FRANCE. 393 



of their plan. Before they could determine -whether they should 

 proceed or abandon their designs, they were discovered and appre- 

 hended by the spies and agents of Bonaparte. Pichegru was found 

 dead in his bed, in prison, before his trial, having died, as was said, 

 by his own hands ; Georges and eleven others suffered death by the 

 guillotine ; and Moreau, who was condemned to two years imprison- 

 ment, was afterwards permitted, by the despot, to take his departure 

 for America. 



In consequence of this conspiracy, the abject and venal senate of 

 Bonaparte, at the suggestion of his creatures, solicited him to take on 

 himself the imperial dignity, and declare it hereditary in his family, un- 

 der pretence that the government of the republic would thus become 

 permanently established, and secure from the attacks of all its ene- 

 mies. This application was made by the senate, in a body, on the 

 20th of May, 1804; and the first consul was graciously pleased, for 

 the good of his country, to comply with their request, and accord- 

 ingly assumed the title of Emperor of the French ; and appointed 

 his imperial highness prince Joseph Bonaparte, grand elector; and 

 his imperial highness prince Louis Bonaparte, constable of the em- 

 pire. His two colleagues, the second and third consuls, having prov- 

 ed their fidelity to him by not interfering in the smallest degree in 

 the affairs of government, except as directed by him, were gratified 

 with the high-sounding titles of arch-chancellor and arch-treasurer 

 of the empire. 



Bonaparte's elevation to the throne of France, added to several 

 other circumstances, aroused anew the jealousy of Russia, and a co- 

 alition between that power, Sweden, Austria, and Great Britain, was 

 formed. The events of this war have been noticed in our account of 

 Russia. In 1805 Bonaparte was crowned king of Italy. 



The good understanding subsisting between the court of Naples 

 and that of England, had long given offence to the emperor of France. 

 He had determined, if possible, to exclude the British altogether 

 from the trade of the continent, and this was one of the principal ob- 

 jects of dispute between him and the northern powers. They had 

 been compelled to submit, and the like terms must be exacted from 

 Naples. The king, however, persisted in refusing to give up his 

 British connexions, and Bonaparte accordingly declared that he had 

 forfeited his crown. He appointed his brother Joseph Bonaparte 

 king of Naples, and sent a powerful army under Massena, Regnier, 

 and Lacy, to assist in placing him upon the throne. The government 

 of Naples, not having troops sufficient to resist so formidable a force, 

 retired under the protection of the English to Sicily, and soon after 

 Capua, Peschari, and Naples, surrendered to the French. The pea- 

 santry of Calabria resisted their invaders with the most desperate 

 bravery, and the fortress of Gaeta sustained a long and obstinate 

 siege. About this time a British force of about 5000 men, com- 

 manded by general Stuart, landed at St. Euphemia. Regnier imme- 

 diately advanced with 7000 men to attack them, and on the 4th of 

 July, 1806, a severe action was fought, in which the French were 

 completely routed. This splendid affair was however attended with 

 but little advantage ; as general Stuart soon after re-embarked for Si- 

 cily. The Calabrians were overpowered ; Gaeta was finally obliged 

 to surrender ; and king Joseph obtained complete possession of his 

 new dominions. 



Prussia, who, during the late war, had viewed the disasters of her 



Vol. I. - 3 E 



