insula. Lantrec, the French commander, did not pause to reinstate Sforza in his duchy, but proceeded at once towards the papal territories, with the intention of freeing the pope, and had scarcely entered them when he received news that Clement had escaped from his prison. The object for which he had entered Romagna being thus at an end, Lantrec proceeded to attempt the conquest of Naples. The enfeebled remains of the imperial army fled before him; most of the Neapolitan towns declared for the French; the forces of Charles the Fifth were shut up in the capital; the harbour was filled with the combined fleets of France, Genoa, and Venice; and Lantrec would doubtlessly have won the day, but for the disgust which his court imprudently gave to a citizen of Genoa.

ANDREW DORIA.
A. D. 1528.

THE Genoese had always been distinguished for their naval exploits. Next to the immortal Columbus, the citizen of whom Genoa had most reason to be proud was Andrew Doria. Both were unjustly oppressed by foreign courts; one discovered a new world; the other secured the

happiness of the little state in which he had been born.

In

Andrew Doria was born in the year 1466, and at an early age displayed a great fondness for a seafaring life, which was discouraged by his parents, who wished him to pursue military renown. compliance with their wishes, he entered the army, and they had the pleasure of hearing his name ranked with those of the great captains of his day. Some years after the death of his father and mother, Doria was gratified by an opportunity of pursuing the bent of his original inclination. He was appointed admiral of the Genoese fleet, and fought for some years under the flag of the French, who at that period were masters of Genoa. At length he was summoned to unite with the French and Venetian fleets in blockading the German army in Naples, while Lautrec besieged them by land. Doria had hitherto served the French cause with fidelity and zeal, but his honest sincerity had provoked the ministers of Francis the First to treat him with slight and severity. His pay was withheld, his advice contemptuously rejected, and his character represented to the king as ambitious and obstinate. Doria bore these injuries in silence, but when his enemies, imboldened by his forbearance, proceeded to withdraw the French trade from Genoa, and fortify the neighbouring town of

Savona as if to render it the rival of his birth-place, his indignation could no longer be restrained. He sent a warm remonstrance to the king, demanding justice for his country and himself. Francis replied by sending an officer to supersede him in command, to arrest him, and seize his galleys. Doria announced his willingness to give up his command, and those vessels which belonged to France, but his galleys, he said, were his private property, and he would surrender them to no one. He immediately withdrew, the French not daring to molest him, and made an offer of his services to Charles the Fifth, on condition that his native city should be freed. The emperor joyfully accepted his terms, and Doria, no longer an enemy but an ally of the besieged Germans, brought them relief and protection. Plenty once more reigned in the streets of Naples, and the French, forced to abandon the siege, too late repented the harshness which had deprived them of Doria.

Naples was thus left in the hands of Charles the Fifth. Meanwhile, Doria returning to his native city, found the French garrison reduced by pestilence to an inconsiderable number, and assisted his countrymen in driving them from Genoa. The city was now in his power, but instead of retaining it as the reward of his valour, he assembled the

inhabitants, and desired them to establish what form of government they thought most advisable. He was listened to with tears of joy, and twelve persons were chosen to appoint such laws as the state of the republic seemed to require. The grateful Genoese would willingly have bestowed on Doria the title of prince, but he steadily refused it, saying his greatest happiness was to promote that of his country. They then erected a marble statue of him in their public square as a testimony of their thankfulness, and inscribed it "to the best of citizens and most successful of champions."

Many years of tranquil happiness ensued, and as Doria's hair became bleached with age, he daily found the respect and esteem of his friends increase; while the few who were jealous of his uninterrupted prosperity were obliged to murmur their discontent under their breath. At length a dark cloud arose, which for a time troubled the sunny evening of his days, and threatened to change the fortunes of Genoa.

Doria had no children, and intended for his heir one of his grand-nephews, to whom he was deeply attached. This young man, named Giannettino, was vain and frivolous, and talked with so little prudence of what steps he should take when he

succeeded his uncle, as to alarm the jealousy of the Genoese, who began to apprehend the future subversion of their newly acquired and dearly prized liberties.

Among those who were most suspicious of Giannettino's designs was Count Fiesco of Lavagna. This nobleman, possessed of every quality that can attract esteem, noble in his birth, graceful in his person, and idolized by his adherents, concealed beneath a careless and cheerful demeanor all the dispositions that incline men to take the lead in dangerous conspiracies. His pride was deeply wounded at the consequential airs assumed by young Doria, and he was, or affected to be, convinced that Andrew aspired to make his nephew sovereign of Genoa. Having by dark hints and innuendoes acquainted many of his friends with his opinions, and made himself master of theirs, he spirited them to concert with him measures for destroying the house of Doria.

To conceal his deep designs from those who were excluded from his confidence, he affected a perpetual carelessness and gaiety, pursuing the most trifling amusements with the eagerness of one who took heed only for the diversion of the passing minute, while in secret he was preparing every thing for the execution of his purpose. He entered into correspondence with the Duke of Parma and the French ambassador at Rome, and