ese disturbances in the French capital might have contributed
to the indecision of the Austrian cabinet during this autumn, we know
not. Five months had now elapsed since the armistice after Marengo; and
the First Consul, utterly disgusted with the delay, determined to resume
arms, and to be first in the field. Between the 17th and the 27th of
November his generals received orders to set all their troops once more
in motion. Everywhere the French arms had splendid success. Brune
defeated the Austrians on the Mincio, and advanced within a few miles of
Venice. Macdonald occupied the mountains of the Tyrol, and was prepared
to reinforce either the army of Italy or that of the Rhine, as might be
desired. Moreau, finally, advanced into the heart of Germany, and was
met by the Archduke John of Austria, who obtained considerable
advantages in an affair at Haag. The Archduke, elated by this success,
determined on a general engagement, and appeared in front of the French
on the evening of the 2nd December, at Hohenlinden, between the Inn and
the Iser.[40] At seven, on the morning of the 3rd, the conflict began.
The deep snow had obliterated the tracks of roads; several Austrian
columns were bewildered; and either came not at all into their
positions, or came too late. Yet the battle was obstinate and severe:
10,000 Imperialists were left dead on the field: and Moreau, improving
his success, marched on immediately, and occupied Salzburg.

The Austrian capital now lay exposed to the march of three victorious
armies; and the Emperor was at last compelled to release himself from
his English obligations, and negotiate in sincerity for a separate
peace. Mr. Pitt himself considered the prosecution of the continental
war as for the time hopeless. On reading the bulletin of Marengo, he
said, "Fold up that map" (the map of Europe); "it will not be wanted for
these twenty years."

A definitive treaty was signed at Luneville on the 9th February, 1801;
by which the Emperor, not only as the head of the Austrian monarchy, but
also in his quality of Chief of the German empire, guaranteed to France
the boundary to the Rhine; thereby sacrificing certain possessions of
Prussia and other subordinate princes of the empire, as well as his own.
Another article, extremely distasteful to Austria, yielded Tuscany;
which Napoleon resolved to transfer to a prince of the House of Parma,
in requital of the good offices of Spain during the war. The Emperor
r