His motley host struggled over a long stretch of mountains in the short days of October over unknown paths, in one part swept away by a fall of the cliff, and ever and anon beset by clouds of treacherous Gauls.

Seeing that the great Carthaginian's difficulties began long before he reached the Alps, that he was encumbered by elephants, and that his army was composed of diverse races held together only by trust in the prowess of their chief, his exploit was far more wonderful than that of Bonaparte, which, indeed, more nearly resembles the crossing of the St.Bernard by Francis I.in 1515.

The difference between the conditions of Hannibal's and Bonaparte's enterprises may partly be measured by the time which they occupied.

Whereas Hannibal's march across the Alps lasted fifteen days, three of which were spent in the miseries of a forced halt amidst the snow, the First Consul's forces took but seven days.
Whereas the Carthaginian army was weakened by hunger, the French carried their full rations of biscuit; and at the head of the pass the monks of the Hospice of St.Bernard served out the rations of bread, cheese, and wine which the First Consul had forwarded, and which their own generosity now doubled.

The hospitable fathers themselves served at the tables set up in front of the Hospice.
After insuring the regular succession of troops and stores, Bonaparte himself began the ascent on May 20th.