Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/520

 482 Readings in European History Bonaparte is perhaps sufficiently acquainted with his character to claims all the accoun t f or fa He did not choose that a result so decisive glory for , himself. should be attributed to any other cause than the combina- tions of his genius ; and if I had not known his insatiable thirst for glory, I should have been surprised at the half satisfaction evinced at the cause of the success amidst the joy manifested for the success itself. It must be confessed that in this he is very unlike Jourdan, Hoche, Kleber, and Moreau, who were ever ready to acknowledge the services of those w r ho had fought under their orders. Within two hours of the time when the divisions com- manded by Desaix left San Giuliano I was joyfully sur- prised by the triumphant return of the army whose fate, since the morning, had caused me so much anxiety. Never did fortune within so short a time show herself under two such various faces. At two o'clock everything indicated the misery of a defeat with all its fatal consequences ; at five, victory was again faithful to the flag of Areola. Italy was reconquered at a single blow, and the crown of France appeared in the distance [to the victorious general]. The Treaty of Campo-Formio (see above, pp. 472 sqq.) was the fruit of Bonaparte's first campaign in Italy ( 1 796-1797). After the temporary reverses suffered by France during Bonaparte's absence in Egypt, his victory over the Austrians at Marengo, and another victory of the French at Hohenlinden in December, 1800, put the First Consul in a position to exact at Luneville all the concessions which Austria had made at Campo-Formio and somewhat more. The chief provisions of this impor- tant treaty are here given. They well illustrate the unscrupulous manner in which Austria and France dis- posed of the lesser countries and the system of reckless territorial changes which are so conspicuous during the whole Napoleonic period,