CHAP. XVII.--Clemency of the New Consulate--Beneficial change in the Finances--Law of Hostages repealed--Religious liberty allowed--Improvements in the War Department--Pacification of La Vendée--Ascendancy of Napoleon--Disappointment of Siêyes--Committee formed to consider Siêyes' Plan of a Constitution--Rejected as to essentials--A new one adopted, monarchical in every thing but form--Siêyes retires from Public life--General View of the new Government--Despotic Power of the First Consul, 276 CHAP. XVIII.--Proceedings of Buonaparte in order to consolidate his power--His great Success--Causes that led to it--Cambacérès and Le Brun chosen Second and Third Consuls--Talleyrand appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Fouché Minister of Police--Their Characters--Other Ministers nominated--Various Changes made in order to mark the Commencement of a new Era--Napoleon addresses a Letter personally to the King of England--Answered by Lord Grenville--Negotiation for peace that followed, speedily broken off--Campaigns in Italy and on the Rhine--Successes of Moreau--Censured by Napoleon for over-caution--The Charge considered--The Chief Consul resolves to bring back, in Person, Victory to the French Standards in Italy--His Measures for that purpose, 292 CHAP. XIX.--The Chief Consul leaves Paris on 6th May, 1800--Has an Interview with Necker at Geneva on 8th--Arrives at Lausanne on the 13th--Various Corps put in motion to cross the Alps--Napoleon, at the head of the Main Army, marches on the 15th, and ascends Mont St. Bernard--On the 16th, the Vanguard takes possession of Aosta--Fortress and Town of Bard threaten to baffle the whole plan--The Town is captured--and Napoleon contrives to send his Artillery through it, under the fire of the Fort, his Infantry and Cavalry passing over the Albaredo--Lannes carries Ivrea--Recapitulation--Operations of the Austrian General Melas--At the commencement of the Campaign, Melas advances towards Genoa--Actions betwixt him and Massena--In March, Lord Keith blockades Genoa--Melas compelled to retreat--Enters Nice--Recalled from thence by the news of Napoleon's having crossed Mont St. Bernard--Genoa surrenders--Buonaparte enters Milan--Battle of Montebello--The Chief Consul is joined by Desaix--Battle of Marengo on the 14th--Death of Desaix--Capitulation on the 15th, by which Genoa, &c., are yielded--Napoleon returns to Paris on the 2d July, 305