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484 EISE OF THE CONTINENTALGeneral Buonaparte, after his return from Egypt, to thepost of first consul, or regent of the French state, could notimmediately exercise any considerable influence on the continental relations of England. The peace which he offeredto England in a letter to the king, altogether at variancewith the customary forms of diplomacy, clearly could notbe brought about, for this reason, because it was scarcelycredible that the proposal made in this manner was seriouslymeant. The relations of England with Russia were virtuallydissolved ;those with the Porte had only reference toEgypt those with Austria and the states of Southern;Germany were all, as far as regards the continent of Europe,she could reckon upon. But even these were destined tobe torn from her by the campaign of 1800. The battle ofMarengo restored the ascendency of France in Italy ; theadvance of Moreau through Suabia and Bavaria, and last ofall his victory at Hohenlinden, opened a passage to theAustrian provinces. Austria saw herself driven to negotiations, which brought on the peace at Luneville, and thebreaking off of her connexions with England, which, without this, would have naturally followed, was made a preliminary condition of this treaty. 1Thus with the exception of the Porte and Portugal, thissecond confederacy against France was also dissolved ; andEnglandfor the second time stood almost alone : unconqueredto be sure as formerly, as inaccessible to assault asever, and with the confident expectation that the liberationof Egypt would sooner or later be effected, of which, indeed,the capture of Malta, compelled by famine to surrender, 2seemed to afford her a pledge. But the implacable hatred andindefatigable policy of her adversary found means to set newenemies upon her and to;raise a new storm, of which thealtered relations with Russia formed the materials. A leagueof the northern powers against England was now effected.The notion of the armed neutrality, which Catharine hadoriginated, was not extinct. It was in the nature of thingsthat so long as peace continued, during which there wereno enemies, and therefore no neutrals, it should slumber,1England exempted Austria herself from her engagements Dec. 31, 1800,-which, according to the last subsidy and alliance-treaty, June 20, 1800, wouldIrave continued to the end of2February, 1801.Sept 1801