of her former power and consequence. She was even justifiable in keeping her forces continually upon the war establishment, provided the state of her finances admitted it; for France, and the other states which had been raised up by France to menace or oppose her, were continually growing more warlike, not more by the increase of their forces, than by the spirit which the military nature of their governments infused into their subjects, and the skill and experience with which continued hostilities supplied them. France found fault with Austria, because the latter placed her forces on the war establishment; and yet France; under the gross and futile pretence of invading England, not only kept up but increased the number of her troops, after the peace of Presburgh. Under the common circumstances of a recent peace, it has always been usual, and justifiable, for the nation which has suffered most by the war, to endeavour to repair her losses. But Austria had additional reasons for endeavouring to regain, as speedily as possible, as great a portion of her former power as her reduced territory and means would allow. We have seen, that she could scarcely be said to be actually at peace during the whole period that elapsed from the treaty of Presburgh to the recommencement of hostilities. Without the chance of success that war holds out, she was obliged to submit to have territory ravaged or wrested from her, and ber subjects stript of their com merce. We are not now inquiring how far it was prudent for Austria to give even a colourable pretext to the insults and encroachments of Bonaparte. But certainly that state deserved not to continue in

dependent one moment, who, continually liable to menace and exaction, and not even suffered to reap the few and trivial advantages held out to her by a harsh and ignominious peace, did not eagerly and unhesitatingly resolve to place herself, as soon as possible, in such a condition as should secure her from future outrage, and command the performance of all that the faith of treaties constituted her right.”

There is yet another consideration, which justifies Austria in doing every thing in her power to reestablish her finances and her military system. It would have been the extreme of folly to disbelieve that Bonaparte had determined on the utter destruction of the Austrian monarchy. It may be permitted to linger out a few years, occasionally and by degrees. narrowed in its territory, and reduced in its consideration and influence. But fall it must, if Bonaparte is permitted to be the lord and scourge of Europe till he has accomplished his plans. Do not the anticipation of this day of final ruin, therefore, and the certainty of intermediate acts of dismemberment and oppression, most satisfactorily justify Austria in clinging even to the feeble hope of retarding or warding them off, which a careful and constant attention to her remaining strength and resources holds out?

If we inquire into the prudence of the emperor Francis in provoking, or not averting by every means in his power, the renewal of war with Bonaparte, we must precede our inquiry by a simple interrogation. What means would have been sufficient to have averted it ?— None, assuredly, but such as would have compromised his honour and duty as a monarch, and sacrificed

.the

the independence of the Austrian nation. What Bonaparte required of him as the proof of his friendly intentions, and the price of peace, would have had, if possible, still worse consequences. Austria has been blamed for not acceding to the demands of Bonaparte in every respect, and thus putting off the day of hostility till she were better prepared for it. But Bonaparte demanded that she should not continue her preparations: he demanded not only that she should continue at peace for the present, but that she should not presume to render herself capable of entering into war against him at any future period. How then could Austria, if she had purchased the continuance of peace by sacrificing her means of war, have ever restored herself to the condition of effectually opposing France? Prudence, therefore, if by prudence be meant the clear foresight and just calculation of consequences, as far as they will affect our interest, and a corresponding line of conduct, appears to have been nearly out of the question;— or, to speak more correctly, prudence, unable to decide, must have given way, and left the decision to The feelings of indignation against the oppressor, and the determination to hazard all in preference to further submission to his will.

In one respect, indeed, events appeared favourable to Austria, and in such a state as probably would not soon occur again. The insurrection in Spain had rendered necessary there the presence of Bonaparte and a large portion of his troops: the distance was great between that country and Austria, and

the nature of the contest in which the French armies were engaged, rendered it likely that it would be not only arduous but of long duration. If the emperor Francis hesitated before, whether he should prefer open hostility to the continuance of a peace productive of few advantages and of no security, and attended with an expense nearly equal to that of war, the situation of affairs in Spain terminated his doubts, and determined him no longer to purchase the temporary and partial forbearance of Bonaparte at the price of the independence of his monarchy.

It may, then, be fairly concluded that the emperor Francis had an undoubted right to restore his state, by every means which the unfortunate change of circumstances in which he was placed would admit, as nearly as possible to its former strength and importance ;to supply it with those military resources, which might command more respect to its independence, and relieve it from continued vexation and dismemberment ;--and that, in the embarrassed and difficult situation into which he had been thrown by the insatiable ambition of Bonaparte, justice, a sense of his own dignity, a proper regard to the rights and liberties of his subjects, and even a sound though a melancholy and desperate policy, all conspired to point out the very precarious chance of bettering his fate, which renewed hostilities held out, to the sufferance of those evils of which he was not permitted to prepare or to hope for any termination.

CHAP.

TOW

NOWARDS the end of March and the beginning of April preparations for war were carried on by both parties with uncommon vigour and activity. The court of Vienna, as if sensible of the causes to which in a great measure its former misfortunes had been owing, adopted in almost every respect a different line of conduct from what it had pursued in its previous wars with France. Having placed its army, in point of numbers, on what was deemed an adequate establishment, it next directed its continued and zealous efforts towards the organization and discipline requisite to give efficiency to its numerical strength. The blind and bigoted policy which had hitherto made advancement or rank depend upon antiquity of birth and illustrious descent, was in a great measure relaxed. Different officers, who had distinguished themselves in former campaigns by superior skill or courage, were advanced to a higher rank, and placed in a more extensive sphere of action, in order that their country might receive the 1809.

greatest benefit from their talents and exertions.

The army was divided into nine corps, which were commanded by the archdukes, and by generals Lichtenstein, Rosenberg, Klenau, and Bellegarde. The archduke Charles, freed from the interference of the aulic council, was appointed generalissimo and invested with the highest and most unlimited powers ever granted to an Austrian commander. Large bodies of reserve were established and regularly trained, for the purpose of supply. ing the losses of war with troops in no small degree instructed in its duties. The students of the universities and the high schools manifested their zeal for their country, by enrolling themselves in separate corps for the defence of the capital.

Early in March the ceremony of consecrating the colours of the Vi enna volunteers took place: they amounted to 8000 men, and presented a noble spectacle of military enthusiasm and discipline, which they were anxious to direct to the defence and preservation of their country's

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country's independence. The archduke Charles addressed them in terms at once animating and flattering. He expressed his firm reliance on their courage and support, if their country should ever demand their services: wherever danger, there should he confidently expect to meet them at the call of honour and their country he knew he should find them present, active, and zealous; and they might rest assured that at that call they would find him at his post.

The Austrians assembled four armies. One was stationed in Bohemia, threatening by its position and its movements the territories of the king of Saxony; another was collected in the southern provinces of the empire, for the purpose of supporting the Tyrolese, in case they should revolt against the Bavarians, and of watching and keep ing in check the French army of Italy; the third was stationed near Saltzburgh, for the purpose either of acting separately, or in conjunction with the fourth grand army, which, under the command of the archduke Charles, threatened the invasion of Bavaria, from its position between the Inn and the Ilier.

The force on which Bonaparte, principally relied at the commencement of the war, consisted of the troops of Bavaria, Wirtemburg, and the confederation of the Rhine. The Bavarian was formed in three divisions: the duke of Dantzic assumed the temporary command of it and the other allied troops till the arrival of Bonaparte. He established a chain of advanced posts along the banks of the Iser. In the mean time the whole of the north and west of Germany and the interior of France was stripped of troops,

which proceeded by forced and rapid marches towards the Danube. It does not appear that Bonaparte drew any forces out of Spain, except the imperial guard. On the side of Italy, prince Eugene, the viceroy of that country, had concentrated a formidable army. The greater number of the Saxon troops were stationed near Dresden, in order to protect their capital from the Austrian army in Bohemia. They were commanded by the prince of Ponte Corvo.

Before the actual commencement of hostilities, the archduke Charles issued a proclamation of war in the form of an address to the soldiers of Austria. "The protection of your country demands your services, and calls you to new scenes of honour and glory. While peace could be preserved consistently with the independence of Austria, as long as it could be purchased by sacrifices consistent with the security of the throne and the welfare of the people, your sovereign bore his individual insults and sufferings in silence. But now it is no longer his fate that is threatened; you, your fathers, your brothers, your sons, and your nearest and dearest relations are the objects of that relentless and insatiable ambition, which has already spread desolation and misery through such a large portion of Europe, from the palace even to the humblest cottage.

"Every man who feels for human nature, who wishes to rescue her from further wretchedness, fixes his eyes on you. Your country implores you to interpose your powerful arm between her and degradation and slavery. I call not on you to engage in a war foreign to your interests, or indifferent or repugnant to your feelings. In the midst of all you hold dear, in the

sight of those who are too weak to protect themselves, you are to stand forth to defend or avenge them. No drop of your blood shall be spilt for any objects but such as you deem worthy of such a sacrifice. You are not called forth to draw your swords in a cause which shall render you the curse of your fellow-creatures. You are destined to a more honourable lot :-the Liberty of Europe, driven from her accustomed habitations, has taken refuge under your banners.

"When the enemy tauntingly and boastfully recall to our remembrance the fields of Ulm and Marengo, shall we forget the glorious deeds which have rendered our name immortal, at Wurtsburgh, Zurich, Verona, and Novi? By that spirit of patriotism and valour which there conducted the Austrian soldiers to victory, we will now conquer a lasting and honourable peace to our country. And to secure the attainment of this noble and inspiriting object, I know you will clothe yourselves with every military virtue that is necessary to acquire it. You possess true fortitude; you are warmed with a true patriotism; you will therefore exhibit the genuine accompaniments of these virtues. Unconditional submission, the strictest discipline, courage cool and steady, active and unremitted in attaining its object, patient and persevering in the midst of difficulty and disaster; singleness of will, and a joint cooperation of the whole, must conduct us to victory, and, through victory, to the gratitude of our preserved

country.

"If you are such as I now describe you, and confidently trust you will be, you will be formidable to your enemies; but you must also resolve to complete the character of the

patriotic soldier; of the soldier who takes up arms only in his country's cause; and be mild, compassionate and humane towards the unarmed citizen and peasant. You know the evils of war; I trust you know also how to inflict them :-let them be terrible in your hands towards the enemies of your liberty; to him who injures you not, be as protectors.

"I am invested by our sovereign and my brother with full powers to reward and punish. My heart will beat with the purest pleasure each time I am called upon to distinguish and reward you. I shall suffer more than the criminal himself whom it is necessary for me to punish; but when punishment is requisite, it shall be inflicted. My regard for my country, and for the cause in which she is about to be engaged; my respect for the character of a soldier, and my attachment to you, my dear brothersoldiers, will compel me to inflict exemplary punishment on every action which would hazard the safety of that country, degrade a profession, to which I am proud to belong, or lessen the esteem in which I would always hold my fellow-warriors and fellow-countrymen."

On the 9th of April the archduke Charles, having established his staff and head-quarters at Lintz, sent formal notice to the French general commanding in Bavaria, that he had received orders from the emperor of Austria, to advance with the troops under his command, and to treat as enemies all who should oppose him. In consequence of this notice, the king of Bavaria quitted his capital, and repaired to Augsburgh. On the 10th of the same month the Austrians, having thrown a bridge of boats over the 2 B2

Inn,