eral than he had dared to
hope for. The capitulation was forthwith signed.

On the 2nd of February, Wurmser and his garrison marched out of Mantua;
but when the aged chief was to surrender his sword, he found only
Serrurier ready to receive it. Napoleon's generosity, in avoiding being
present personally to witness the humiliation of this distinguished
veteran, forms one of the most pleasing traits in his story. The
Directory had urged him to far different conduct. He treated their
suggestions with scorn: "I have granted the Austrian," he wrote to them,
"such terms as were, in my judgment, due to a brave and honourable
enemy, and to the dignity of the French Republic."

The loss of the Austrians at Mantua amounted, first and last, to not
less than 27,000 men. Besides innumerable military stores, upwards of
500 brass cannon fell into the hands of the conqueror; and Augereau was
sent to Paris, to present the Directory with _sixty_ stands of colours.
He was received with tumults of exultation, such as might have been
expected, on an occasion so glorious, from a people less vivacious than
the French.

The surrender of Provera and Wurmser, following the total rout of
Alvinzi, placed Lombardy wholly in the hands of Napoleon; and he now
found leisure to avenge himself on the Pope for those hostile
demonstrations which, as yet, he had been contented to hold in check.
The terror with which the priestly court of the Vatican received the
tidings of the utter destruction of the Austrian army, and of the
irresistible conqueror's march southwards, did not prevent the Papal
troops from making some efforts to defend the territories of the Holy
See. General Victor, with 4000 French and as many Lombards, advanced
upon the route of Imola. A Papal force, in numbers about equal, lay
encamped on the river Senio in front of that town. Monks with crucifixes
in their hands, ran through the lines, exciting them to fight bravely
for their country and their Faith. The French general, by a rapid
movement, threw his horse across the stream a league or two higher up,
and then charged with his infantry through the Senio in their front. The
resistance was brief. The Pope's army, composed mostly of new recruits,
retreated in confusion. Faenza was carried by the bayonet. Colli and
3000 more laid down their arms; and the strong town of Ancona was
occupied.[15] On the 10th of February the French entered Loretto, and
rifled that celebrated seat of superst