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The English official accounts from the army in Italy, have been esteemed for their perspicuity, accuracy and liberality. We should, therefore, deem ourselves deficient in duty, were we to omit the preservation of the following.

Of the Battle of Novi.

DOWNING-STREET, SEPT. 9.
From Lord W. Bentinck, to Lord Grenville.
Novi, August 16, 1799.

MY LORD,

The column under Gen. Kray on the 12th and on the day following was to have proceeded to the place of its destination on the left of the whole, according to the plan of operations which I sent your Lordship some time ago. On the 12th, the enemy was in motion in different points, and it appeared as if he meditated some attack: Gen. Kray was therefore ordered to remain at Alexandria till further orders. Gen. Bellegarde, with eight thousand men, was at Seravallo, and the Field Marshal with six thousand Russians, was at Pozzolo Formiggolo; his advanced posts in front of Scravello. The remainder of the troops were at Rivolta. On the 13th the enemy continued to advance in great numbers. The Marshal had given orders that no partial action should be engaged in with the French; in consequence of which Gen. Bellegarde was directed upon the approach of the enemy to march to Rivolta, upon the Orba: The advanced posts before Scravello, to Novi. On the 14th Gen. Kray advanced to Tortona: It was hoped that Gen. Kray might have been able to have cut off a small French column which had followed Gen. Bellegarde as far as Castelcerro, but had early on the morning of the 14th turned to the right, and had marched to Novi, where the whole French force was concentrated: The great and extensive plain of Piedmont is terminated at Novi by a very long ridge of hills which rise so suddenly and are so steep that the ascent is extremely difficult, though the height is not very great; they extend towards Basaluzzo on one side, and towards Scraville on the other, and upon these heights the enemy was encamped on the 12th, their right towards Basaluzzo, overlooked the whole plain. The army was commanded by Gen. Joubert, and consisted of six divisions, amounting to about thirty thousand men; their object was to raise the siege of Tortona, and they were to have attacked the allied army on the 16th; the Marshal, however, determined to anticipate them in their intentions, and orders were given to Gen. Kray to take under his command the corps of Gen. Bellegarde, and to fall upon the left of the enemy, and the Russians were to attack the front of their position. As it was reported that the enemy had detached a considerable corps in the mountain towards Tortona, Gen. Melas remained at Rivolta, with the remains of the army in order to cover the siege of Tortona, or to march to the support of the Marshal, if necessary.

The attack was made by Gen. Kray at 5 o'clock in the morning of the 15th; it continued with great violence for several hours, but the difficulty of the ground and the numbers of the French obliged him to retire. The Russians also engaged the front of the enemy, but they were repulsed with very great loss. About two o'clock Gen. Kray made a second attempt upon the enemy's left, while the Russians at the same time again endeavoured to penetrate the centre of the enemy's line. Notwithstanding the utmost bravery of the allied troops, the French maintained their position. Most fortunately, at this moment, Gen. Melas arrived with sixteen battalions of Austrian infantry, attacked the enemy's right, which he beat back without difficulty. Having turned the flank of the enemy, he pursued his advantage, and got possession of Novi, supporting the attack of Gen. Melas with great vigour, and the whole French line was thrown into confusion, and retreated in the greatest disorder. The whole line pursued.
Gen. Grouchy, commanding a division, endeavoured to rally his men, but in vain; he was taken prisoner. Three other Generals, Colli, Bordonau and Perignon; four thousand prisoners, thirty pieces of cannon and fifty-seven tumbrels, are the result of this victory. I fear the loss of the allies must have amounted to near five thousand men.

I forgot to mention that Gen. Joubert was killed, and that Moreau, who was present as a volunteer, has again taken the command of the army:

I have the honour to be, &c.

W. BENTINCK.