countries of which I write it has brought forth many bitter fruits and is ripening more; and that there are those who cherish it, who promise themselves from it miracles of Italian resurrection and the emancipation of the laity, it is imperative upon me to stamp with infamy the crimes which I have related, and the names of the criminals with which I would not stain these pages if it could be otherwise, for we do not pick the names of common executioners out of the mire, and in the mire I would leave those of Zambianchi and his fellows, if the frenzy of factions did not honour the corruption which creates and fosters them.

So, too, as I am discussing this painful subject and approaching the conclusion of the task which I have undertaken, the reader will pardon me, if, with my thoughts intent on that province of Italy in which I was born, and which, as the seat of the temporal sovereignty of the Pope, is of great importance in Italy and in Europe, I allude to those aberrations of the moral sense, of the sense of right, and, I may say, of common sense, or even of vulgar instinct, which to some may appear unworthy not only of confutation, but of mention. I mean, how hatred to ecclesiastical rule is turning every day more and more into hatred to the clergy, so that threats of a general slaughter are whispered about; how, going further and further in this direction, the crimes of priests are imputed to religion and a ready ear given to those madmen who would put rationalism in the place of religion, and themselves in the place of the Pope. Now this bias, which they try to give to the youth of Italy and

the populace, is not only wicked but ridiculous, for the whole body of the priesthood cannot be destroyed in a State, much less in a nation; and if such a thing could happen, the clergy would survive in other countries, and if they were to be rooted out of Europe, they would be found existing in America and in Australia; and if they were to be destroyed throughout all the earth, they would soon rise again from their ashes; for the faithful, who, failing a hierarchy and priesthood, are the Church, would themselves consecrate priests, so that, in order to destroy the clergy, the Church must be destroyed, and whether that is a work to be accomplished by a few madmen, I leave to the judgment of all who have common sense to decide, let them believe or not believe in the Church of Christ and its eternal destinies. Woe to Italy, if her youth do not cast away these impieties, these barbarous, these wicked follies!

At the same time that the reputation of the Roman Government was declining daily, through crimes designedly exaggerated by the foreigners who opposed it, its authority in the State also declined more and more. Wimpffen was at Ancona, and had desired the authorities to let him occupy it; and when the President had signified their determination to resist, he besieged it by land, while the ships attacked and blockaded it by sea. On the 25th of May the combat began, and the youth and the people of Ancona, who had betaken themselves in great numbers to the defence, in the absence of troops, showed greater bravery than their commander Zambeccari showed experience and skill in guiding and directing them. The Roman Govern

ment was not in a state to give them any aid, and the minister Avezzana, who had gone in that direction, was not permitted to enter the city. The lands and villages in the neighbourhood of Ancona were already in possession of the Austrians, and they levied contributions on them at their pleasure. It was Alpi who acted as Commissary. The resistance of Ancona lasted twenty days; the defenders attempted sallies, but with little success; and the assailants, by means of cannon, of which they possessed an abundance, conquered with little difficulty; but it was thought that if they had had a better general than Zambeccari, Ancona might have been able to make a longer resistance. The citizens surrendered by capitulation, on the terms stipulated by the Municipality. The Austrians pursued the same course, and made the same provisions, as they had done a little while before at Bologna. Thanks to them, Cardinal de Angelis was set at liberty, with the relations of the Pope, and of Monsignor Bedini, who, by way of reprisal, according to the usual fashion and morals of reprisals, had been seized in Sinigallia, and sent captives to Ancona. Monsignor Savelli was then sent to Ancona as Pontifical Commissioner to govern the Marches. Alpi made his entrance with the Austrians as head of the Commissariat and Commissioner for reprisals, and soon made himself notorious. He was pleased to take up his lodging in the palace of Prince Simonetti, and having asked which were the rooms that had been occupied by Don Annibale, who had been the adviser and Minister of Pius IX., he desired to have them placed at his disposal, although the servants

informed him that their master was expected.

He

did arrive shortly after, and remonstrated with his guest, who would not accept any other lodging within or without the palace; and because, having remonstrated in vain, he may have made use of some expressions fitting for an Alpi, he was arrested and in broad daylight led to prison, whilst the Austrian to whom he appealed condemned him to be shot, if he did not make an apology. Thus the allies of the Pope paid their debt of gratitude towards those estimable men, who had assisted the Pope with their counsel and courageous acts in most difficult times. Simonetti appealed to Gaeta, and received courteous words, of which this was the result, that in a little time Alpi was raised to an important post in the administration of the State.

VOL. IV.

M

CHAPTER IX.

M. DE RAYNEVAL AT THE CAMP.-NOTE FROM

HIM TO LESSEPS.—

HIS ANSWER.-TERMS PROPOSED TO THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT BY LESSEPS AND OUDINOT.-DELIBERATIONS AND PROPOSALS OF THE TRIUMVIRS.-MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL OUDINOT.-DEMANDS MADE BY LESSEPS.-HIS NOTE.-DECLARATIONS MADE BY THE GENERAL. -MEETING AND COMPLAINT OF THE GENERALS.-ANSWER MADE BY LESSEPS.-ANGRY WORDS OF OUDINOT.-RESOLUTION TAKEN BY HIM.-FRESH APPEALS.-LESSEPS AT ROME. HIS STIPULATIONS WITH THE TRIUMVIRS.-LESSEPS RETURNS TO THE CAMP.ANGER OF GENERAL OUDINOT.-OPEN DISAGREEMENT.-ORDERS OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.-INTIMATION OF WAR.-STATE OF THE FRENCH ARMY.-FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC.-ADVICE OF COLONEL LE BLANC ON THE ATTACK OF ROME.-PLAN OF GENERAL VAILLANT. IT IS APPROVED.-SURPRISE BY THE FRENCH.ENGAGEMENTS OF THE 3RD OF JUNE.-WORKS OF APPROACH.ATTEMPTS OF THE ROMANS TO DESTROY THEM.-SALLIES.—INSTANCES OF BRAVERY.

As soon as M. de Rayneval, who was the most eager of all the French Envoys and Ambassadors that the army should enter Rome, knew that M. Lesseps was still endeavouring to keep it back, and was about to open fresh negotiations, he went to him from Gaeta, on the 27th of May, and thus addressed him, first by word of mouth, and then in writing:

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"Since you have been pleased to confide to me fully all your ideas, your intentions, and your proceedings, I have not only to thank you for the trust you have placed in me, but to reciprocate it by putting you in full possession of my thoughts. My