1 A. D. 1796. YEAR OF GEORGE III. 36 & 37. PARLIAMENT 6 & 1. - Remaining Parliamentary Proceedings. Entire Reduction of the - THE remaining proceedings of Parliament during the winter and spring session afforded few matters worthy of commemoration. Taxes were a principal topic of discussion, the hitherto unprecedented introduction of two loans in one session, amounting together to twentyfive and a half millions, having rendered it necessary to propose various new objects of taxation. Attacks were made on the ministry relative to several circumstances in the conduct of the war, but they were so well fenced by decisive majorities, that their stability was not in the least affected by such skirmishing. The session closed as early as May 19th, with a speech from the throne, in which allusion was made to the happy effects experienced from the provisions adopted for suppressing sedition, and restraining the progress of principles subversive of all established government. An intention was disclosed of calling a new parliament; and the highest encomiums were bestowed on the conduct of the present parliament through all the unprecedented difficulties which had occurred from the time of its first assembling. The French government, previously to entering upon the plan which they had formed for the continental campaign, determined to put a period to those domestic disturbances which had so long impeded the foreign exertions of the new republic. The Vendeans and Chouans, still unalterably attached to the cause of royalty, and maintaining connections with the enemies of the existing authority, remained in arms under their leaders Charette and Stofflet, though their hostilities were now confined to petty and cursory actions. Hoche, the republican commander-in-chief, found it no easy task to clear the country of the numerous and scattered bands of insurgents; and much reciprocal loss was sustained in a species of warfare in which quarter was rarely given, and opportunity was afforded of every kind of annoyance. At length Charette was totally defeated, his followers completely dispersed, and after wandering some time in the disguise of a peasant, he was discovered and taken. Being tried and condemned, he was executed at Nantes on April 28th. Stofflet, who had also been made prisoner, suffered death two months before; and of the other leaders, thirteen fell in battle, and ten others were executed. The directory then tried lenient methods for bringing over the remaining malcontents, which so well succeeded, that at the end of April no others remained in arms than a few who had taken to a predatory way of life. The last campaign on the Rhine having terminated to the advantage of the Austrians, who were preparing to cross that river in great force, it was determined by the French government to make a powerful diversion in Italy to the Emperor's arms, and to cut off his supplies from that country. The directory, therefore, after issuing an animated address to the different armies previously to their taking the field, placed a body of veteran troops somewhat exceeding 50,000 men under the command of Buonaparte, who had acquired their confidence by his behaviour at the Paris insurrection, and had established a high reputation by the display, on different occasions, of those extraordinary talents for war which afterwards raised him to the summit of power and fame. He began his operations in the month of April by advancing from the neighbourhood of Genoa against General Beaulieu, who, with a combined army of Piedmontese and Austrians, was posted on the opposite ridge of mountains. In the space of five days the French gained three victories. The Piedmontese, being afterwards separated from the Austrians, were obliged after two defeats to retire to the vicinity of Turin; and the King of Sardinia found himself in so hazardous a situation, that he made overtures to Buonaparte for a peace. In order to obtain a suspension of arms he was obliged to deliver two strong towns to the French by way of pledges, and to send commissioners to treat at Paris. The Austrians, thus deprived of their ally, fell back to the Milanese, and crossed the Po. The King of Sardinia was constrained to submit to such conditions of peace as the conquerors pleased to impose, which were, that he should cede to them Savoy, with the city and territory of Nice, and a tract of land named by the French the department of the Maritime Alps. A new frontier was arranged, much to the advantage of the republic; and the King consented to withdraw from the coalition, and to make an apology for his past hostility. By this event the barrier of the Alps interposed between France and Italy was effectually broken. Buonaparte immediately after the suspension of arms with the Sardinians, advanced against the Austrians, and having crossed the Po opposite Placentia, defeated two divisions of their troops which opposed his progress, and struck so much terror into the Duke of Parma, that he requested an armistice. This was granted only on the terms of his paying a large contribution, and delivering to the French twenty capital paintings to be chosen by them, and also of his sending commissioners to treat of peace at Paris. The road being now open to Milan, Buonaparte resolved to signalize himself by the reduction of that capital of Austrian Lombardy. Beaulieu interposed to save it, by occupying the town of Lodi, and its bridge across the Adda. On May 10th, the French General arrived at the spot, and led in person the flower of his troops to the attack of the bridge, defended by all the Austrian artillery. The fire was tremendous, but nothing could resist the impetuosity of the assailants. The bridge was carried, the Austrian line on the opposite side was forced, and Beaulieu retreated under the cover of night. He withdrew towards Mantua pursued by the enemy; and Buonaparte, with the main army, after taking Pavia, entered Milan five days subsequently to the battle. A detachment of the French having occupied the Duchy of Modena, its sovereign, who had fled to Venice, sent a minister to request a suspension of hostilities, which was granted on terms similar to those required of the Duke of Parma. The exactions of the French, their spoliations of the precious remains of art, their manners and principles, and their enmity to the nobility and clergy, excited such an odium against them in Italy, that a general insurrection was planned in the parts of Lombardy of which they had taken possession, which was to break out on the 24th of May. Buonaparte, who had left Milan, immediately upon receiving the intelligence of its commencement, hastened back to that city, and by measures of severity reduced it to order. He then proceeded to Pavia, where the insurgents had seized the citadel, making prisoners of the French garrison. The gates were soon burst open, and the men set free; and the promoters of the insurrection being shot, a number of hostages were taken for the peaceable behaviour of the other citizens. By measures of equal vigour the country was reduced to submission, and the general proceeded to the prosecution of his other designs. The Austrians having withdrawn the relics of their forces into the Venetian territory, Buonaparte resolved to pursue them thither, after giving notice of his intention to the Senate of Venice. That body, whose policy it has always been to pay the greatest deference to power, on the approach of the French gave notice to the eldest brother of the late King of France, then called by the royalists Louis XVIII. to quit their territories in which he had taken shelter; they had however connived at the taking possession of Peschiera by Beaulieu. The French drove him from thence, when he crossed the Adige, breaking down its bridges to secure his retreat into Tyrol. On June 3d, Buonaparte occupied Verona, and on the following day invested Mantua. He was however unable to do more than blockade the place, being obliged to send large detachments of his army to repress the hostility of the districts called the Imperial Fiefs. He then invaded the Papal territory, and took possession of several of its principal towns; and the Pope, being entirely without the means of resistance, sued for an armistice, which was granted upon the conditions of his surrendering Bologna, Ferrara, and their territories, with the citadel of Ancona, and yielding up a large number of pictures and statues, and some hundreds of manuscripts from the Vatican. A suspension of arms was concluded with the King of Naples upon more equal terms. In order to deprive the English commerce of access to the north of Italy, the directory caused the port of Leghorn to be occupied by French troops. The castle of Milan capitulated to |