Eridanus, thro’ flowery meadows stray,
The king of floods! that, rolling o’er their plains,
The towering Alps of half their moisture drains,
And proudly swoll’n with a whole winter’s snows,
Distributes wealth and plenty where it flows.”
Soon after this we entered the Milanese territories, and were impressed with the propriety of manner in which our baggage was inspected by the Austrian troops; there was no disposition to neglect their public duty for private interest, no sneaking after bribes; they maintained the necessity of examination, but it was effected, without reward, in an unvexatious manner, and with a proper consideration and respect for the feelings of the proprietors. The only charge made was a regular government fee for the attachment of stamped leads, to enable our luggage to pass throughout all other stations belonging to this government without farther interruption.
I am happy in being able to concur with a number of my countrymen, in doing justice to the integrity of the Austrians in their various transactions with English travellers: that the natives should inveigh against them is not surprising; since it could scarcely be expected, under their relative political situation, and amidst the great distinction of character and habits, that the two nations should assimilate cordially together. Although the Milanese now profess to give the preference to the French government, the time was, during the superior influence of that nation, that they were as averse to its domination, as they are now to that of Austria. Such is the versatility of human nature!
When we were within four miles of Lodi, one of the wheels of our carriage flew off, in consequence of the linchpin becoming disengaged; we spent some time in looking for it, but in vain, and were obliged to substitute a piece of wood, which, however, carried us safely to Lodi. We immediately, on our arrival, proceeded to visit the celebrated bridge, immortalized by the victory of Bonaparte over the Austrians, and which was mainly gained by his own bravery and personal exertions. We found it nearly two miles distant from where our carriage stopped; but to have left it unnoticed, would have been as unpardonable as to have gone to Loretto, without seeing the casa santa of the blessed Virgin.
I cannot do better than give the following concise account of this day, so important to the destinies of the future ruler of France.
“Beaulieu had drawn up his forces behind the Adda, and fortified, with thirty pieces of cannon, a long bridge, in front of which was the town of Lodi, defended by his advanced posts: these Bonaparte attacked, and, after a sharp contest, drove into the town; from whence they passed the bridge, and joined the main body of their army. A battalion of French grenadiers, who had hitherto borne down all before them, now reached the bridge, shouting, “Vive la Republique,” but the dreadful fire kept up by the enemy having stopped their progress, Generals Berthier, Massena, Cervoni, &c. rushed forward: still, however, even their presence might have proved ineffectual, if it had not been for the gallantry of Bonaparte, who, snatching a standard from the hand of a subaltern, placing himself in front, animating his soldiers by his actions and gesticulations, for his voice was drowned by the noise of musquetry and cannon; till these intrepid fellows, led on by their beloved commander, passed the bridge, amidst showers of cannon balls, silencing the artillery, and throwing the main body of Beaulieu’s army in such disorder, that he fled with haste towards Mantua; having lost in this action twenty field pieces, and in killed, wounded, and prisoners, above two thousand men.”