that he had not chosen to interfere, because he had traced the manuscript to the hotel of his brother Lucien.  “And why not denounce Lucien?” cried Napoleon; “he ought to have been arrested instantly, and confined in the Temple.”  The Consul having spoken thus, quitted the apartment, shutting the door with violence.  Fouche smiled, and whispered to De Bourienne—­“Confine the author in the Temple!  Lucien showed me the manuscript; I found it full of corrections in the handwriting of—­the First Consul!” Lucien, informed of his brother’s wrath, came forthwith to the Tuileries, and complained that “he had been made a puppet and abandoned.”  “The fault is your own,” answered Napoleon; “it was your business not to be detected.  Fouche has shown himself more dexterous—­so much the worse for you.”  Lucien resigned forthwith the office which he held in the ministry, and proceeded as ambassador to Spain.

How far these disturbances in the French capital might have contributed to the indecision of the Austrian cabinet during this autumn, we know not.  Five months had now elapsed since the armistice after Marengo; and the First Consul, utterly disgusted with the delay, determined to resume arms, and to be first in the field.  Between the 17th and the 27th of November his generals received orders to set all their troops once more in motion.  Everywhere the French arms had splendid success.  Brune defeated the Austrians on the Mincio, and advanced within a few miles of Venice.  Macdonald occupied the mountains of the Tyrol, and was prepared to reinforce either the army of Italy or that of the Rhine, as might be desired.  Moreau, finally, advanced into the heart of Germany, and was met by the Archduke John of Austria, who obtained considerable advantages in an affair at Haag.  The Archduke, elated by this success, determined on a general engagement, and appeared in front of the French on the evening of the 2nd December, at Hohenlinden, between the Inn and the Iser.[40] At seven, on the morning of the 3rd, the conflict began.  The deep snow had obliterated the tracks of roads; several Austrian columns were bewildered; and either came not at all into their positions, or came too late.  Yet the battle was obstinate and severe:  10,000 Imperialists were left dead on the field:  and Moreau, improving his success, marched on immediately, and occupied Salzburg.

The Austrian capital now lay exposed to the march of three victorious armies; and the Emperor was at last compelled to release himself from his English obligations, and negotiate in sincerity for a separate peace.  Mr. Pitt himself considered the prosecution of the continental war as for the time hopeless.  On reading the bulletin of Marengo, he said, “Fold up that map” (the map of Europe); “it will not be wanted for these twenty years.”