Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-23
NAPOLEON RONAPARTE.

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.
The following extract is taken from Harper's
New Monthly Magazine for December; it is
the conclusion of his first Italian Campaign.
Mantua had now fallen The Austrians were
driven from Italy. The Pope, with the humili.
ty ola child, had implored the clemency of the
conqueror. Still Austria refused to make peace
with republican France, and with indomitabe
perseverance gathered her resources for anoth-
erconflict Napoleon resolved to march direct
ly upon Vienna His object was peace, not con-
quest. In no other possible way could peace
be attained. 1t wasa bold enterprise. Leav-
inc the whole breadth of Italy between his ar
mics and France, he prepared 10 cross the rug
ged SUBMITS of the Carnic Alps, and to plunge,
with an army of but fifty thousand men, into
the very heart of one of the most proud and
powerful empires upon the globe, numbering
twenty millions of inhabitants. Napoleon wish
ed to make ali ally of Venice. To her govern
ment he said, f" Your whole territory is imbued
with revolutionary principles. One single word
from me will excite blaze of insurrection thro'
all your provinces. Ally yourself with France,
make few notifications in your government
such as are indispensable for the welfare of the
people, and we will pacify public opinion and
will sustain your authority" Adyice more pru-
dent and humane could not have been given.--
The naughty aristocracy of Venice refused the
alliance, raised an army Of sixty thousand men,
ready at any moment to fall upon Napoleon's
rear and demanded neutrality. "Be neutral,
them" said Napoleon, Z" but remember, if you vi
olate your neutrality, if you harrass my troops,
if you cut off my supplies, ] will take ample ven-
geance. march upon Vienna. Conduct which
could be forgiven were in Italy, will be unpar-
donable when | am in Austria. The hoGr that
witnesses the treachery of Venice, shall termin-
ate her independence"
Mantua was the birthplace Of Virgil. During
centuries of wealth and luxurious ease neither
Italy nor Austria had found time to rear any
in honor of the illustrious Mantuan
bard. But hardly had the cannon Of Napoleon
leased to resound around the beeaguered city,
and the smoke of the conflict had hardly passed
away, ere the young conqueror, even more in-
erested in the refinements of peace than in the
1esolations of war, in the midst of the din of
arms, and contending against the intrigues Of
hostile nations, reared mausoleum and arrang-
ed gorgeous festival in honor of the immortal
poet Thus he endeavored to shed renown up
On intellectual greatness, and TO rouse the de-
generate Italians to appreciate and to emulate
hc glory of their fathers. From these congen-
al pursuits of peace he again turned, with I'M
energy, to pursue the uDrelenting as
sailants Of his country.
Leaving ten thousand men in garrison to
watch the neutrality of the Italian governments
Napoleon, early in March, removed his head
quarters to Bassano. He then issued to his
roops the following martial proclamation,w which
ike bugle notes Of defiance, reverberated over
he hostile and astonished monarchies of Europe.
Soldiers! the campaign just ended has given
you imperishable renowh You have been VIC
orious in fourteen pitched battles and seventy
lctions. You have taken more than hundred
thousand prisoners, five hundred field d-piecestwo
thousand heavy guns and four pontoon trains.
Z fou have maintained the army during the whole
,ampaign. In addition to this you have sent six
Millions of dollars to the public treasury, and
AVE enriched the National Museum with three
hundred masterpieces of the arts of ancient and
modern Italy, which it has required thirty cen
uries to produce. You have conquered the fl
lest countries in Europe. The French flag for
he first time waves upon the Adriatc opposite
o Macedon, the native country of Alexander
Still higher destnies await you. | know that
ou will not prove unworthy of them. Of all
he foes that conspred to stihe the Republic in
is birth, the Austrian Emperor alone remains
efore you. To obtain peace we must seek it
n the heart of his hereditary state You will
here find brave people, whose religion and
ustoms you will respect, and whose property
on will hold sacred Remember that it is lib
rty you carry to the brave Hungarian nation"
The Archduke Charles, brother Of the king,
vas now intrusted with the command of the
Austrian army His character can not be bet
er described than in the language of his mag
animous antagonist. "Prnce Charles" said
napoleon, Z" is a man whose conduct can never
tract blame. His soul belongs to the heroic
ge, but his heart to that of gold. More than
II he is good man, and that includes every
hing, when said of prince" Early in March,
,harles, young man of about Napoleon's age
Tho had already obtained renown upon the
thine, was in command Of an army of $4,000
len stationed upon the banks of the Pave,-
rom different parts Of the empire 10000 men
'ere on the march to join him. This would
i've him 10000 troops to array against the
rench. Napoleon, with the recruits which he
ad obtained from France and Italy, had now a
oro. of nffv fhoucoud ,,,op NTH V,hi,h 10 M