of all anxiety by announcing the mission of Prince Schwartzenberg to St Petersburg, the refusal of the cabinet of Russia to accede to his proposals, and its determination to support Napoleon in the war with Austria which was approaching. Orders were immediately despatched for the French am openly charged the cabinet of Vienna | despatches arrived, and relieved him with hostile designs; and Metternich, who could not deny them, had no alternative but to protest that they were defensive only, and rendered necessary by the hostile attitude of the princes of the Rhenish confederacy, to whom Napoleon had recently transmitted orders to call out their contingents.* In truth, however, though loud com-bassador to leave Vienna, who accordplaints of hostile preparations were made on both sides, neither party was desirous to precipitate the commencement of active operations. Austria had need of every hour she could gain to complete her armaments, and draw together her troops upon the frontier from the various quarters of her extensive dominions; and Napoleon had as much occasion for delay, to concentrate his forces from the north and centre of Germany in the valley of the Danube; and he was desirous not to unsheath the sword till advices from St Petersburg made him certain of the concurrence of Alexander in his designs. · At length the long-wished for * "Well," said Napoleon, "M. Metternich, here are fine news from Vienna! What does all this mean? Have they been stung by scorpions? Who threatens you? What would you be at? As long as I had my army in Germany, you conceived no disquietude for your existence; but the moment it was transferred to Spain, you consider yourselves endangered! What can be the end of these things? What, but that I must arm as you arm, for at length I am seriously menaced. I am rightly punished for my former caution. Have you, sir, communi your cated your pretended apprehensions to court? If you have done so, you have disturbed the peace of mine, and will probably plunge Europe into numberless calamities. I have always been the dupe of your court in diplomacy; we must now speak out; it is making too much noise for the preservation of peace, too little for the prosecution of war. Do they suppose me dead? We shall see how their projects will succeed; and they will reproach me with being the cause of hostilities, when it is their own folly which forces me to engage in them. But let them not imagine they will have war to carry on with me alone; I expect a courier from Russia; if matters turn out there as I expect, I shall give them fighting enough." How easily may Napoleon's ideas and words be always distinguished from those of all other men! At least he always lets us understand his meaning; no inconsiderable advantage, in the midst of the general studied obscurity and evasions of diplomatic language.-THIBAUDEAU, vii. 204, 205. ingly took his departure on the last day of February, leaving only a chargéd'affaires to communicate intelligence till relations were finally broken off; and though Metternich still remained at Paris, his departure was hourly expected; and such was the estrangement of the Emperor, that he never addressed to him a word, even in public and formal diplomatic intercourse. Meanwhile the funds at Paris fell rapidly on the intelligence of the disasters in Spain, and the warlike preparations of Austria. The five per cents, which had reached ninety after the treaty of Tilsit, fell to eighty: but Napoleon, with despotic authority, determined they should descend no further. Without consulting his council, he issued an order that all stock offered below eighty should be purchased by the government with money furnished by the sinking-fund and the bank. The stock speedily fell lower, but the government purchases arrested the decline, and for six months the struggle continued, during which 30,000,000 francs (£1,200,000) were expended by the treasury. In the end, however, the battle of Wagram put an end to the contest, by raising the stock above eighty. 15. In the course of his discussions with Champagny, the French minister for foreign affairs at this period, Metternich, with all his caution, could not disguise the deep umbrage taken by Austria at not having been invited to take part in the conferences of Erfurth; and he admitted, that, if this had been done, the cabinet of Vienna would in all probability have recognised Joseph as King of Spain, and the rupture would have been entirely prevented. This was the most serious grievance which he had to allege against the coalesced Emperors. It was more than an affair of jealousy; material interests were at stake. Austria had good reason to anticipate evil to herself from the ominous conjunction of two such powers in her neighbourhood; while, at the same time, the cordiality of Alexander would unquestionably have cooled if Francis or Metternich had been admitted to these deliberations. Napoleon's favour was too precious to be divided between two potentates without exciting jealousy: like a beauty surrounded by lovers, he could not show a preference to one without producing estrangement of the other. He chose for his intimate ally the power of whose strength he had had the most convincing experience, and from whose hostility he had, from its distance, least to apprehend. 16. Meanwhile, Napoleon was rapidly completing his arrangements. Orders were despatched to Davoust early in March to concentrate his immense corps at Bamberg, and establish the headquarters of the whole army at Würtzburg; Massena, at the same time, received directions to repair to Strassburg, and press on with his corps to Ulm, and there unite with the army of the Rhine; Oudinot was moved upon Augsburg; Bernadotte despatched to Dresden to take the command of the Saxons; Bessières, with the Imperial Guard, transported by post in all imaginable haste from Burgos across the Pyrenees and to the Rhine; instructions were transmitted to the French ambassador at Warsaw to hasten the formation of three Polish divisions, to cooperate with the Russians in protecting the Grand- duchy of Warsaw and menacing Galicia; while the princes of the Rhenish confederacy were enjoined to collect their respective contingents at their different rallying points, and direct them towards the general rendezvous of this immense force on the Danube, at Ingolstadt or Donauwörth. Thus, from all quarters of Europe, from the mountains of Asturias to the plains of Poland, armed men were converging in all directions to the valley of the Danube, where a hundred and VOL. VIII. fifty thousand soldiers would ere long be collected; while the provident care of the Emperor was not less actively exerted in collecting magazines upon the projected line of operations for the stupendous multitude, and providing, in the arming and replenishing of the fortresses, both a base for offensive operations, and a refuge in the event of disaster. 17. On the side of the Austrians, preparations not less threatening were going rapidly forward. The regular army had been augmented to three hundred thousand infantry and above thirty thousand cavalry; besides two hundred thousand of the landwehr and Hungarian insurrection. The disposable force was divided into nine corps, besides two of reserve. Six of these, containing nominally one hundred and fifty thousand men, of whom one hundred and twenty thousand might be relied on as able to assemble round the standards, were mustered on the frontiers of Bavaria, besides a reserve in Bohemia, under the immediate command of the Archduke Charles. The Archduke John was intrusted with the direction of two others, forty-seven thousand strong, in Italy, supported by the landwehr of Carinthia, Carniola, and Istria, at least twenty-five thou sand more, who, though hardly equal to a shock in the field, were of great value in garrisoning fortresses and conducting secondary operations; the Marquis Chastellar was prepared to enter the eastern frontier of the Tyrol from the Pusterthal, with twelve thousand regular troops, where he expected to be immediately joined by twenty thousand hardy and warlike peasants; while the Archduke Ferdinand, with thirty thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry, was to invade the Grandduchy of Warsaw, and avert the calamities of war from the Galician plains. The total number of troops, after deducting the non-effective and sick, might amount to two hundred and twenty thousand infantry and twentyeight thousand cavalry, with eight hundred pieces of cannon: a prodigious force, when their discipline and effi D ciency were taken into consideration, | influence of their charms to the geneand the support which they were to ral enthusiasm. The requisitions of receive, not only from the immense government were instantly agreed to; reserves of landwehr in all the pro- the supplies of men and money cheervinces, but from the general spirit and fully voted; the levies for the regular unanimity of the monarchy. The com- army anticipated by voluntary enrolmencement of hostilities at once in ment; the landwehr rapidly filled up Bavaria, Italy, the Tyrol, and Poland, with brave and hardy peasants. At might seem an imprudent dispersion Vienna, in particular, the patriotic of strength, especially when the tre- ardour was unbounded; and when the mendous blows to be anticipated from Archduke Charles, on the 6th April, Napoleon in the valley of the Danube marched into the city at the head of are duly weighed; but these, in ap- his regiment, one swell of rapture pearance offensive, were in reality seemed to animate the whole populastrictly defensive operations. It was tion. That accomplished prince aided well known that the moment war was the general ardour by an address to declared, the French Emperor, accord- his soldiers on the day of his entry,+ ing to his usual policy, would direct which deserves to be recorded for the all his forces against the centre of the generous sentiments which it exenemy's power; invasion from Italy, presses, as well as the light which Bavaria, and Poland was immediately it throws on the general reasons for to be anticipated; and in maintaining the war. the struggle in the hostile provinces adjoining the frontier, the war was in reality averted from their own vitals.* 18. The utmost efforts were at the same time made to rouse the patriotic ardour of all classes, and government in that important duty were magnanimously seconded by the nobles and people throughout the empire. Never, indeed, since the foundation of the monarchy, had unanimity so universal prevailed through all the varied provinces of the Imperial dominions, and never had so enthusiastic a spirit animated all ranks of the people. The nobles, the clergy, the peasants, the burghers, all felt the sacred flame, and vied with each other in devotion to the common cause. The enthusiasm of the women in particular, as in all cases of vehement public excitement, knew no bounds. At their head was the young Empress, married only the year before, who entered into the contest as warmly as the Queen of Prussia had done at Berlin before the battle of Jena. Her mother, the Archduchess Beatrice, had openly declared against France, and many ladies of the highest rank, especially the Princess Bagrathion, the Princess Legnowski, the Countess de Kaunitz, added the *See Appendix A, Chap. LVI. 19. While these immense military preparations were going on upon both sides, the semblance of diplomatic relations was still kept up at Paris. Metternich, who remained there to the last, rather as a legitimate spy than in any other character, presented a note to the cabinet of the Tuileries on the 10th March. He there represented it as an undoubted fact, that since the treaty which fol "When all endeavours to preserve independence from the insatiable ambition of a foreign conqueror prove fruitless, when nations are falling around us, and when lawful sovereigns are torn from the hearts of their subjects; when, in fine, the danger of universal subjugation threatens even the happy states of Austria, and their peaceable fortunate inhabitants, then does our country demand its deliverance from us, and we stand forth in its defence. On you, my brother-soldiers, are fixed the eyes of the universe, and of all those who still feel for national honour and national prosperity. You shall not incur the disgrace of being made the instruments of oppression; you shall not carry on the endless wars of ambition under distant climes; your blood shall never flow for foreign fleets or insatiable alight of annihilating distant nations, and, covetousness; nor on you shall the curse over the bodies of the slaughtered defenders of their country, paving the way for a foreigner to a usurped throne. A happier lot awaits you; the liberty of Europe has taken refuge under your banners. Your victories will loose its fetters, and your of the enemy, long for their deliverance. brothers in Germany, yet in the ranks On the fields of Ulm and Marengo, of which lowed the evacuation of Braunau, there | They were, in March, grouped around was no longer any subject of difference Prague, in the north-western extremity between the two powers; and that, of that country, between the Elbe, the although the Emperor of Austria might Eger, the Moldau, and the Wittau. well conceive disquietude at the numer- The object of this extraordinary conous movements which had taken place centration of troops was, to advance since January, he had no desire except suddenly into the country of Baireuth, to see Europe in peace. The French give assistance to the numerous ardent cabinet replied, that unquestionably spirits and malcontents of that quarter no subject of difference remained be- of Germany, fall upon Davoust's corps tween the two powers; and that, this which was assembled at Würtzburg, being the case, the Emperor could not before it could receive the reinforceconceive, either what the Austrians ments which were hastening to its supwould be at, or what occasioned their port, or be electrified by the presence pretended disquietudes. Here termi- of Napoleon, and, if possible, drive it nated this diplomatic farce: it deceiv- back by superior forces to the Rhine.* ed neither party; but both had ob- Such an event, it was well known, jects to gain by postponing for a short would at once bring to the Austrian time the commencement of hostilities. standards a vast body of ardent re20. The original plan of the Austrians cruits, whom the enormous exactions was to invade at once Franconia, Lom- and grinding tyranny of the French bardy, the Tyrol, and the Grandduchy armies had filled with unbounded of Warsaw. In all these districts they hatred at their domination, and it was had numerous and active partisans, hoped would at the same time overand they confidently expected power- come the indecision of Prussia, and ful aid from their exertions. For this bring its disciplined battalions to the purpose they had accumulated enor- side of the Imperialists in the great mous masses of troops, above a hun- contest for European freedom. This dred thousand strong, in Bohemia; plan was ably conceived, and if carfrom whence, as a central point, they ried into execution with the requisite were in a situation to issue in any di- alacrity and vigour, might have been rection which might seem advisable. attended with great results; for the French armies were very much scatthe enemy so often reminds us with ostenta- tered in the end of February, and, by tious pride, we shall renew the glorious deeds of Würtzburg and Ostrach, of Stockach issuing suddenly from the great salient and Zurich, of Verona, the Trebbia, and fortress of Bohemia, and pressing forNovi. We shall conquer a lasting peace forward towards the Rhine, the Archduke our country; but that great end is not to be attained without proportionate virtues. Unconditional subordination, strict discipline, persevering courage, unshaken steadiness in danger, are the companions of true fortitude. Nothing but a union of will, and joint co-operation of the whole, can lead to victory. I will be everywhere in the midst of you; you shall receive the first thanks of your country from your general on the field of battle. The patriotism of the Austrian nobility has anticipated your wants; this is a pledge of the national gratitude. Adorned with the marks of the public esteem, will I present to our sovereign, to the world, those brave men who have deserved well of their country. Civil virtues must also accompany your arms out of the field of battle: the real soldier is moderate, compassionate, humane; he knows the evils of war, and strives to lighten them. It is not the intention of our monarch to oppress foreign nations, but to deliver them, and to form with their princes a lasting peace, and maintain the general welfare and security."-Ann. Reg. 1809, 691. Charles might have entirely separated Oudinot, who lay in Suabia, from Davoust, who was cantoned on the banks of the Maine. 21. The Austrians had taken Napoleon, in a certain degree at unawares; as not only was the flower of his veteran *The directions of the Aulic Council for the war in Italy and the Tyrol, were to concentrate both corps, under the command of the Archduke John, between Villach and Klagenfurth, and then advance in two columns: one by the Pusterthal into the Tyrol, and over the Brenner to Trent; the other by Ponteba to Bassano, and from thence to the Adige; while the care of observing the lower Isonzo was intrusted to the landwehr of Istria. The cabinet of Vienna calculated with much reason upon the expected insurrection in the Tyrol, to aid and support both these movements.-STUTTERHEIM, 56, 57; and PELET, i. 196. * troops in Spain, but the forces which this enormous multitude among still remained in Germany, though other things, twenty-five million ballextremely formidable if once assem- cartridges were collected. But he bled together, were scattered from the enjoined that the system should be Alps to the Baltic, at a great distance rigorously followed out of making war from each other. His plan, therefore, support war, and strictly forbade any contrary to his usual policy, was strictly stores or provisions being purchased in defensive in the outset, to gain time France for the use of the troops, if for the concentration of his troops. they could be procured by requisitions At the same time, as he deemed it un- or military contributions on the other fitting that he himself should be at side of the Rhine. Rapid concentrathe head of his army before any de- tion of his troops was enjoined to Bercisive blows were struck, and where, thier around the Lech; but no offenpossibly, disasters might be incurred, sive operations were to be commenced Berthier was despatched early in April before the arrival of the Emperor, who to assume the command of the whole was expected about the middle of April. until the arrival of the Emperor-a To all who were acquainted with the convenient arrangement, as, if his ope- character of his movements, it was evirations proved successful, they would, dent that the moment he arrived, and of course, be ascribed to the intelli- deemed himself in sufficient strength, gence and ability of his superior in he would commence a furious onset,, command; if the reverse, the whole and pour with concentrated masses blame of a miscarriage might be laid down the valley of the Danube. upon himself. From the period of his arrival, the whole troops, both French and those of the Confederation of the Rhine, were formed into one army, to be called the army of Germany. It was divided into eight corps, commanded by the most distinguished marshals in the French service, and mustered two hundred thousand effective men. The Emperor was indefatigable in his efforts to provide subsistence, clothing, and ammunition for * Second corps, Marshal Lannes, Seventh, 325,000 22. The cabinet of Vienna took the initiative. On the 8th of April, the Austrian troops crossed the frontiers: at once on the Inn, in Bohemia, in the Tyrol, and in Italy. Had the original plan of the Aulic Council been followed out,† and the Archduke Charles, at the head of a hundred thousand men, debouched from Bohemia, midway between the Maine and the Black Forest, and advanced towards Mannheim, this commencement of hostilities might MEN. the outset of the campaign were, "to ad50,000 vance in large masses, and attack the French Davoust, 60,000 army wherever it might assemble, either on Massena, 50,000 the Maine, the Naab, or the Danube. Should a Lefebvre, 34,000 French corpsenter Bavaria, the grand Austrian Augereau, 20,000 | army was not to swerve from its direction, but Ninth, Saxon confederBernadotte, 50,000 trust to arresting the movement on Bavaria, ation and French, by threatening the advancing corps on the Tenth, King of Westphalia, 25,000 side of Ratisbon or Donauwörth. If Marshal Imperial Guard, 22,000 Davoust retired in order to avoid any engageReserve cavalry, Marshal Bessières, 14,000 ment before the arrival of his reinforcements, the grand Austrian army was nevertheless to continue to advance with all possible expedition, and take up a central position between the Black Forest and the Maine, and there be regulated by the forces of the enemy, and the chances of successful operations which were afforded. The issue of the war depends on this operation, and on the issue of the first battle, which will, in all probability, if successful, rouse the malcontents of Baireuth, overawe Saxony, and bring over to the stan dards of Austria great part of the troops of the Confederation of the Rhine which are now arrayed against her."- STUTTERHEIM, 64-69; PELET, i. 194. and 400 pieces of cannon. But at least one hundred thousand of them had not yet arrived: the Guard and reserve cavalry were on their march from Spain; Bernadotte's corps was still at a distance in the north of Germany; and the contingents of the Confederation of the Rhine were far from being complete. Still a hundred and forty thousand French troops and sixty thousand of those of the Confederation might be relied on for active operations in the valley of the Danube.-THIBAUDEAU, vii. 14. The instructions of the Aulic Council in |