ly ▁of ▁the ▁French , ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Cape ▁Saint ▁Vincent . ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 9 : ▁P ius ▁VI ▁c edes ▁Com tat ▁V ena iss in ▁and ▁the ▁northern ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁Italian ▁pap al ▁states ▁to ▁the ▁new ▁C is pad ane ▁Republic . ▁▁ ▁February ▁ 2 0 : ▁Begin ning ▁of ▁the ▁trial ▁of ▁B abe uf ▁and ▁his ▁leading ▁follow ers ▁at ▁the ▁High ▁Court ▁of ▁Justice ▁in ▁V end ôme . ▁▁ ▁March ▁ 2 : ▁The ▁Directory ▁author izes ▁French ▁war ships ▁to ▁capture ▁U . S . ▁ships , ▁in ▁ret ali ation ▁for ▁the ▁British - US ▁treat y ▁of ▁February ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 7 9 6 . ▁ ▁March ▁ 9 : ▁Bon ap arte ▁begins ▁a ▁new ▁off ensive ▁in ▁Italy ▁against ▁the ▁army ▁of ▁the ▁Arch du ke ▁Charles , ▁Duke ▁of ▁T esch en . ▁▁ ▁March ▁ 1 8 : ▁French ▁vot ers ▁are ▁required ▁to ▁take ▁an ▁o ath ▁of ▁f idel ity ▁to ▁the ▁government ▁before ▁voting ▁on ▁April ▁ 1 8 . ▁ ▁April ▁ 7 : ▁After ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁vict ories ▁by ▁Bon ap arte , ▁the ▁Aust ri ans ▁agree ▁to ▁negoti ate . ▁▁ ▁April ▁ 1 8 : ▁Pre lim inary ▁Tre aty ▁of ▁Le oben ; ▁Austria ▁gives ▁up ▁its ▁claim ▁to ▁the ▁Aust rian ▁Netherlands ▁(" Bel g ian ▁Provin ces "); ▁a ▁secret ▁agreement ▁div ides ▁the ▁territ ories ▁of ▁Ven ice