Page:Life of Napoleon Buonaparte.pdf/5

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Germany, and advanced within thirty leagues of Vienna. Not however being adequately seconded by the French armies on the Rhine, his situation became critical; and with the policy which knows as well when to treat as to light, he promptly proposed negociations; and this memorable campaign terminated in the treaty of Leoben, the preliminaries of which were signed on the 16th April, 1797. This treaty left France in possession of Belgium and other conquests, and established a recognised republic in Italy. Before these preliminaries were ratified, Buonaparte declared war against the republic of Venice, which could make little resistance, and took rapid possession of the fleet; alschals, treasure, and territory of this once famous state. After making some arrangements in regulation of the Cisalpine republic, which he had established at Milan, he signed the definitive treaty with the Austrians at Campo Formio, and returned to Paris, where of coarse he was received with great respect and rejoicing. He was now nominated general-in-chief of an expedition against England, apparently a mere demonstration, as that against Egypt was at this time in preparation. On the 19th May, 1798, Buonaparte sailed from Toulon with a fleet of thirteen ships of the line, as many Frigates, and an immense number of transports, with 40,000 troops on board, the flower of the French army.

Having briefly stated the rise of this extraordinary man into military eminence, our remaining notices of his military career must be very general. The events of his Egyptian campaign form a very interesting part of our own annals, in the great victory of Aboukir by sea, and the noble defence of Acre by land. As illustrative of the character of Buonaparte, it exhibited him with his usual