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CHAPTER XXI.

CAMPAIGN OF 1796 IN GERMANY.

ARGUMENT.

CHAP.
XXI.

1796.

Great difficulties of the French Government at the commencement of this yearBut her Foreign Relations had signally improved-Triple Alliance of Austria, Russia, and England-Painful division of Opinion in England on the War-Violence of the Parties in the close of 1795-Attack on the King when going to Parliament-Arguments of the Opposition on the War-Answer of the Government-Real objects in view by the different Parties-Supplies voted by Parliament-Bills against Public Meetings-Arguments against and for them-They pass into Laws-Reflections on these Statutes-Proposals for Peace by the British government, which are rejected by the Directory-Operations of Hoche in La Vendée-Previous successes of Charette and Stofflet during the Winter-Death of Stofflet-Heroic conduct of Charette-But he is at length taken and Shot-His Death and Character-Fine Observations of Napoleon upon him-Termination of the War in La Vendée-Preparations of the Austrians-Archduke Charles put at the head of the Army in Germany-Forces of the contending Parties on the Rhine-Designs of the Aulic Council-Plan of the Republicans-They cross the Lower Rhine, and gain some Success-But are driven back across that River by the Archduke-Operations of Moreau on the Upper Rhine-His Origin and Character-Organization of his Army-Passage of the Rhine by MoreauAdmirable skill shewn in that Operation-Cautious Movements of Moreau-He advances towards the Black Forest-The Archduke hastens to the scene of Danger— Indecisive Action on the Rhine-The French gain success on the Imperial RightThe Archduke resolves to Retreat into Bavaria-Operations on the Lower RhineErroneous Plan of the Campaign by the Directory-Admirable Plan of the Archduke to counteract it-He retires through the Black Forest-Indecisive Action at Neresheim -Operations of Jourdan-He advances into Franconia-The Archduke joins Wartensleben, and falls with their united Force on Jourdan-Who is defeated at Amberg -He is again routed near Wurtzburg-Great effects of this Victory-Continued and Disastrous Retreat of Jourdan-Archduke again Defeats him, and drives him across the Rhine-Severe struggle of Latour with Moreau on the Danube—Archduke threatens Moreau's retreat at Kehl- Moreau resolves to retreat, which he does in the most firm and methodical manner-Defeats Latour at Biberach-And retires leisurely through the Black Forest-Battle of Emmindingen, between Moreau and the Archduke -Retreat of Moreau-Austrians refuse an Armistice on the Rhine-Long and bloody siege of Kehl-Fall of the Tete-du-pont at Huningen-Reflections on this CampaignProdigious Contributions levied by the Republicans in Germany-Disgust consequently

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excited there-Noble and patriotic spirit of the Austrian people-New Convention between France and Prussia-Deplorable State of the French Marine-Successes of the English in the East and West Indies-Capture of Ceylon-General joy which these Conquests diffuse in England—Continued Deplorable State of St Domingo-Treaty of Alliance between France and Spain-Overtures for a General Peace made by Great Britain-Which prove unsuccessful-Alarming State of Ireland-Designs of the Directory, and Hoche, against that Country-The Expedition sets Sail-It is dispersed by Tempests-And regains Brest-Reflections on the Failure of this ExpeditionDeath of the Empress Catherine-Her Character-Retirement of Washington from Public Life-His perfect Character, and admirable Valedictory Address to his Countrymen.

CHAP.

XXI.

1796.

the French

ment at the

year.

WHEN the Directory were called, by the suppression of the insurrection of the Sections, and the Great diffi establishment of the new constitution, to the helm of culties of the state, they found the Republic in a very critical governsituation, and its affairs externally and internally in- commencevolved in almost insurmountable difficulties. The ment of this finances were in a state of increasing and inextricable confusion; the assignats, which had for long constituted the sole resource of government, had fallen almost to nothing; ten thousand francs in paper were hardly worth twenty francs in specie, and the unbounded depreciation of that species of circulation seemed to render the establishment of any other circulating medium of the same description impossible. The taxes for many years back had been so ill paid, that Ramel, the minister of finance, estimated the arrears in his department at fifteen hundred millions in specie, or above L.60,000,000 sterling. The armies, destitute of pay, ill equipped, worse clothed, were discontented, and the recent disasters on the Rhine had completely broken the susceptible spirit of the French soldiers. The artillery and cavalry were without horses; the infantry, depressed by suffering and dejected by defeat, were deserting in great numbers, and seeking a refuge in their homes from the toils and the miseries of war. The contest in La Vendée was still un

XXI.

CHAP. extinguished; the Republican armies had been driven with disgrace behind the Rhine, and the troops in the Maritime Alps, worn out with privations, could 1 Jom. viii, not be relied on with certainty for offensive opera22. Toul tions.1

1796,

vi, 9.

But her foreign re

But on the other hand, the external relations of the Republic had eminently improved, and the vast lations had exertions of 1794, even though succeeded by the lasgreatly im- situde and weakness of 1795, had produced a most

proved.

27th Sept.

1795.

Triple al

important effect on the relative situation of the belligerent powers. Spain, defeated and humiliated, had sued for peace; and the treaty of Bâle, by liberating the armies of the Eastern and Western Pyrenees, had both enabled the French government to reinforce the armies of La Vendée, and to afford means to the young Conqueror of the Sections, of carrying the Republican standards into the plains of Lombardy. Prussia had retired without either honour or advantage from the struggle; the Low Countries were not only subdued, and their resources turned against the Allied powers; but the whole weight of the contest on the Rhine, it was plain, must now fall on the Austrian monarchy. England, baffled and disgraced on the Continent, was not likely to take any effective part in military warfare, and there seemed little doubt that the power which had recently defeated all the coalesced armies of Europe, would be able to subdue the brave but now unaided forces of the Imperialists.

Aware of the coming danger, Mr Pitt had, in the September preceding, concluded a triple alliance between Great Britain, Austria, and Russia: but the forces of Russia were too far distant, and the danger Russia, and to its possessions too remote, to permit any material Austria. aid to be early acquired from its immense resources.

liance of

England,

XXI.

It was not till a later period, and till the fire had CHAP. consumed its own vitals, that the might of this gigantic power was effectually roused, and the legions 1796. of the North brought to reassert their wonted supe-1 Jom. viii. riority over the forces of Southern Europe.1

4. Ann.

Reg. 1796,

division of

the war.

The condition of England, in the close of 1795 and 1798. the beginning of 1796, was nearly as distracted, so far as opinion went, as that of France. The con- Painful tinued disasters of the war, the pressure of new and opinion in increasing taxation, the apparent hopelessness of England on continuing the struggle with a military power, whom all the armies of Europe had proved unable to subdue, not only gave new strength and vigour to the Whig party, who had all along opposed hostilities, but induced many thoughtful men who had concurred at first in the necessity of combating the revolutionary mania, to hesitate as to any further continuance of the contest. So violent had party spirit become, and so completely had it usurped the place of patriotism or reason, that many of the popular leaders had come to wish anxiously for the triumph of their enemies. It was no longer a simple disapprobation of the war which they felt, but a fervent desire that it might terminate to the disadvantage of their country, and that the Republican might triumph over the British arms. They thought that there was no chance of parliamentary reform being carried, or any considerable addition to democratic power acquired, unless the ministry were dispossessed; and to accomplish this object, they hesitated not to betray their wish for the success of the inveterate enemy of their country. These animosities produced their usual effect of rendering the moderate or rational equally odious to both parties; whoever Ann. Reg. deplored the war, was reputed a foe to his country;

2

1795-6-7.

XXI.

CHAP. whoever pronounced it necessary, was deemed a conspirator against its liberty, and an abettor of ar1796. bitrary power.

the parties

of 1795, and attack on the King.

These ill humours, which were afloat during the Violence of whole of the summer of 1795, broke out into acts of in the close open violence in the autumn of that year. The associations for the purpose of obtaining parliamentary reform increased in boldness and activity: among them were many emissaries of the French government, and numbers of natives of this country, who had thrown off all connection with it in their hearts, and were become its most violent and rancorous enemies. They deluded immense bodies of men by the seducing language of freedom which they used, and the alluring prospect of peace which they held forth; societies having these captivating advantages for their professed objects, were generally formed in the great towns; and, under the banner of reform, succeeded in assembling, in every quarter, all that ambition had which was reckless, with all that indigence could collect which was desperate. These causes of discontent were increased by the high price of provisions, the natural consequence of the increased consumption and enlarged circulating medium required in the war; but which the lower orders, under the instigation of their demagogues, ascribed entirely to the Ministry, and the crusade which they had undertaken against the liberties of mankind.

It was fortunate at this crisis, that the rural population every where remained firm, and the seditious movements were confined chiefly to the excitable population of the commercial towns. At length, on occasion of the King's going to Parliament, at its open29th Oct. ing, on 29th October 1795, these discontents broke out into open outrages of the most disgraceful kind.

1795.

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