rom Sweden, by such sacrifice, the punishment vhich must otherwise fall on the country, as well is on the King.1

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While the trifling attempt against Hamelen, oined to other circumstances, was thus preparing he downfall of the ancient dynasty of Sweden, a lescent made by the Russians and English on the Neapolitan territories, afforded a good apology to Buonaparte for depriving the King of the Two Sicilies of his dominions, so far as they lay open to the power of France. Governed entirely by the influence of the Queen, the policy of Naples had been of a fickle and insincere character. Repeatedly saved from the greatest hazard of dethronement, the King or his royal consort had never omitted an opportunity to resume arms against France, under the conviction, perhaps, that their ruin would no longer be deferred than whilst political considerations induced the French Emperor to permit their possession of their power. The last interference in their behalf had been at the instance of the Emperor Paul. After this period we have seen that their Italian dominions were occupied by French troops, who held Otranto, and other places in Calabria, as pledges (so they pretended) for the restoration of Malta.

But upon the breaking out of the war of 1805, it was agreed, by a convention entered into at Paris, 21st of September, and ratified by the King of Naples on the 8th of October, that the French

1 [Jomini, t. ii. p. 196; Las Cases, t. v. p. 168; Montgaillard, t. vi. p. 280.]

should withdraw their forces from the places whi they occupied in the Neapolitan territories, a the King should observe a strict neutrality. Në ther of the contracting parties was quite since The French troops, which were commanded St Cyr, were, as we have seen, withdrawn fre Naples, for the purpose of reinforcing Massena, the beginning of the campaign of Austerlitz. Th absence would probably have endured no long than the necessity which called them away. Bu the court of Naples was equally insincere; for sooner had St Cyr left the Neapolitan territorie to proceed northward, than the King, animated the opportunity which his departure afforded, on more raised his forces to the war establishment and received with open arms an army, consistir of 12,000 Russian troops from Corfu, and 800 British from Malta, who disembarked in his dom nions.1

Had this armament occupied Venice at the com mencement of the war, they might have material assisted in the campaign of the Archduke Charle against Massena. The sending them in Noven

["Before his departure from Vienna, Napoleon received in telligence of the entry of the Russians, jointly with some E lish, into Naples. He immediately made dispositions for march ing troops thither. He had an old grudge against the Queen d Naples, and on receiving this news, he said, 'Ah! as for her,! am not surprised at it; but wo betide her if I enter Naples: never shall she set foot there again!' He sent from the staff o his own army officers to compose that which was about to assem ble on the frontiers of Naples, and ordered Prince Joseph, his brother, whom he had left at Paris, to go and put himself at the head of it."-SAVARY, t. ii. p. 152.]

r to the extremity of the Italian peninsula, only ved to seal the fate of Ferdinand the Fourth. a receiving the news of the armistice at Austerz, the Russians and the British re-embarked, and t long after their departure a large French army, mmanded by Joseph Buonaparte, approached, ce more to enforce the doom passed against the yal family of Naples, that they should cease to Fign. The King and Queen fled from the storm hich they had provoked. Their son, the prince yal, in whose favour they had abdicated, only ade use of his temporary authority to surrender aeta, Pescara, and Naples itself, with its castles, the French general. In Calabria, however, hose wild inhabitants were totally disinclined to e French yoke, Count Roger de Damas and the uke of Calabria attempted to make a stand. But eir hasty and undisciplined levies were easily feated by the French under General Regnier, d, nominally at least, almost the whole Neapoan kingdom was subjected to the power of Joph Buonaparte.

One single trait of gallantry illuminated the ene of universal pusillanimity. The Prince of esse Philipsthal, who defended the strong for

["General St Cyr is advancing by forced marches towards aples, to punish the treason of the Queen, and to precipitate om the throne this culpable woman, who has violated, in so ameless a manner, all that is held sacred among men. It was deavoured to intercede for her with the Emperor. He replied, were hostilities to recommence, and the nation to support a irty years' war, so atrocious an act of perfidy cannot be paroned.' The Queen of Naples has ceased to reign."-Thirtyventh Bulletin of the Grand Army, Dec. 26.]

94

refused

tress of Gaeta in name of Ferdinand IV., to surrender it in terms of the capitulation. “T your general," said he, in reply to the French su mons, “that Gaeta is not Ulm, nor the Prince Hesse General Mack!" The place was defende with a gallantry corresponding to these expressions nor was it surrendered until the 17th of July, 180 after a long siege, in which the brave govern was wounded.1 This heroic young prince o appeared on the public scene to be withdrawn from it by an untimely death, which has been ascribe to poison. His valour, however honourable himself, was of little use to the royal family Naples, whose deposition was determined on Buonaparte, in order to place upon the throne of of his own family.

[Jomini, t. ii. p. 237; Annual Register, vol. xlviii. p. 14

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CHAPTER XXXIII.

Relative situations of France and England.-Hostilities commenced with Spain, by the Stoppage, by Commodore Moore, of four Spanish Galleons, when three of their Escort were taken, and one blew up.-Napoleon's Plan of Invasion stated and discussed.-John Clerk of Eldin's great System of Breaking the Line, explained-The French Admiral, Villeneuve, forms a junction with the Spanish Fleet under Gravina—Attacked and defeated by Sir Robert Calder-Nelson appointed to the Command in the Mediterranean.-BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR fought 21st October, 1805.-Death of Nelson.-Behaviour of Napoleon on learning the Intelligence of this signal Defeat.-Villeneuve commits Suicide.—Address of Buo naparte to the Legislative Body.-Statement of M. de Champagny on the Internal Improvements of France. -Elevation of Napoleon's Brothers, Louis and Joseph, to the Thrones of Holland and Naples.-Principality of Lucca conferred on Eliza, the eldest Sister of Buonaparte, and that of Guastalla on Pauline, the youngest. -Other Alliances made by his Family.-Napoleon appoints a new Hereditary Nobility.- Converts from the old Noblesse anxiously sought for and liberally rewarded. - Confederation of the Rhine established, and Napoleon appointed Protector. The Emperor Francis lays aside the Imperial Crown of Germany, retaining only the Title of Emperor of Austria. Vacillating and Impolitic Con

duct of Prussia.

THE triumphs of Napoleon had been greater at this period of his reign, than had ever before been