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Rh caze the world, and the successes immediately after Dego, opened the gates of Italy to Napoleon in the short space of three weeks, the loss of the enemy in these encounters being no less than 5,000 men, 80 guns, and 21 standards. The pine fortresses of Coni were soon after taken possession of, and the French army urged to enthusiasm by the consummate talent of the young general, asked only for action, and dreamed only of success.

Napoleon now invested Mantua, and made himself master of four out of five of the fortified places. Here he concluded a peace with the king of Naples; and also with the Pope—demanded from the latter the cession of Farrara, Ancona, and Bologna, a payment of 20,000,000 francs, and a large collection of paintings, statues, and stores. On the Rhine, the divisions under Jourdan and Moreau were less fortunate; the former being defeated by the Archduke Charles, and the other being compelled to retreat, which he did in a most masterly manner, through the Black Forest. The Marshal Alvinsi prepared to measure himself with Napoleon, having under his orders an army of 0,000 men. Napoleon's force was comparatively small, and somewhat divided; his situation was beginning to be precarious; but one of those