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rear of a strong position, occupied for the moment byD’Alvinzi, and thus terminated the campaign; for Wurai-ser, deposing further hope, surrendered Mantua.
The Pope had taken every possible occasion to check theprogress of liberty in Italy , and to aid the enemies ofFrance , although he had been profuse in open protestationsof neutrality and respect. Murat was sent with tenthousand men to bring his Holiness to his senses. ThePapal forces made a shew of resistance, so that a few shotswere fired at the passage of the river Serio. But hereMurat had no occasion for the display of prowess; hisenemy fled, even too fast for him to follow.
The treaty of Tolentino put an end to the campaign of1796, and Murat was sent to "Rome , Ambassador Extraor-dinary from Napoleon to the Holy Father.
Murat, having returned to Paris , was again speedilyengaged with Buonaparte in the war which broke out inItaly with renewed vigour. The Archduke Charles hadthere put himself at the head of fifty thousand men, whileforty thousand more were on their march to join him. It■was important for Buonaparte to attack him previouslyto the junction of the troops expected. To this end theriver Tagliamento must he crossed in the face of theAustrian forces, with a numerous artillery, all prepared.General Murat, by forcing the passage of that river with hiscavalry, under a most tremendous fire of grape andmusketry, decided in fact the entire campaign, for theArchduke , defeated on that day, fell from one disaster toanother until the 7th April, 1797, when the preliminaries ofpeace were signed at Leobin, and ultimately ratified atCampo Formio, the 17th October following.
Regardless of the recent treaty of Tolentino, the Poperenewed his hostile attitude against France , and collected anumerous body of troops and armed peasants in strong