“GENERAL 
lord Bentinck, that the hostilities 
commenced against him were not 
the result of a settled plan; and, 
moreover, that England was likely 
to take a part inthe war if it should 
be continued, he had determined 
upon a retrograde movement ; that 
he had made overtures tothe Court 
of Vienna, from which he ex- 
pecteda happy issue, and therefore 
proposed an armistice to prevent 
unnecessary bloodshed. The only 
answer which this singular expla- 
nation of his conduct received was, 
that positive orders had been given 
for continuing military operations 
with vigour. Indeed, it cannot 
be doubted, that the Austrian 
Emperor and his allies were well 
pleased that they had so good a 
plea, for dethroning one, whose 
possession of a crown conquered 
from its hereditary owner, made a 
breach in their system of resto- 
ration. 
On the 27th, Joachim had 
fallen back as far as Pesaro, - ge- 
neral Bianchi was now marching 
with celerity from Bolognathrough 
Florence and Foligno, in order to 
occupy the direct road from An- 
cona to Naples, and thereby to 
turn the positions of the Neapolitan 
army. On May the 2nd, he took a 
position in front of Tolentino, 
which rendered it necessary for 
Joachim to venture a battle, for 
the purpose of securing a retreat 
to the Neapolitan frontier. Ad- 
vancing from Maserata with a 
much superior force, on the same 
day he attacked the positions of 
Bianchi, and thecontest continued 
till the approach of night. On 
the following morning, the attacks 
were renewed with great vigour, 
and were resisted with equal 
HIsTORY. 77 
end to the combat. The arrival 
of count Neipperg at Jesi, now 
obliged the Neapolitans to com- 
mence a precipitate retreat in the 
direction of Fermo, in order to 
gain the road along the sea-coast 
to Pescara. General Nugent, who 
had entered Rome, marched from 
that capital in the beginning of 
May towards the Neapolitan fron- 
tier on-that side, the enemy re- 
tiring before him. They were at 
length driven beyond the Garig- 
liano’ to San Germano, to which 
they were followed by the Aus- 
trian advanced guard. On the 
14th, Joachim arrived at San Ger- 
mano, and his troops being con- 
siderably reinforced, he drove 
back the advanced guard, and af- 
terwards attacked all the Austrian 
out-posts. On the 15th he began 
again to retire, and returning 
with a small escort to San Ger- 
mano, he soon left that place. 
Nugent resuming the ‘offensive, 
advanced against the enemy, who 
were posted on the banks of the 
Melfa, which they quitted on his 
approach. They afterwards left 
San Germano to their pursuers, 
and fell back to Mignano, where 
they drew up in force. In that 
position they were attacked, and 
put to the rout; and thus the 
Neapolitan army, named that of 
the Interior, was entirely broken 
up. On the 18th, a junction was 
formed at the Austrian camp, near 
Calvi, of Bianchi’s army with that 
-of Nugent, who had now no op- 
ponents in the field, the wretched 
remains of the. Neapolitan army 
being reduced, chiefly by deser- 
tion, to a dispirited band of about 
sixteen thousand effective soldiers 
_W ‘of all kinds. 
obstinacy, till night again put an - 
In consequence of arrangements 
