army.  In Italy, Melas, another Austrian marshal, with 140,000 men,
aided by the whole force of the British navy, was rushing upon the
eastern and southern borders of the Republic.  The French troops,
disheartened by defeat, had fled before their foes over the Alps,
or were eating their horses and their boots in the cities where
they were besieged.  From almost every promontory on the coast of
the Republic, washed by the Channel, or the Mediterranean, the eye
could discern English frigates, black and threatening, holding all
France in a state of blockade. 

One always finds a certain pleasure in doing that which he can do
well.  Napoleon was fully conscious of his military genius.  He had,
in behalf of bleeding humanity, implored peace in vain.  He now,
with alacrity and with joy, roused himself to inflict blows that
should be felt upon his multitudinous enemies.  With such tremendous
energy did he do this, that he received from his antagonists the
most complimentary sobriquet of the one hundred thousand men .
Wherever Napoleon made his appearance in the field, his presence
alone was considered equivalent to that force.