CHAPTER XI.
1797 Effect of the 18th Fructidor on the peace--The standard of the army of Italy--Honours rendered to the memory of General Hoche and of Virgil at Mantua--Remarkable letter--In passing through Switzerland Bonaparte visits the field of Morat--Arrival at Rastadt--Letter from the Directory calling Bonaparte to Paris--Intrigues against Josephine--Grand ceremony on the reception of Bonaparte by the Directory--The theatres--Modesty of Bonaparte--An assassination-- Bonaparte's opinion of the Parisians--His election to the National Institute--Letter to Camus--Projects--Reflections.
The day of the 18th Fructidor had, without any doubt, mainly contributed to the conclusion of peace at Campo Formio.

On the one hand, the Directory, hitherto not very pacifically inclined, after having effected a 'coup d'etat', at length saw the necessity of appeasing the discontented by giving peace to France.

On the other hand, the Cabinet of Vienna, observing the complete failure of all the royalist plots in the interior, thought it high time to conclude with the French Republic a treaty which, notwithstanding all the defeats Austria had sustained, still left her a preponderating influence over Italy.
Besides, the campaign of Italy, so fertile in glorious achievements of arms, had not been productive of glory alone.

Something of greater importance followed these conquests.

Public affairs had assumed a somewhat unusual aspect, and a grand moral influence, the effect of victories and of peace, had begun to extend all over France.
Republicanism was no longer so sanguinary and fierce as it had been some years before.