HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
f 
any place. The garrison was re- 
duced to almost every species of 
hardship and distress, and yet un- 
defwent the severest duties and fa- 
tigues, with a cheerfulness and for- 
titude that never slackened in the. 
multiplicity of trials that daily arose 
from the indefatigable activity of 
the besiegers. 
The siege of this important fort- 
ress had now Jasied seven months. 
Marshal Wurmser, who had ‘as 
gallantly, as skilfully, forced his 
way to the city, through so many 
obstacles, had so much revived the 
courage of the garrison, that, under 
his command, they began to enter- 
tain fresh hope of a successful re- 
sistance. He was upwards of se- 
venty : but age seemed to have had 
no other effect upon him, than to 
increase his experience. His active 
disposition remained unimpaired, 
and no officer under him exceeded 
the vigour “and celerity of action 
which he displayed upon every oc- 
casion. He not- only concerted, 
but personally conducted every plan 
that was executed for the preser- 
vation of Mantud. He acquired by 
his unremitited efforts and valour, 
the particular esteem of Buona- 
parte, who ranked him above any 
general with whom he had ccn- 
tended. ‘ 
His ather opponent, Alvinzi, was 
now unable to encounter him in 
the field, and had cantoned the 
shattered remains of his defeated 
army, in various positions along the 
northern side of the Brenta, await- 
ing the supplies that were collecting 
with all diligence in the emperor's 
hereditary dominions. So great were 
the efforts of the Austrian govern- 
ment, that, before the end of De- 
cember, Alvinzi saw himself at fhe 
head of a complete aud regular 
[5 
army, the fifth that had been 
brought together to oppose the 
French, during this eventful cam- 
paign. 
Buonaparte, who had calenlated 
the surrender of Mantua, previously 
to the renewal of hostilities with 
Alvinzi, was: how necessitated to 
resume offensive operations against 
him, before he could arrive at this 
important acquisition. He had, at 
the same time, other objects in con- 
templation :thesettlement of thetwo 
republics that were forming on the 
north and on the south of the Po, and 
the suppression of the attemp{s ma- 
king by the pope, to resist the designs 
formed against him by the French. 
The forces which the pope had 
collected were not, indeed, tormi- 
dable, either for military fame or 
numbers. It is not te be supposed, 
that this pontiff was so weak as to 
suppose that they could, of them- 
selves, make any tolerable stand 
against the French ; but it was pos- 
sible, that his courageous example 
might re-animate’religious zeal, and 
inspire resolution into the sovereigns 
and subjects of other states. His 
holiness, therefore, put his troops, 
such as they were, in march towards 
Romagna, to watch the states of 
Reggio, Ferrara, Bologna, and Mo- 
dena, which had declared them- 
selves independent: and also in or 
der 10 favour the escape of general 
Wurmser in the Ferrarese, or into 
the ecclesiastical states, in case of 
necessity, from Mantua. 
Buit, as these appeared objects 
of a secondary consideration, when 
weighed with the former, the French 
commander resolved at once to take 
the field against the new army of 
Austrians, prepared to dispute once 
more the sovereignty of Italy, con- 
fident, that if fortune again favoured 
[B 3] him, 
