guided throughout by aristocratic foresight, she did not so soon wear out the mighty fire which shakes the world. Like a skilful combatant, she gave ground and yielded, till the strength of her antagonist had exhausted itself by exertion; and thus succeeded at last, not only in appearing with undiminished strength on the theatre of combat, but rousing round her standard the still unexhausted vigour of popular excitation. CHAP. LVL 1808. 2. cabinet since Presburg. Since the gallant but unsuccessful attempt made by the Imperial government in 1805, the cabinet of Vienna had adhered with cautious prudence to a system of neutrality. Policy of the Even the extraordinary temptation afforded by the disas- Imperial ters of the Polish campaign, and the opportunity, then the peace of arising, of striking a decisive blow when the forces of the East and the West were engaged in doubtful hostility on the banks of the Alle, had not been able to rouse it to immediate exertion. Austria armed, indeed, and assumed a menacing attitude, but not a sword was drawn. And the rapid termination of the contest by the disaster of Friedland, put an entire stop to any projects of hostility which a decided victory in that quarter by the Muscovite arms, or even the transfer of the war into the interior of Russia, might probably have induced them to entertain. But during this interval the government was not idle. Under the able guidance of the Archduke Charles, the war department assumed an extraordinary degree of activity; the vast chasms which the campaigns of Ulm and Austerlitz had occasioned in the ranks were filled up by voluntary recruiting, or the prisoners who at length were restored by the French government; and, with a patriotism and wisdom worthy of the highest admiration, the treasury, at the very time when the state was overburdened with the enormous contribution of four millions sterling, imposed by the victorious French troops, purchased from their retiring armies the greater part of the immense park of two thousand pieces of cannon, which they were removing from the arsenal of Vienna. During the whole of 1806 and 1807, the efforts of the war department were incessant to restore, without any ostentatious display, the horses of the cavalry and artillery, and replenish the arsenals and magazines, which had been nearly emptied by the consumption or spoliation of the last campaign. But CHAP. LVI. .1808. the attention of the Archduke was, in an especial manner, drawn to the remodelling of the infantry, the real basis of all powerful military establishments. The French organisation into corps d'armée, under the command of marshals, and divisions under them of generals, each with a certain proportion of cavalry and artillery, so as to render it a little army complete in itself—that 1 Ante, c. 39, admirable system, which Napoleon had adopted from the § 55. ancient conquerors of the world-was introduced into the Imperial service.1 At the same time the younger and more ardent officers, with the Archduke John at their head, eagerly supported still more energetic steps; formed plans of national defence and internal communication; warmly recommended the adoption of measures calculated to rouse the national enthusiasm in the public defence; and already contemplated those Johan, Feld-heroic sacrifices in the event of another invasion, which zug in jahre 1809, 8. afterwards, under Wellington in Portugal, and Alexander in Russia, led to such memorable results.2 2 Pelet, Guerre de 1809, i. 36, 37. Der Erzherzog 3. Important ing the for Landwehr June 1808. It was the presence of the Grand Army of France, two hundred thousand strong, in the north and west of Germany, which long overawed the Imperial government, decree order- and prevented the adoption of any steps which could mation of the give umbrage to Napoleon. But with the transfer of a large part of that immense force to the Peninsula, after the breaking out of the war in that direction, this oppressive load was materially diminished. The able statesmen who directed the Imperial councils, immediately perceived that a powerful diversion was now likely to be made in the quarter where the French Emperor least expected it, and where he was most desirous of obtaining solid support. They readily anticipated that England would not be slow in availing herself of this unexpected revolution of fortune in her favour, and descending in strength upon that theatre of warfare where the sea would prove the best possible base for military operations, and the scanty internal resources of the country would render it impossible to keep the armies of France together for any length of time in sufficient strength for their expulsion. In order to be in a situation to improve any 'chances which might thus arise in their favour, the cabinet June 9. CHAP. LVI. 1808. of Vienna no sooner heard of the breaking out of the Spanish contest, than they issued a decree by which a militia, raised by conscription, under the name of the LANDWEHR, was instituted. The general enthusiasm in favour of the monarchy, about, it was hoped, to resume its place among the European powers, soon raised this admirable force from two hundred thousand, the number fixed by the law for its German possessions, to three hundred thousand men. In addition to this, the Hungarian Diet voted twelve thousand recruits for the regular army for the year 1807, and eighty thousand for 1808; besides an insurrection, or levy en masse, of eighty thousand men, of whom thirty thousand were excellent cavalry. These immense military preparations, in addition to a regular standing army now raised to three hundred and fifty thousand men, were sufficient to demonstrate the existence of some great national project; and they were 38. Hard. rendered still more formidable by the activity which x. 296, 297. prevailed in completing the remounting of the cavalry Feldzug and artillery, and arming the fortresses, both on the 1809, 10, 12. frontier and in the interior; as well as the enthusiastic 141. feelings which this universal sound of military preparation had awakened in all classes of the monarchy.1 1 Pelet, 37, Erz. Johan. Jom. ii. 138, 4. remon measures. Napoleon was no sooner informed of these serious military changes, than he addressed the most pressing remonstrances to the Imperial cabinet and, in the Napoleon's midst of the increasing intricacy of the Peninsular strances affairs, and all the whirl of a rapid journey from against these Bayonne, by Bordeaux, to Paris, repeatedly demanded July 24. a categorical explanation of armaments so well calculated to disturb the peace of Europe. At the same time he addressed a circular to the princes of the Confederation of the Rhine, in which he called on them "to make ready their contingents, and prevent a war without a pretext, as without an object, by showing to 'Austria that they were prepared for it." No sooner had he arrived in his capital than he addressed a public remonstrance on the same subject Aug. 15. to Metternich the Austrian ambassador, in presence of all the diplomatists of Europe. The Imperial government made loud professions of pacific intentions, but did not for an hour discontinue their military prepara LVI. 1808. CHAP. tions. Napoleon was not deceived: the coincidence of these formidable armaments with the insurrection in Spain, and the disasters of Vimeira and Baylen, was too evident to escape the most ordinary sagacity; but he dissembled his resentment, and contented himself with ordering the princes of the Confederation to keep their contingents together, and strengthening to the 1 Pelet, i. 39, utmost the armies in Germany, so as to replace the veterans who were withdrawn in such numbers for the war in the Peninsula.1 40. Hard. x. 295, 296. 5. Deceitful pacific pro fessions of Austria at Erfurth. It was in a great measure to overawe Austria, that Napoleon pressed the Emperor Alexander to meet him at Erfurth; and he flattered himself, that however tempting the opportunity afforded by the Spanish insurrection might be, the cabinet of Vienna would hesitate before they engaged in hostilities with the two most powerful military states of the Continent. The preparations of Austria being not yet complete, it was deemed advisable to gain time; and in order to accomplish this object M. de Vincent was despatched with a letter to the coalesced Emperors in that city, so full of protestations of amity that Napoleon authorised the princes of the Confederation to dismiss their contingents, with the advice merely to reassemble them as soon as Austria resumed her hostile attitude.* To the Emperor Francis he returned an answer, earnestly counselling moderation and pacific views ;t and having thus, as he hoped, dispelled the cloud which threatened to burst in the east of Germany, or at least delayed its bursting, he by a formal decree dissolved the Grand Army, and directed a considerable part of the troops composing it, Pelet, i. 42, particularly the corps of Soult and Ney, with the Imperial Guards, to Spain, where they achieved the successes which have already been detailed.2 Oct. 14. 2 Thib. v. 200, 201. 47. *"He flattered himself that the Emperor Napoleon had never ceased to be convinced, that if false insinuations, in regard to the organic changes which he had deemed it necessary to introduce into his monarchy, had for a moment thrown doubts on the continuance of his amicable relations, the explanations which Count Metternich had made on that subject had entirely dissipated them. The Baron Vincent was charged to confirm them, and to afford every explanation that could be desired."-FRANCIS to NAPOLEON, 21st Sept. 1808; SCHOELL, ix. 218. "He could assure his Imperial Majesty, that he was seriously afraid he should see hostilities renewed; the war faction had pushed Austria to the most violent measures, and threatened misfortunes even greater than the preceding ones. If, however, the measures of the Emperor Francis were such as to indicate confi CHAP LVI. 1808. of Austria Paris. Notwithstanding the disasters, however, which befel the Spaniards, the cabinet of Vienna was not discouraged. During the winter, measures evidently indicating a hostile spirit, were adopted; the harbour of Trieste was opened 6. Intelligence to the English and Spanish flag; large purchases of arms of the pre were there made by the agents of the insurgents; articles parations hostile to Napoleon began to appear in the public journals, induces which, being all under the control of the police, indicated Napoleon to halt in Spain more or less the disposition of government; and the Aus- and return to trian ambassador declined to accede to a proposal made at Paris by Count Romanzoff, for the conclusion of a treaty, involving a triple guarantee between the courts of St Petersburg, Vienna, and the Tuileries. Secret amicable relations had been established with Great Britain-the common refuge of all those on the Continent, however hostilely disposed in former times, who found the tyranny of France growing insupportable. But though the cabinet of St James's tendered the offer of their assistance in subsidies, they strongly counselled the Imperial government not to take the irrevocable step, unless the resources of the monarchy were clearly equal to the struggle which awaited them. But the vigour of the English administration, notwithstanding their prudent advice, was such as eminently to inspire confidence; the spectacle of fifty thousand British soldiers taking the field, in the Peninsular campaigns, was as unusual as it was animating, and promised a diversion of a very different kind from those which had terminated in such disaster on the plains of Flanders and the bay of Quiberon. At length there appeared, in the middle of December, a declaration of the King of England, which openly alluded to the hostile Dec. 16. preparations of Austria, and assigned the prejudical effect of Great Britain withdrawing at such a moment from the contest, as a powerful reason for declining the mediation dence, they would inspire it. Truth and simplicity have now become the best politicians; he had communicated to him his apprehensions, in order that they might be instantly dissipated: when he had it in his power to have dismembered the Austrian dominions, he had not done so: he was ever ready, on the contrary, to guarantee their integrity. The last levy en masse would have occasioned a war, if he had believed it was raised in concert with Russia. He had just disbanded the camp of the Confederation of the Rhine: one hundred thousand of his troops were about to renew their threatening attitude against England. Let your Imperial Majesty, therefore, abstain from all hostile armaments which can give umbrage to the French cabinet, or operate as a diversion in favour of Great Britain."-THIBAUDEAU, vii. 73, 74. |