S ENGAGEMENT.

French should remain in possession of all A treaty between France and Prussia was their conquests until the conclusion of a de- also concluded at Vienna, which stipulated finitive peace, or the rupture of negotia- that Buonaparte should send no more troops tions; and that, in the latter case, hostilities into Hanover, and that the forces of the alshould not recommence until the expiration lies should be withdrawn, and replaced by of fourteen days. It was further stipulated those of Prussia, who, in exchange for Hanthat the Russian army should evacuate the over, ceded Anspach and Bayreuth in FranAustrian states within a limited time; that conia, Cleves in Westphalia, and Neufchatel there should be no extraordinary raising of and Valengin in Switzerland. troops; and that negotiators should meet, ATTEMPTS ON THE WEST INDIES BY without delay, to form a definitive treaty. The emperor Alexander refused to become a party to these conditions, and on the sixth WHILST Buonaparte was thus successful of December caused his army to withdraw on the continent, Great Britain was not less from the Austrian states. Before the arri- triumphant on her natural element. As val of intelligence announcing the armis- early as the eleventh of January, a French tice, the archduke Ferdinand, who com- squadron, consisting of six sail of the line manded a corps of twenty thousand Austri-and two frigates, after having been blockadans in Bohemia, defeated a corps of Bava ed for more than two years in Rochefort, rians under general Wrede, and was rapidly ventured out to sea, with the view to unite advancing in the rear of the French army. itself with the more formidable force at Almost at the same period, the archduke Brest; and on the fifteenth the Toulon fleet, Charles advanced from Hungary, within a comprising eleven sail of the line, and hayday's march of Vienna, with a powerful ing on board nine thousand troops, also pushforce; and, on summoning the city to sur-ed out to sea, without being perceived by render, was greatly mortified to find him- the blockading squadron under lord Nelson; self reduced to a state of inaction by the but after a short cruise was obliged again to

put into port through stress of weather. On who had only fifteen sail of the line and two the twenty-second of February, the force frigates, six leagues west of Cape Finisterre, which had escaped from Rochefort, having and, after an engagement of four hours, the proceeded to the West Indies, made a de- St. Raphael, of eighty-four guns, and El scent on the island of Dominica, and the Firme, of seventy-four, were taken from the town of Roseau was obliged to capitulate: enemy, when Sir Robert, from the foggy the governor-general Prevost, however, re- state of the weather, judged it expedient to treated to St. Rupert's, where he was in put a stop to the action, in order that his vain summoned to surrender; and the squadron might cover the captures. The French commander at length abandoned the night was spent by both fleets in the necesisland, after levying a heavy contribution on sary repairs, and on the following morning the inhabitants of Roseau. He next visited the enemy seemed disposed to renew the the islands of Nevis and St. Kitt's, both of contest, but he never approached nearer the which were also laid under contribution; British lines than four leagues; and on the but, on the arrival of admiral Cochrane in twenty-fourth, he bore away to the souththe West Indies, this marauding squadron east under easy sail. In England the conprecipitately sailed for France, where it ar- duct of Sir Robert Calder became the subrived in safety. ject of so much disapprobation, that he deThe alarm created in the public mind re- manded a court-martial, by which he was specting the proceedings of the Rochefort sentenced to be severely reprimanded, not squadron had scarcely subsided, when intel- for fear or cowardice, but for an error in ligence was received that the Toulon fleet, judgment, in not having done his utmost to under admiral Villeneuve, was again at sea. take or destroy every ship of the enemy. On the thirtieth of March this officer sailed This officer's fate was considered by the to Carthagena; but, not finding the Spanish better informed as somewhat hard; and it is ships in that port in readiness, he continued a singular proof of the high confidence then his course unmolested to Cadiz; and, being existing in the naval superiority of the there joined by one French and six Spanish country, that an officer should meet reproof, sail of the line, he steered to the West In- who, with fifteen sail, obtained a partial vicdies with an accumulated force of eighteen tory over more than twenty. sail of the line, carrying, beside their full complement of seamen, ten thousand veteran troops.

VICTORY OF TRAFALGAR, AND DEATH

OF NELSON.

THE combined fleets, having at Ferrol On the approach of Villeneuve to Cadiz, augmented their forces to twenty-seven sail admiral Sir John Orde, who was blockading of the line, proceeded to Cadiz; and scarcely that port with five ships of the line, thought had lord Nelson arrived in London, after his it prudent to retire, and succeeded in joining long and persevering cruise, when he was lord Gardner off Brest. The welcome ac- offered the command of an armament sufficount, however, soon arrived, that lord Nel- cient to cope with the united naval force of son, who had been cruising in the Mediter- France and her allies, which he willingly ranean, was in pursuit of the enemy to the accepted, and, hoisting his flag on board the West Indies. His lordship, it is true, had Victory, arrived off Cadiz on the twentyonly ten ships of the line; but his name was ninth of September. To induce the enemy a tower of strength. On the fourth of June to come out to sea, he stationed his main he arrived off Barbadoes, where he learned force near Cape St. Mary, and established a that admiral Villeneuve had reached Mar- line of frigates to communicate their movetinique on the fourteenth of May, but that ments. On the nineteenth of October, being the Diamond Rock was the only conquest apprized that a reinforcement of seven sail he had achieved; when, after remaining of the line would shortly join him from Engnearly inactive during three weeks, hearing land, his lordship dispatched admiral Louis of the presence of the dreaded Nelson, he with six sail to Tetuan for stores and water. set sail on his return, and was immediately Informed of this event, and supposing the followed by his indefatigable opponent, who, English to be much reduced in strength, adhaving in vain sought him off Cadiz and miral Villeneuve availed himself of the faCape St. Vincent, in the Bay of Biscay, and vorable juncture to obey the positive comon the coast of Ireland, returned to Eng- mands which had been issued by his governland, after dispatching nine ships of the line ment: on the next day the fleet under his to reinforce lord Gardner off Brest. Hopes command got under weigh, and, at daybreak were yet entertained that Villeneuve would on the twenty-first, was distinctly seen from 'be intercepted before he could reach any the Victory's deck, formed in a close line of friendly port; and on the twenty-second of battle off Cape Trafalgar. Our fleet, which July, his fleet, which now amounted to twen- had received the expected reinforcement, ty sail of the line, three fifty-gun ships, and consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line five frigates, fell in with Sir Robert Calder, and four frigates; theirs of thirty-three sail

of the line and seven frigates; and their su- rewarded by the capture of nineteen ships periority was greater in size and weight of of the line, with the commander-in-chief, metal than in numbers. Admiral Villeneuve Villeneuve, and two Spanish admirals; but, was a skilful seaman; and his plan of de- a gale of wind coming on from the southfence was as well conceived, and as original, west after the action, only four of the prizes as the plan of attack. The Spaniards were could be saved, which were carried into commanded by admiral Gravina; and four Gibraltar. The Achille, a French seventythousand troops were embarked on board the four, blew up, after her surrender: but two fleet, under the command of general Con- hundred of her men were saved. Admiral tamin, among whom were several skilful Villeneuve was sent to England, and aftersharp-shooters and Tyrolese riflemen. The wards permitted to return to France, where, British fleet bore up in two columns as they as was stated by the French government, formed in the order of sailing; and as the he destroyed himself, dreading the consemode of attack was unusual, so the structure quences of a court-martial.

66

of the enemy's line was new; it formed a In such a battle the loss on both sides crescent convexing to leeward, so that, in must be severe; that of the victors amountleading down to their centre, lord Colling-ed to fifteen hundred men killed and woundwood had both their van and rear abaft the ed: but the deep regret which the effusion beam. As the mode of our attack had been of so much brave blood cannot fail to excite previously determined on, few signals were was absorbed in the greater sorrow caused necessary, and none were made, except to by the fall of the commander-in-chief, who direct close order as the lines bore down. was mortally wounded by a musket-shot The last telegraphic signal issued by the from the ship with which he was closely engreat commander on going into action was, gaged. He survived the battle about two England expects every man to do his hours; and the pain of his last moments duty;" and nobly indeed was it performed was soothed by the glad tidings that the on this glorious day, for the battle of Trafal- hostile flags were striking around him; gar is without a parallel in the annals of when, after breathing his thanks to Heaven British victory. for being enabled once more to do his duty The conflict began about noon, when ad- to his country, he expired without a groan. miral Collingwood, in the Royal Sovereign, Such was the end of this great man, whose gallantly cut through the enemy's line about career had been eminently brilliant, and the twelfth ship from his rear, leaving his whose fate was glorious and triumphant. van unoccupied; the succeeding ships broke Before the battle began he entertained a through in all parts astern of their leaders, presentiment that this would be the last day and engaged their antagonists at the muzzles of his life, and seemed to look for death with of their guns. Lord Nelson, on board the almost as sure an expectation as for victory; Victory, directed his attack on the enemy's but although this gloomy foreboding occuline between the tenth and eleventh ships pied his mind, and though he had more than in the van; but, finding it so close that once observed that the enemy would endeavor there was not room to pass, he ordered his to mark him out as one of their victims, yet ship to be run on board the Redoubtable, op- his lordship, on the morning of the twentyposed to him; his second, the Temeraire, first, put on the stars of the different orders engaged the next ship in the enemy's line, with which he had been invested. His secand the others singled out their adversaries retary and chaplain, apprehensive that these according to the order of battle. During insignia might expose his person to unnecesnearly four hours the conflict was tremen- sary danger, endeavored, but in vain, to predous, particularly in that part of the line vail upon him to take them off: to all their where the commander-in-chief had com- entreaties he replied "In honor I gained menced the onset. The guns of his ship them, and in honor I will die with them." repeatedly set fire to the Redoubtable; and The survivors were gratified with the the British seamen, apprehensive that both thanks of both houses of parliament; gold ships might be involved in destruction, were medals were awarded to those who had paremployed at intervals during the heat of the ticularly distinguished themselves on this fight in throwing buckets of water on the memorable day; and, besides the honors and spreading flames. About three in the after- rewards showered upon the family of the noon the Spanish admiral, with ten sail of fallen hero, the dignity of Baron, with an the line, joining the frigates to leeward, bore annuity of two thousand pounds a-year to away for Cadiz; and ten minutes afterwards himself and his two next heirs, was confive of the headmost ships of the enemy's ferred upon vice-admiral Collingwood. van, under admiral Dumanoir, tacked, and The four French ships under rear-admiral stood to windward of the British line: the Dumanoir, which escaped to the southward sternmost was taken, but the others escaped, towards the close of the action off Trafalgar The heroic exertions of the British were soon shared the fate of their companions.