History Of The Consulate And The Empire Of France Under Napoleon Vol. I [Illustrated Edition]

Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers, D. Forbes Campbell

• Editorial: Wagram Press
• Año: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781786259080
• Categoría: Geschichte
• Categoría: Napoleonische Kriege

The product of twenty years of laborious hard work, this is the definitive work on Napoleon and his times at the helm of the French Nation, written by no less than the first President of the Third Republic.Thiers moved in the highest circles of society and met with many of the surviving generals and statesmen of France and her opponents and wove their recollections into this monumental history. Filled with a particularly Gallic flavour without going into hero-worship, this multi-volume history has stood the test of time.This first volume begins with Napoleon's 1797 campaign to his ascent to the consulate in 1800.Includes the Napoleonic Wars Map Pack with over 155 maps and plans following the military career of Napoleon.

BOOK IX.—NEUTRAL POWERS.

Sequel of the Negotiations with the Powers of Europe—Treaty with the Court of Naples—Exclusion of the English from the Ports of the Two Sicilies, and Engagement entered into by the Neapolitan Government to receive a French Division at Otranto—Spain pledges herself to coerce the Portuguese, to put an End to the English Trade on the Coasts of Portugal—Vast Naval Projects of the First Consul, for combining the Naval Forces of Spain, Holland, and France, to enable them to act in Concert—Means contemplated to assist Egypt—Admiral Ganteaume, at the Head of a Division, leaves Brest during a Gale of Wind, and proceeds to the Straits of Gibraltar on his Way to the Mouth of the Nile—General Coalition of all the Maritime Nations against England—Preparations of the Neutral Powers in the Baltic—Warlike Ardour of Paul I.—Distress in England—She is visited by a frightful Famine—Her Financial and Commercial Position before, and since the War—Her Income and Expenditure both doubled—Unpopularity of Mr. Pitt—His Differences with George III., and Retirement from Office—The Addington Administration—England, in spite of her Embarrassments, faces the Storm, and despatches Admirals Nelson and Parker to the Baltic, to break up the Confederacy of the Neutral Powers—Plan conceived by Nelson and Parker—They determine upon forcing the Passage of the Sound—The Swedish Coast being badly defended, the English Fleet passes the Sound almost without Difficulty, and appears before Copenhagen—Nelson’s views are to attack the Danes, before proceeding to the Baltic—Description of the Position of Copenhagen, and Measures adopted to defend this important Maritime Position—Nelson executes a bold Manoeuvre, and succeeds in Anchoring in the King’s Channel, Broadside on to the Danish Fleet—Bloody Engagement—Gallantry of the Danes, and Danger of Nelson—He sends a Flag of Truce to the Crown Prince of Denmark, and thereby obtains the Advantage of a Victory—Suspension of Hostilities for Fourteen Weeks, during which the Death of Paul I. becomes known—Events which have taken place in Russia—Exasperation of the Russian Nobility against the Emperor Paul, and their Resolution to get rid of this Prince by any Means, even by Crime—Count Pahlen—His Character and Projects—His Conduct towards the Grand Duke Alexander—The Scheme of a forced Abdication made to conceal their Project of Assassination—Frightful Scene at the Palace (Michael) on the Night of the 23rd of March—Tragical Death of Paul I.—Accession of Alexander—The Confederacy of the Neutral Powers dissolved by the Death of the Emperor Paul—Virtual Armistice in the Baltic—The First Consul endeavours, by offering Hanover to Prussia, to retain her in the League of the Neutrals—England, satisfied with having broken up this Confederacy by the Battle of Copenhagen, and with being rid of Paul I., seeks to improve the Opportunity offered, by treating with France, and redeeming the Errors of Mr. Pitt—The Addington Administration Proposes Peace to the First Consult through the Medium of M. Otto—This Proposal accepted, and Opening of Negotiations between France and England at London—Peace becomes general, both by Sea and Land—Progress of France since the 18th Brumaire

PEACE between the emperor and the empire having been concluded at Lunéville in February 1801, the First Consul was impatient to secure the results of his policy. These were to conclude a peace with those continental States which had not yet been reconciled to the Republic, and to compel them to close their ports against England; to direct against the latter the combined strength of the neutral powers, and, in conjunction with them, to strike some decisive blow against the British trade and territory; and by this combination of means attain a maritime peace, without which the peace of the continent would be incomplete. Everything proclaimed that these happy results could not be long delayed.

The Germanic Diet had ratified the signature affixed by the emperor to the treaty of Lunéville. There were no grounds for supposing that there would be any demur, as Austria possessed the power of influencing the ecclesiastical States, the only dissidents opposed to the treaty. With respect to the secular princes, as they were to be indemnified for their losses from the territories proposed to be secularised, they had a strong interest in accelerating the acceptance of the conditions stipulated between Austria and France. They were, moreover, under the influence of Prussia, which power France had induced to view favourably the proceedings at Lunéville. Besides all this, everyone was anxious for peace, and was ready to contribute to promote it, even by sacrifices. Prussia alone, in ratifying the signature of the emperor, which he had granted without the authority of the Diet, appeared desirous to qualify her consent in such a form as rather to assume the semblance of toleration than that of approbation, thereby reserving for the future the rights of the empire. But this proposition of Prussia, which at the same time that it ratified the treaty implied an indirect censure on the emperor, was not supported by the majority. The treaty was ratified unconditionally in its original form by a conclusum of the 9th of March 1801 (18th Ventôse, year IX.). The ratifications were exchanged at Paris on the 16th of March (25th Ventôse). There only remained to settle a plan of indemnifications, which was to be the subject of ulterior negotiations.

Peace was thus concluded with the greater part of Europe. It was, indeed, not yet signed with Russia, but we were, as will soon appear, engaged with her, and with the northern courts, in one great maritime coalition. There were at the same moment two Russian ministers at Paris: M. de Sprengporten on the subject of the prisoners, M. de Kalitscheff for the adjustment of general affairs. The latter had just arrived in the early part of March (middle of Ventôse).

There still remained the courts of Naples and Portugal to coerce, in order to close the entire continent completely against England.

Murat was advancing towards Southern Italy with a chosen body of troops, which had been drawn from the camp at Amiens. Reinforced by several detachments supplied from the army of General Brune, he had proceeded as far as Foligno, with a view to compel the court of Naples to yield to the will of France. Had it not been for the interest evinced by the Emperor of Russia in favour of this court, the First Consul would probably at once have granted to the house of Parma the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, with the view of depriving a hostile family of this fine territory. But the disposition manifested by the Emperor Paul would not allow him to carry this idea into effect. He was desirous, moreover, to conciliate general opinion throughout Europe, and for this reason it was expedient to avoid, as much as possible, the overthrowing of the ancient kingdoms. He was then willing to grant peace to the court of Naples, on the condition that she should come to a rupture with England. But to influence her to take this step was in the highest degree difficult of accomplishment. Murat advanced to the frontiers of the kingdom, taking care to avoid Rome, and lavishing upon the Pope the greatest demonstration of respect. The court of Naples no longer resisted, but signed an armistice which contained a stipulation agreeable to the wishes of the First Consul, for the exclusion of the English from the ports of the Two Sicilies. Nevertheless, the armistice was only for the short term of thirty days; at the expiration of which, a definitive treaty of peace was to be signed.

The Marquis de Gallo, one of the negotiators at Campo Formio, who boasted of his intimacy with the First Consul, and of having as much influence over him as M. de Cobentzel, had repaired to Paris. Confiding on these personal recommendations, he flattered himself that, under the protection of the Russian embassy, and at the instances of Austria, he should obtain the conditions desired by the court of Naples, which were confined to a simple neutrality. These pretensions were ridiculous, inasmuch as this court, which had given the signal for the second coalition, which had waged against us an obstinate war, which had, in short, treated the French with great indignity, could not expect, now that we he...

Índice

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
• PLATES IN VOL. I.
• BOOK I.-CONSTITUTION OF THE YEAR VIII.
• BOOK II.-INTERNAL GOVERNMENT.
• BOOK III.-ULM AND GENOA.
• BOOK IV.-MARENGO.
• BOOK V.-HELIOPOLIS.
• BOOK VI.-ARMISTICE.
• BOOK VII.-HOHENLINDEN.
• BOOK VIII.-INFERNAL MACHINE.
• BOOK IX.-NEUTRAL POWERS.