~ 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. ibe By 6 
against them.* To recapitulate the 
mistakes and oversights of the dis- 
astrens campaign that followed, 
would be a task as useless as it 
would be painful. Suflice it to say, 
that the armies of Austria were 
ruined without a battle ; her capital 
was taken without resistance ; and 
scarcely had the miserable remains of 
her army joined the Russians, 
who were coming up to their as- 
sistance, when they were compelled 
to hazard an’ engagement, which 
decided the fate of Europe, and 
completed the triumph of France 
over the continent. In this too 
memorable action it is trué that a 
small part only of the Russian army 
was engaged. But, as the French 
justly boasted, the secret of the 
Russians was discovered, and the 
inferiority of their blind, though 
steady courage, when tried against 
the disciplined valour and scientifie 
tactics‘ of their opponents, was but 
too clearly and fully -ascertained. 
Russia, indeed, was still unconscious 
and unapprehensive of this truth. 
Further and more severe lessons 
from experience, were necessary to 
convince her, that the power of an 
empire is not tobe measured by its 
extent, and that Serfs and wander- 
ing Barbarians are removed by an 
immense interval from an equality 
with the civilized nations of the 
_ west of Europe. 
After the peace of Presburgh, 
France was at liberty to direct her 
whole force and energies to the 
subjugation of England. No lon- 
ger deterred from invasion by the 
fear.of a continental confederacy, 
she had only to decide what was 
the most expedient and practicable 
mode of conducting it. ‘If it ap- 
peared possible to convert the Bou- 
logne flotilla to any useful purpose, 
and employ it in the service for 
which it was prepared, Bonaparte 
might now risk a part of his army 
in such an expedition, without fear- 
ing amutiny of his troops, or re- 
bellion of his people, in case it 
failed. Iftransports and ships -of 
war were thought neccessary for 
carrying over his army, he had 
(besides the ports of France) Flush- 
ing and Ferro), and Lisbon (when 
he chose), to receive and giys shel- 
ter to the naval forces which he 
destined for the enterprise. If 
England had nothing to apprehend 
from any number of troops, which 
he could land upon her shores, 
there were other parts of the Bri. 
tish empire, not equal'y invelnera. 
ble to his attacks. Ircland was ex- 
posed by her grievances to the se- 
duction of his emissaries, and easily 
accessible by her situation to the 
invasion of his army.  [tebellion 
had in that country been put dowa, 
but discontent still existed in the 
minds of the people. The fire, 
which had lately blazed with such 
fury, was smothered, but not extin- 
guished. The late rejection of the 
Catholic petition by parliament 
had not tended to conciliate that 
body : and, though the more mede- 
rate of the Catholics were ready to 
postpone the discussion of their 
claims, till the ouly obstacle to the 
_.* “ The arrival of the second Russian army was delayed more than a month by 
_the first armaments which the court of Berlin threatened to oppose to those of 
Russia.” Extract from a memoir on the situation of affairs, communicated by 
Count Stahremburg. Sup. Papers, p, 52. 
B 
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