FRA 
from thofe forms, ncceflary perhaps to difguife the de- 
pendence of feeble dates, but only betraying in powerful 
ones the mutual delire of deceiving each other. 
“ France and England, by the abufeof their refpeftive 
refources, might (till for a long time continue a conteft 
involving the mifery of other countries; but I dare ven¬ 
ture to albert, that the fate of all civilifed nations is con¬ 
nected with the conclufion of a war which has fet the 
whole world in commotion. 
(Signed) Bonaparte.” 
Lord Grenville, on the 4th of January 1800, anfwered 
Talleyrand by oblerving, “That the king of England, 
feeing no reafon for departing from the eltablifhed forms 
of tranfadfing affairs between foreign dates, which pre¬ 
vailed throughout Europe, had directed him to anfvver 
the propofitions of the fird conful by a note to his mi- 
nider. He traced the conduCt of France froyn the origin 
of the exifting hodilities, and noticed the repeated alfur- 
ances made by ev ry fucceeding government of pacific in¬ 
tentions, while all their affs were replete with aggreffion. 
The new government had given no proofs of a dilpolition 
to adopt a different fydem, nor could any alfurance be 
given of its dability. The bed affurance which Great 
Britain could receive of the formation of a regular go¬ 
vernment in France, would be the redorationol that race 
of princes who, for fo many ages, preferved the French 
nation in internal profperity, and in condderation and re- 
fpeft among foreign powers. But, although fuch an event 
v/ould obviate every obdacle, his majedy did not confider 
it indifpenfable to the attainment of a l'afe and durable 
peace ; therefore, whenever he fhould be of opinion that 
the fecurity of his own dominions and thofeof his allies, 
and the general fecurity of Europe, could be attained, 
he would eagerly feize the opportunity to concert with 
his allies the means of an immediate and general pacifica¬ 
tion. Hitherto no fuch fecurity exided ; and nothing re¬ 
mained for him but to profecute, in conjunction with the 
other powers, a jud and defentive war.” 
In reply, January 14, Talleyrand entered intoa fpirited 
vindication of France, and an accufation of the allies with 
refpett to the commencement of the war ; alleging all 
the projects of difmemberment, and other aCts of aggref- 
fion which had been fo often repeated, and as often com¬ 
plained of, in the journals of France. The fird conful, thus 
finding a continuance of the war inevitable, adopted the 
utmoft efforts in forming a fydem of aCtive operations, 
and in abolidiing the odious and dedructive peculations 
edablidied by the directory. The army began to be fup- 
plied with necedaries, and vigorous exertions were made 
for obtaining recruits, and preventing defertion. All 
thefe ed'orts did not, however, promife to be of much 
avail while the country was depreded and difpirited, and 
the wedern departments in a date of formidable infurrec- 
tion. General Hedouville, who commanded in thofe de¬ 
partments, had ufed every exertion to redore confidence; 
but the rapacious and cruel agents of the directory, by 
continued aCts of tyranny and extortion, had rekindled 
the flames of civil war; and all the wed of France flew 
to arms, from the banks of tlie Charente to thofe of the 
Seine, and from the coad of Bred to the gates of Tours. 
They numbered among the mod confpicuous of their 
leaders, Chatillon, d’Autichamp, Bourmont, Georges, 
and Frotte. As it was expeCted that England would lend 
aflidance to this infurreCtion, the French government em¬ 
ployed great efforts in reducing it, before the advance of 
fpring fhould enable d fleet to keep the fea, and land in 
thofe departments the powerful body of Fnglidi and Ruf-^ 
fian troops then quartered at Jerfey. 
General Brune, who commanded in Hollanu during the 
late campaign, and who was now elevated to the dignity 
©f counfellor of date, was nominated general in chief of 
an army of fixty thouland men, intended to reduce the in- 
furgents to fubjeftion. Hedouville accepted a fubordi- 
nate rank. A proclamation was iflued, and two decrees, 
©ne forbidding all generals and public functionaries to 
Vol. VII. No. 473. 
N C E. 845 
correfpond with the leaders of the rebels, directing the 
national guards and inhabitants of didpiCts to rife in arras 
for their expulfion, and ordaining that all individuals 
preaching revolt and refidance by force of arms, diould 
be immediately fliot. The other decree, declared the 
conditution fufpended in the departments of the Cotes- 
du-Nord, l’Ide et Vilaine, Morbihan, and Loire Inferi- 
eure ; and empowered general Brtsne to make regulations 
amounting even to pain of death, to impofe contributions 
in the way of penalty, and to adopt all the means ufed in 
the countries of foreign enemies to enfure the payment of 
thofe contributions, and the maintenance of public tran¬ 
quillity. 
On his arrival in Bretagne, Brune learnt that all the in- 
furgent departments on the left of the Loire had laid down 
their arms, in purfuanceof a treaty figned at Montfaucon 
on the 18th of January. This event enabling him to con¬ 
centrate his operations, he began by publilhing procla¬ 
mations to the people, and found that no ferious refidance 
was to be apprehended. A few fkirmidies enabled him. 
to fubdue, in lefs than a month, all that appeared formi¬ 
dable in the infurreCtion, and reduced the infurgents to> 
only a final 1 fet of detached bodies. This fortunate 
event was forwarded in no incondderable degree by the 
prudent orders of Bonaparte for redoring the churches to 
the communes for the purpofe of performing divine fer- 
vice, and for celebrating a pompous funeral ceremony in 
honour of the late perlecuted pope Pius VI. 
Of the chiefs of the Chouans, Georges and Frotte were, 
the mod formidable. Georges, having learnt that Brune * 
was reconnoitering that portion of the country which was 
termed his government, boldly advanced to a place near 
the village of Theix, followed only by three Chouans, 
and after an interview of an hour with Brune, who met 
him for the purpofe in a field, Feb. 9, 1800, he engaged 
to difmil's his troops, and yield up his arms. Frotte had 
written to Hedouville, declaring his willingnefs to furren- 
der ; but before he could receive an anfwer, his corre- 
fpondence with an officer of his own party fell into the 
hands of the republicans. • In thefe papers he advifed. 
the Chouans to fubmit to every tiling except the privation 
of their arms, and unguardedly mentioned the place of 
his concealment. He was by this means apprehended, 
and brought to trial before a military commiflion at Ver- 
neuil. His behaviour excited the utmolf admiration ; he 
appeared with his accuftomed intrepidity ; and in the 
courfe of the trial afking for fome wine, drank with his 
companions the fentiment l'o odious to republican ears, 
Vive le roi! The next day, Feb. 19, be was conducted to 
execution, and Hill maintained the fame unconcern. He 
went on-foot, attended by his (faff; and one of the efcort 
obferving to him that he had loft the ftep,“ You are right, ’* 
he calmly anfwered, “ I did not think of itand imme¬ 
diately changed. They were all (hot (landing, and would 
not have their eyes blindfolded. The officer through 
whofe imprudence he had been difeovered, terminated his 
own exigence with a piftol. The republic was thus freed 
from all alarm from the Chouans, the bold remnant left 
by Charette ; but the departments were not yet redored 
to civil government, being kept under the controul of 
military officers. 
The next bulinefs of the firff conful was to prepare to 
open the campaign of jBoo, and to infufe new vigour and 
energy into the republican armies, by every exertion of 
liberal encouragement and heroic example. On the death 
of Championnet, the command of the French army of 
Italy had devolved on Madena ; and the death of Su- 
warrow, who in chagrin had terminated his days in his 
native country, prevented even the probability of another 
Ruffian army appearing in that quarter. The Andrians 
remained under general Melas, who, with eighty thouland 
men, was in full poirelfion of all the fortreifes at the en¬ 
trance of the Alps, from the fort of Bard in the valley 
of Aoda to Coni, and had been, during the whole winter, 
in the enjoyment of every neceilary ; the Englilh fleet 
10 F " having 
