the snow upwards; it was still more so to convey them safely from ridge to ridge in the descent. At the narrow passes of the Alps the soldiers had to march one by one. On the 11th June, Buonaparte descended to the plain of Marengo, with 20,000 men, near which place the Austrians appeared on the 13th, 40,000 strong.
On the following day the battle took place, when the first and second lines of the French were compelled to retreat; and, but for the timely arrival of Dessaix, the engagement had been lost. The third line formed, and taking advantage of the over-confidence of Austrians, after a furious struggle, gained a complete victory. Napoleon, on the 2d July, returned to Paris, and was received with great enthusiasm.
On the 18th May, 1803, Great Britain declared war against France, and 200 ships, containing three millions of property, were seized by the British. In retaliation, Napoleon retained, in contempt of national law, 10,000 English, who were residing in France, as prisoners. During the war, the British took St. Domingo, and the French, Hanover; and in Sept. 1803, the preparations for invading England were made and abandoned. A firm ministry, a Nelson, and 400,000 volunteers, in addition to the regular
