views of
political philosophy will go down to posterity as the most enlightened
that ever flowed from a human mind.

MILITARY AFFAIRS ON THE CONTINENT.

During this year France had three objects in contemplation: an invasion
of Germany, another of Italy, and the subjugation of La Vendee.

In Germany the Austrian army was headed by the Archduke Charles of
Austria, with whom was joined the veteran Wurmser. Under them were
175,000 troops, of which 40,000 were the finest cavalry in Europe. They
defended the entrance of Germany on the side of the Rhine; and Jourdan
and Moreau were despatched with 150,000 men against them; the former
approaching the empire by the Upper Rhine, and the latter directing his
course through Suabia. At first the French were eminently successful.
They drove all the Austrian corps back from the frontiers; deprived
them of their magazines, cannon, and arms; and threatened the hereditary
states. Within six weeks the Austrians were reduced by a third of their
original force--partly by loss and partly by drafts out of it for
the service in Italy; and the French armies covered the country from
Stutgard to the Lake of Constance, a line of one hundred and fifty
miles. But at this point their successes ended. Perceiving their error
in thus extending their front, the Archduke Charles narrowed his own,
and gradually bringing nearer to a converging point the separate
forces of Wartensleben and Wurmser, he slowly retreated; watching his
opportunity for striking a blow. At length, when Moreau had captured Ulm
and Donawert, on the Danube, and was preparing to cross the river Leek
into Bavaria, and thence to move onward to the defiles of the Tyrol, the
Archduke Charles fell upon Jourdan at Amberg, and completely defeated
him. This occurred on the 24th of August; and on the 3rd of September
the archduke overtook the republicans again at Maine, where he once more
thinned their ranks. Still pressing on their rear, the republicans fell
into a miserably disorganized state; and on the 16th of September
the archduke came up with them at Aschaffenburg, and drove them with
terrible loss to the opposite side of the Rhine. In the whole, Jourdan
lost 20,000 men, and nearly all his artillery and baggage. Moreau was
too far off to render him any assistance; and he could neither advance
nor maintain himself where he was without him. Under these circumstances
he commenced his retreat with 70,000 men, followed by the imperi