behind them, they should have to abide the encounter of an imperial
army, animated by all the best motives that can lend vigour to the arm
of man; fighting for their own hearths under the eyes of their own
sovereign; seconded everywhere by the loyalty of the peasants; and well
convinced that, if they could compel their enemy to a retreat, his total
ruin must be the consequence.

The terror of the Aulic Council stepped in to prevent the Archduke from
reaping either the credit or the disgrace of this movement. Vienna was
panic-struck on hearing that Buonaparte had stormed the passes of the
Julian Alps; the imperial family sent their treasure into Hungary; the
middle ranks, whose interest is always peace, became clamorous for some
termination to a war, which during six years had been so unfortunate;
and the Archduke was ordered to avail himself of the first pretence
which circumstances might afford for the opening of a negotiation.

That prince had already, acting on his own judgment and feelings,
dismissed such an occasion with civility and with coldness. Napoleon had
addressed a letter to his Imperial Highness from Clagenfurt, in which he
called on him, as a brother soldier, to consider the certain miseries
and the doubtful successes of war, and put an end to the campaign by a
fair and equitable treaty. The Archduke replied, that he regarded with
the highest esteem the personal character of his correspondent, but that
the Austrian government had committed to his trust the guidance of a
particular army, not the diplomatic business of the empire. The prince,
on receiving these new instructions from Vienna, perceived, however
reluctantly, that the line of his duty was altered; and the result was a
series of negotiations--which ended in the provisional treaty of Leoben,
signed April 18, 1797.

It was here, at Leoben, that Buonaparte's schoolfellow, De Bourienne,
who had been summoned to act as secretary to the general, reached
headquarters. He found his old comrade (whom he had not met with since
the days of his envying small houses and cabriolets in Paris) in the
midst of a splendid staff. "So thou art come at last," cried Napoleon,
in the ancient tone of familiarity; but De Bourienne knew the world, and
greeted the general of the army of Italy with profound and distant
respect. When the company were gone, Buonaparte signified that he
understood and approved this change of demeanour.

But to resume--no sooner was the neg