Page:History of Napoleon Buonaparte.pdf/8

12 Augereau about the saine tune was despatched to Paris with sixty stand of colours. Massena having made a successful attack at Belluno on the Austrian flank, Napoleon immediately crossed the river with a great display of force-feigned a retreat-and again, two hours afterwards, made an unexpected attack, which ended in the Archduke's being obliged to retreat.

The treaty of Leoben interrupted for the present further hostilities between France and Austria. Master of all northern Italy excepting Venice, Buonaparte now resolved to humiliate that republic, which he speedily accomplished. A ransom of £150,000 in gold was demanded and paid; stores to the amount of £200,000 were furnished, and several valuable pictures and relics were given up.

In January, 1798, Buonaparte had returned to Paris, and was living there in a style almost approaching to seclusion. His humble residence was the same that he had formerly occupied. The Directory in the mean time had done absolutely nothing for him, out of a spirit of the meanest jealousy; and anxious that he should be employed, they proposed an invasion of England. He surveyed the coast, and proved that the time was not favourable; but he proposed a scheme of attacking