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existence itself, to be the offspring of that nefarious proceeding. Interrogate your inmost hearts, and the aspect of your country; the misery that reigns there confirms this melancholy truth.

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'In this extremity of evil, it was necessary to have recourse to extreme remedies; and arms, purely protective, are associated with me in an enterprise, which the conscience of every man, if not the delirium of passion, will allow to be most holy. I trust that in this mission I shall meet with full support in the good sense, piety, and gratitude of those, who have always been especially dear to my heart, and to whom 1 am impatient to give no doubtful proof of my affection, moved therein by Him who will never cease to be more a Father to you than a Prince."

Thus four armies assailed the Roman Republic; one of which promised liberty, and a government acceptable to the people; the other three brought nothing but the gift of clerical government. The Pontifical Commissioner promised to relieve the oppressed and humiliate the oppressors, a mission worthy of a priest, whilst he headed foreign troops, and those the most hateful of all, to restore, after the ordinary fashion, temporal dominion.

The invasions occasioned still greater deteriorations in the credit of the Roman treasury, so that the metallic currency came to be double the value of paper, and small exchanges were effected with so much difficulty that shopkeepers were obliged to issue a kind of conventional money of their own. This scarcity of money caused much trouble and annoyance to the citizens; but as the lower orders-whether they worked, or only pretended to do so-whether they remained under arms in order to fight, or to get paywere rewarded with double or still higher wages, it

followed not only that they did not suffer, but that they had more than usual to spend on their wants or their pleasures. Moreover, as there are in Rome but few proprietors or citizens who live on their incomes, or by commerce or trade, and as advocates, pettifoggers, busybodies, writers, quarrelsome fellows, beadles, and ciceroni, who are very numerous and industrious, easily got hold, in such confusion, of employment, or of the public money, it followed that the distressed and discontented were not very numerous. But the peccant humours which abounded found food in the perils that menaced the country, and as individual malignant passions not only do injury to the public weal, but also to the public reputation, they militated against the wellbeing of society, and also against the character of the Government. In fact, many tumults and disorders occurred, which being of no great moment when the unusual state of things is considered, I think it superfluous to recount. But it must be recorded to their lasting shame that some of those who were employed in the police, or public offices, made use of the money or stores given or voted to the public use for their own advantage; and that others were guilty of rapine and violence without meeting with the punishment justly due to their crimes. The enthusiasm caused by the victory which had been obtained; the hope of still greater glory; national indignation, and the charms of Republicanism, filled, indeed, the souls of a nobleminded youth, and of a proud and honourable people; but it was not the same with those perverse men who make their appearance in times of revolution, and

seize upon the substance, and rebel against the usages of civilized society. Thus when once the Government, thinking to find desperate aid for a desperate enterprise, had exerted themselves to kindle the flame of insurrection in the minds of the people, they did not find it so easy afterwards to extinguish the hatred, tame the vengeance, and reduce to moderation the affections and passions which had been thus excited. It even seemed as though they were too compassionate towards the follies and crimes of those who swore by the Mazzinian creed; and the Master being seen to hold familiar intercourse with rogues, such intimacy took from the Government the authority of correcting their opinions and actions. And as amidst the delirium of despair, the souls of men lose the consciousness of noble feelings, and think only of their own safety, so governments reduced to such a state lose all sense of justice and honour, and do not heed events which in peaceful times would fill them with horror.

But at last circumstances occurred which moved the rulers of Rome. One day a report went about that in the neighbourhood of Rome guns had been fired at some of the soldiers, and whether true or not (for it is difficult to say) the exaggerated account of this supposed attack led to the belief that a reaction had commenced, and that the Jesuits had been the authors of this violence. Whereupon the soldiers and the people armed themselves in haste, and went out in search of the culprits. It is natural and probable that the priests and Jesuits plotted against the Republic, and kept up

intercourse with the enemy, but it was certainly the fancy of a diseased imagination to believe that they would go into the suburb to pursue Republican soldiers, or that they would take their revenge in such a manner. The fact is, that three unfortunate menwhether they were Jesuits, or vine-dressers, we have no certain proof-were seized and led into Rome, amidst the imprecations of the threatening crowd. "Help! help! they are Jesuits—at 'em! at 'em!" was the cry, and they were torn to pieces at Pont' Sant' Angelo before they were dead. Villas were sacked, houses were entered, property plundered, and the inmates injured; threats were whispered of sacking convents; so great was the appetite for the money of churches and monasteries.

On the 8th of May the Etruscan Museum, abounding in gold, a more attractive bait to thieves than the curiosities of the arts, was found open. It was imagined that pilferers had discovered some means of opening the doors in order to enter afterwards at their leisure, and rob with impunity, and perhaps this was in fact their intention. But as, on the restoration of the Papal Government, it was discovered that there was a Papal employé in the Museum who had stolen some coins, it is doubtful whether he had not opened the doors that blame might be laid on outdoor robbers and not on the indoor thief. As also, whilst the Republic lasted, there was really nothing abstracted from the Museum, excepting what this fellow had purloined, the charge of dishonouring their country, which was laid at the door of Republicans on this account, is

false. But the circumstances which I have mentioned led the Triumvirs to provide that similar crimes should be investigated and punished by military tribunals. The severe manifesto I subjoin proves the gravity of the case, and the perturbation which filled the minds. of the authorities.

Rare, but serious disorders, the first commencement of a system of plunder, offences against property, menace the majestic calm with which Rome has sanctified her victory. For the honour of Rome, for the triumph of the sacred cause which we defend, it is necessary that these disorders should cease. Everything in Rome should be great, the energy of the combat, and the bearing of the people after victory. The arms of men, who live, mindful of their ancestors, should, in the midst of these eternal memories, be never aimed at the breast of the unarmed, or used to protect acts of violence. The repose of Rome should be that of the Lion-a repose as solemn as its roar is terrible. Romans! your Triumvirs have taken upon themselves the solemn pledge of showing to Europe that you are better than those who assail you, that every accusation hurled against you is a calumny; that Republican principles have extinguished those seeds of anarchy which were fomented. by the previous Government, and which the re-establishment of the past alone could reproduce; that you are not only brave, but good, and that firmness and law are the soul of your Republic. Under these conditions, your Triumvirs will remain at your head with pride: under these conditions they will fight, hastening with you to the barricades, citizens like yourselves. Let them remain inviolate as the love which binds together rulers and people, irrevocable as the common resolve of Government and people, to maintain intact, and pure from every stain, the banner of the Republic.

"The person is inviolable, the Government alone has the right and duty to punish.

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Property is inviolable. Every stone in Rome is sacred. The Government alone has the right and duty to modify the

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