CHA P. II. Means for preventing the future Rower of the Roman Pontiffs.—And that of Auftria over the Countries compofing the Republics on the North and South of the Po.-Moderation and Lenity of the French Republic to the Non-juring Clergy.-At the fame Time that their Bigotry and Superfition are expofed to ridicule.—Exceffive Rejoicings and Exultations of the French at the Successes of their Arms in liofy.-Jealousy, Ency, and Refentment, against Buonaparte.-Who ufes Precautions for warding off the Effects of these, and gaining Popularity and Confidence, not only in France but Italy.-Moderation and Prudence of the Inhabitants of St. Marino.-Manificence of Buonaparte to that jull Republic.-Prevalence of Republican Principles in Italy.-Honour paid there to the French and Buonaparte.-Preparations of Auftria, for difputing with the French the Empire of Italy. The Imperial Army in Italy, commanded by the Archduke Charles-Attacked by the French, and forced to retreat.-Capture of Gradifca and Goritz.—Municipal Governments jettled in both these Towns, on the Republican Plan.-The Auftrians defeated with fevere Lols near Tarvis.-Audacious Spirit of the French Prifoners of War.The Infection of this Spirit dreaded by the Imperial Minifiry.-- A Divifion of the French Army, under Joubert, penetrates into the Tyrol.-Reduces most of the ftrong Forts of that Country.—And gains other fignal Advantages.-The French obtain Poffeffion of Brixen.-Proclamations of Buonaparte, addressed to the Subjects of the Emperor.-The Aufirians obliged to abandon their Head-Quarters at Clagenfurth.-The French crojš, the Drave-Farther Succeffes of the French, under Joubert, in the Tyrol.Remarkable Engagement between the Auftrians and French, in the Defiles leading to Newmarck.—The Auftrians continually defeated, but not dif couraged.-Confternation at Vienna.—But invincible Courage of the Aufirian and Hungarian Nobles.-Interesting Letter from Buonaparte to the Archduke Charles.-And the Archduke's Answer.—Armiflice between the Aufirians and French.-Honours and Praijes befiowed by the French Directory on the Army.—Reflections. of never fuffering future pontiffs to to recover them. It had already made an effential progrefs in this bufinefs, by formally approving the confederation of Reggio, Modena, Bologna, and Ferrara. To these it now added Romagna, for the purpofe of forming a larger commonwealth, and affented to the petition of the people of the Milanefe, and the other diftricts of Lombardy, who were eager to follow that example, by framing a republican compact on a fimilar plan. The union of interefts, which would, for many years, indiffolubly connect these two republics, was the beft fecurity that they would make a common caufe against the refloration of either the Auftrian or the papal power; both which were equally inimical to their newly acquired liberties, and would neglect no opportunity of reducing them to their former yoke. The French government, having refolved to accede to no pacification that fhould replace thefe countries in the poffeffion of two fuch inveterate enemies as Rome and Auftria, was equally ftudious to enable them, by proper arrangements among themlelves, to acquire a degree of ftrength fufficient to maintain the republican government they had erected, against the efforts which would be made to fubvert it by any Italian power. The population of the countries on the north and fouth of the Po, that compofed the two republics, was computed at upwards of four millions. This was amply adequate to their defence against their neighbours, without requiring the affittance of France, which would only be needed to protect them from the hoftile defigns of Auftria; and in this cafe they would fhortly be in a condition to cooperate effectually in refifting them. Thus the influence of France, in Italy, would henceforth be eftablished on the farest foundation, the neceffity of adhering faithfully to it by thofe ftates that depend on it for their prefervation. In addition to these measures, others were taken, not lefs conducive to remove the charge of inhumanity against the French government, than to prove of utility to it in other refpects among the Italians. As the laws enacted in France against the refractory clergy, though condemning them to banishment, did not forbid their refidence in the countries conquered by the French, Buonaparte, who fought upon all occations to adopt meafures of lenity, availed himself of the pow ers with which he was invefted, to iffue a proclamation in favour of these exiles. Herein he granted them a formal permiffion to refide in thofe parts of the pope's domi nions, that had been fubdued by the armies of the republic. The French troops were ftrictly forbidden to illufe, or infult them, and the inhabitants of the country of all defcriptions were laid under the fame reftrictions. These refugees were to be provided with all the neceflaries of life, at the expence of the convents appointed for their refidence. They were in return enjoined to take an oath of fidelity to the French government. This per miflion extended not only to those emigrant clergymen who had already taken refuge in the papal territories occupied by the republic, but also to thofe remaining in France, that were defirous of availing themfelves of the like indulgence. This regulation was highly conciliatory to thofe numbers of ecclefiaftics, who, though difapproving of the changes effected in politi and religious affairs in France, [C2] could not avoid feeling for their country, and being defirous of its welfare and reputation. Though it had banished them, through apprehenfions of danger from their principles, yet the prefent meafure thewed that it had not divefted it felf of all confideration for them. The pries did not forget the fervice thus rendered them. However averfe to the fyftem eftablished in their country, they ftill evinced, on feveral occafions, an attachment to its interefts, and a readiness to forward them as far as their confciences would permit. their enemies that thirft of revenge could produce. There was, however, a circumftance that diminished the fatiffaction, enjoyed by the people, at the triumphs of the French armies. It was in the contemplation of many, to bestow upon the commander-inchief fuch a remuneration, as might confpicuoufly perpetuate the remembrance of his victories. This was to confer upon him the title of Italicus, in imitation of the precedents in ancient Kome, and in fome modern ftates. All parties agreed in acknowledging the extraordinary merit of Buonaparte, and the wonderful actions he had performed. But there was also a party, which, though it did not deny the greatnes of his exploits, did not however coincide in the propriety of fuch a re compenfe. They either thought, or pretended to think, it inconfift ent with thofe maxims of fimplicity in rewards, that had hitherto diftinguifhed the republican government. This furmife was deemed, by a great part of the public, to be founded in envy more than in truth, and proceeding from the royal rather than the republican party. The hopes of thofe that longed for the retura of monarchy were fo enfeebled by the events of the campaign of In the mean time, the rejoicings Italy, that they could not difguife and exultation of the French, at the their grief. It was not from ther capture of Mantua, and the con- the author of thefe events could extinual fuccefles of their arms in pect to be rewarded for what they Italy, filled every part of the French would have been better pleased republic. The fpeeches that were that he had never performed. pronounced on this occafiou, in the Thus a diftinction, which the macouncil of five hundred, and in that jority of people afferted he had of the ancients, contained all the highly deferved, was withheld from applause of their foldiers and com- him, through refentment and envy, manders that enthufiafm could in- by the intrigues of the enemies to fpire, and all the reprobation of the republic, under pretence of But while Buonaparte was intent on mitigating the rigour exercited on the non-juring clergy, the French directory took no lefs care to lay before the infpection of the public, fundry objects of the fuperftitious veneration of thofe ignorant and credulons multitudes, over whom they fill retained fo much influence. Thofe objects were the principal relics contained in the church of Loretto. They were tranfmitted to France, in order to be expofed to derifion, and to leffen, by their evident abfurdity, the refped and credit of the Romih clergy, as abettors, either through bigotry or hypocrify, of thofe equally fhameful and ridiculous impofitions. sting conformably to its principles. The indifference teftified on this and on fome preceding occafions, at the fucceffes of Buonaparte and his companions in arms, produced both in him and them a fufpicion, that malevolent defigns were harboured against the republic; and that, notwithstanding the warmth expreffed by the numerous majority in its favour, a fecret party was forming that confifted of men equally artful and perfevering, who would employ every poffible method of depreciating the fervices rendered to it, and who were at the fame time fo thoroughly determined to effect their purposes, that no obftacles could weary out their patience in ftriving to compafs them. From this perfuafion of their commander-in-chief and his officers, arofe the repeated affurances of inviolable attachment and fidelity to the exifting government. They thought them necefiary to impofe a reftraint upon its oppofers, and to deter them from the attempts they might be meditating, by letting them fee how refolutely and ef fectually they would be refifted. among the French, but among the Italians, who had hitherto experienced little of that condefcenfion, especially from the Germans, who feldom ftudied to make their autho rity acceptable among the natives. The French commander never omitted any opportunity of ingratiating himself either in his private or public intercourfe, for either of which he was equally qualified, by his education and the politenessofhis manners. The influence he had acquired, by these means, poffibly was not inferior to that which he had obtained by his exploits. Thefe made him dreaded, but the others procured him esteem and attachment. The folicitude he had manifefted, in effecting and-confolidating the federal union between the re publics, of which he had encouraged the foundation, had, more than any other circumftance, raised his fame and credit among the Italian politicians, who had long wifhed for the revival of fuch fyftems in their country, recollecting how much it had formerly flourished under them. In compliance with this difpofition, which was now become very general in Italy, and to give it In order to conciliate the minds every poffible countenance and enof all people to the republic, Buona-couragement, the French commandparte had been particularly folicitous, er, while on the papal territories, ever fince his appointment to the availed himself of that opportunity fupreme command of the French to take refpectful notice of the little army in Italy, to diftinguifh himself but ancient commonwealth of St. Maby a punctual obfervance of all thofe rino, fituated in the dutchy of Urmaxims, on which the zealous and bino. He deputed thither citizen fincere republicans chiefly prided Monge, one of the commiffioners of themselves. He cautioufy avoided arts, and a member of the national all oftentation, and in his perfonal inftitute, a man of genius and knowdemeanour readily put himfelf on ledge. The commiffioner made a a footing of perfect equality with fpeech to the people of St. Marino, all perfons of decent fituations in which feemed to be intended as an fociety. Hence he had made him- addrefs to all Italy, and indeed to all telf a number of friends, not only Europe. He obferved that liberty, [C 3] which which had transformed the ancient Greeks and Romans into heroes, and had, in latter ages, revived the arts and sciences in the republics of Italy, had, while nearly banished from the face of Europe, ftill exifted in St. Marino, where, by the wifom of the government, and the virtue of the people, it had been preferved for centuries. The French too, he faid, after a whole age of knowledge, had at length perceived their own flavery, and afferted their free dom. But the powers of Europe, fhutting their eyes to the intereft of mankind, had confederated againft the liberty of France, and thought to partition it among them. The French were affailed on all their frontiers; and what most aggravated their calamities, many of their own countrymen united with the enemy to diftrefs them. But they flood firm in the midst of all dangers, and gradually overcame all their enemies. Some were glad to relinquish the confederacy, and others were compelled to fue for peace. Jealoufy, pride, and hatred, kept together their remaining foes. The French had, in the course of the prefent campaign, defiroyed four Auftrian armies; but the enemy fill rejected peace. The commiftioner then affured the people of St. Marino of peace and friendthip on the part of France. Were any of their poffeffions to be difputed, or any adjacent territory neceflary to their well-being, they might freely apply to the good offices of the republic. The answer to this addrefs was refpectful and temperate. After expreffing thofe fentiments of admiration, at the valour and heroifin of the French general and his army, to which they were justly intituled, the citizens of St. Marino modeftly de clined thofe offers of addition to their fmail territory, which had been made by the French commiffioner, telling him, that fimplicity of manners, and the enjoy ment of liberty, were the best inheritance tranfmitted to them by their ancestors; and that, content with their mediocrity, they dreaded aggrandifement, as dangerous to their freedom. The only request they would make was the protection of France. The moderation and prudence of the inhabitants of this little repub lic was juftly rewarded by the mus nificence of the French commander. He prefented it with four pieces of cannon, in the name of the French republic. He exempted their poffellions in the Romagna, from all contributions, and refufed the tender of payment for a confiderable quantity of corn, of which he ge nerously made them a donation. Buonaparte had not only fignalized himfelf by feats of arms: he had equally fucceeded in that object which was requifite for the complete attainment of the purposes of his expedition. Thele were to revolutionize the minds of the Italians, the better to fit them for those changes in their various governments, that would affimilate them to the fyftem eftablished in France. Republican principles had taken forcible root in many, if not of moft of thofe places fubdued by the French, or rather torn from their former owners, for the emancipation of the nations, to fpeak the language of these as well as of the French themselves, who boafted that, contrarily to the practice of crowned heads, they conquered for the benefit of mankind at large, and fought no other emolument from |