944. 
the centre of the French line. Notwith- 
ftanding the utmoft bravery of the Allied 
troops, the French maintained their pofi- 
tion. Moft fortunately at this moment, 
General Melas arrived with fixteen freth 
battalions of Auftrian infantry, attacked 
the right of the French, which he beat 
back ; and having Aenea their flank, he 
then purfued his advantage, and took pof.- 
feflion of Novi. The Ruffians immediately 
marched through Novi, fupported the at-. 
tacks of General Melas with great vigour; 
and the whole French line was thrown into 
confufion, and obliged to retreat. The 
whole line purfued. General Grouchi, com 
manding a divifion, endeavoured to rally 
his men, but in vain ; he was taken prifo- 
ner, and (according to the account pub- 
lifhed of this ation by the Britifh govern- 
ment) three other generals, two thoufand 
prifoners, thirty pieces of cannon, and ae 
feven tumbrils, fell into the hands of th 
Allies, whefe lofs in Aufrians was eft, 
mated at five thoufand men. The total 
Jofs of the Allies is fuppofed to have ex- 
ceeded twenty thoufand men. Early in 
the action the French General Joubert 
threw himfelf forward to animate by his 
prefence a charge of bayonets, accompanied 
by his Etat-Major, crying out, Forward ! 
Sor: ward! when a bullet ftruck hun on the 
right fide, and penetrated to his heart. He 
ie not furvive above two hours; and 
General Moreau re-aflumed the com- 
mand immediately. 
"There have been feveral other fubordi 
dinate movements of the army in Italy. 
- General Souchet from his head quarters © 
at Cornigliano, onthe 27th ofAugult, {rated 
that the force of the Allies, con! hiting of 
5ogP men, part of whom bel longed to the 
rmy that befieged Mantua; made a move- 
ment on the eaitern fide of the river, with 
a defign to attack the front of the divifion 
commanded by Generali Miolles at Ricco. 
Moreau, who had forefeen their intention, 
repaired thither himfelf. The attack of 
the Allies was covered byan Englifi fri- 
gate, which was Rationed near Ricco ; 
but the ar rrival of General Watrin defeat- 
‘ed their projects; The next day the French 
attacked them, when iixty of them were 
killed and 600 -taken prifoners. 
General Championnet, from his head- 
quarters at E:ibrufe, on the 30th of Au- 
cut, fated that the army of the Alps, in 
the ves ‘of Piedmont, had gained con- 
~ fiderable advantage over the Allics. The 
' French troops advanced on the 26t th, in 
three columns, _and attacked the pofition 
of Villaret, which was defended by two 
redoubts and acdSo men. \ After an ob- 
‘State of Public Afairs. 
[OG &ober, 
ftinate engagement of five hours the po- 
fition was carried, and the Auftrians pur- 
fued to the gates of Pignerol, and Suza, 
the commandant of which was killed. 
General Lecourbe alfo informed Gene- 
ral Maflena, by a letter from Altorf, Au- 
guft 17th, that, after feveral engagements, 
he had-made himfelf mafter of Grimfel, 
ef Furca, of the fources of the Rhone, of 
Gothard, and of the canton of Schwitz. 
After giving a long detail of the aétion, 
he concludes ine “ Yeu fee that the 
-effect of my three days fighting has been 
three thouland five hundred prifoners, fifty 
officers, and ten pieces of cannon,’ 
Since thefe events a material change 
has taken place in the operations of the 
Imperial army in Switzerland, which may 
leag te confequences Gf the greateft im- 
portance. The Archduke has been com- 
pelled to abandon his pofition near Zurich, 
and to proceed with the greatef part of 
his army towards Swabia. This move- 
ment was rendered neceflary, im confe- 
guence of the Auftrian general Szetarry 
having been compelled to retreat before 
the French army which lately crofled the 
Rhine at Manheim. 
The Republican troops have. alfo gain- 
ed feveral advantages over the Royalifts 
who were in arms, and, in fome placeg, 
totally defeated them. 
According to the accounts publifhed by 
the Direétory, an army of Royalifts was 
deftroyed on the z2oth of Auguft, by the 
Republican columns at Montrejean. One 
thoufand rebels were killed, three hun- 
dred drowned in the Garonne, and one 
thoufand two hundred made prifoners. 
Count Paulo, their chief, was drowned. 
The late proceedings of the Directory 
and the Legiflative Affemblies have been 
interefting. The former, on the 3d of 
September, iflued a long addrefs to the 
French people, pointing out to them the 
dangers by which therepublicis threatened. 
On the 3d of September alfo they fent 
a long and unprincipled meflage to the 
Councils, enumerating the mifchiefs PEs 
duced hy certain journals ; ; fome Royalift, 
fuch as the Quotidienne ; and other Te 
rorift, fuch as the fourmal. des Hommes 
likes, Thele journals the Direétory had 
- tyrannically fupprefled, with thirty others, 
fince they confidered them as exciting in- 
furretion and favouring the caufe of the 
Coalition, Fhis abeminable meflage was 
accompanied by a report from the mini- 
fter of police in the fame illegal fiyle. 
Byiot ee his indignation at the prin- 
cinles and incentions “which could haye 
diGiated fuch a mefiage. The Direc- 
cory 

