n troops had plucked the laurels which
the French had gained in Italy from their brows. Thus situated the
French government sent Massena across the Alps, together with generals
Soult, Oudinot, and Brune, to refix the national banners on the banks
of the Po. Their efforts were vain; Massena was finally driven by the
Austrians within the ramparts of Genoa. Assisted by a British squadron
the Austrians formed the siege of Genoa; and Massena had in a little
time no other alternative but to force his way through the enemy or to
surrender. In this emergency Soult attempted to open the blockade, and
leading on his division he attacked their fortified post of Monte
Creto, and penetrated into the enemy's camp. But his career was checked.
Recovering from their surprise, the Austrians met the French with
firmness, and they were put to flight. Massena was obliged to
capitulate, and Genoa was evacuated. But here the success of the allied
armies was checked. Giving the command of the Rhine to Moreau, Napoleon
assumed the direction of the army of Italy. A battle was fought in
the plain of Marengo, which annihilated the fruit of all the Austrian
victories in the preceding campaign, and put Italy again under the
power of France. Melas saw himself forced, by the hopelessness of
his position, to the proposal of an armistice as the only means of
deliverance; and it was granted upon these conditions:--that the
Austrians should retreat beyond the Mincio; and that Genoa, Tortona,
Alessandria, Turin, Arona, Coni, Ceva, Savona, Milan, and several
other-cities, with all Piedmont and Liguria, and nearly all Cis-alpinia
should be given up to the French government. The star of Napoleon shone
more brilliant than ever; and leaving the Italian army under Massena, he
returned to Paris to reap the fruit of his conquest.

In the meantime the Austrians had been likewise defeated in Germany.
On the 25th of April Moreau crossed the Rhine upon six points; and
in several battles at Enger, Stockach, and Moesskirch, defeated
Field-marshal Kray, who was now at the head of the Austrian troops. Kray
was compelled to retreat before him; and Moreau finally occupied a large
part of Bavaria as well as Munich. Lecourbe also drove the Austrians
from the Grisons and entered the Tyrol; while on the left another army
of French and Batavians were preparing to penetrate into Franconia
and Bohemia. The court of Vienna now sued for an armistice, which was
granted; and on the 28