rifies, and ruins the inhabitants of Rome.

The bottom

of this system is nothing but a deficit and bankruptcy. I told Rayneval that I had endeavoured to pluck off the mask from this modern Nero." And he concluded by saying, the French troops ought not to be brought into contact with the Roman soldiers, who were the scum of Socialism and of secret conspiracies.

In this way the Envoy took all authority away from the advice he had given up to that time, or might give in future, with the aim of bringing to a close the mission with which he had been entrusted of framing an agreement with the authorities that were governing Rome.

CHAPTER VII.

AUSTRIAN

THE

INVASION.-ANSWER

GIVEN BY THE COMMUNE OF FERRARA.-DETERMINATION OF BOLOGNA.-ATTACK BY WIMPFFEN.AMBUSCADE.- ENGAGEMENT OUTSIDE THE WALLS.- BOLOGNESE KILLED.THE MUNICIPALITY.—THE COMMITTEE OF DEFENCE.PRESIDENT.-DEBATE ON THE SURRENDER.-POPULAR TUMULTS.-COMMISSIONERS FOR THE GOVERNMENT.-FRESH ATTACKS BY THE AUSTRIANS.-MILITARY LICENCE.-BURNING OF THE VILLA BIGNAMI.- - DISTRESS IN THE CITY.-ENGAGEMENTS.-MESSENGERS SENT TO WIMPFFEN.-HIS SEVERITY.-FRESH DEPUTATIONS TO THE AUSTRIAN CAMP.-HARD TERMS PROPOSED BY WIMPFFEN. BARBAROUS ACTS.-DISCOURAGEMENT OF THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE. THE MUNICIPAL MAGISTRATES GO TO THE CAMP ACCOMPANIED BY THE ARCHBISHOP.- PROPOSALS MADE BY THE SENATOR. STIPULATIONS.- ENTRANCE OF THE AUSTRIANS. PROVISIONS MADE OF MONSIGNOR BEDINI.- FRESH FROM GENERAL

BY

LESSEPS.-LETTER

GORZHOWSKI.- MANIFESTO PACIFIC ADVICE GIVEN BY OUDINOT TO THE AUSTRIAN GENERAL.-COUNCIL OF THE GENERALS.-LETTER FROM THE TRIUMVIRS ΤΟ LESSEPS. ANSWER FROM LESSEPS.-HIS LETTER TO PARIS.-OBSERVATIONS.

THE Austrians continued to prove themselves restorers of the clerical Government, the open enemies of Italy, and not her friends. With the exception of Alpi, and a few others of his faction, who hovered about the camp in the character of spies, intent on taking vengeance or securing booty, there was not a single party, or man of character, to whom they were, not hateful. At Ferrara they ordered the Commune to declare for the restoration of the Pope; but the Coun

cil of the Commune answered that they preferred the Republic. At Bologna they intimated that if the citizens did not return to their allegiance to the Pope, they would be severely punished; but Bologna held firm, though it was without natural defences, and possessed neither soldiers nor artillery. The popular leaders, animated by the example of Rome, and by the memory of the 8th of August, hoped to conquer through the ardour of the people; the citizens, whose judgment was not blinded by enthusiasm, knew that the city was incurring great risk without hope of triumph; but they felt, on the other hand, that it was their duty to testify their abhorrence of the Austrians, and the bad government which they were bent on restoring, by self-sacrifice. As soon as Wimpffen had posted his troops on the hills which command the city, he began to batter it with artillery and bombs, and simultaneously attacked the Porta Galliera on the one side, and the Porta San Felice, and the Porta Saragossa on the other; then he made a feint of retreating, and abandoned some guns outside the Porta Galliera, that the defenders, who fought with much valour, but without order and experience, might fall into the snare. The few officers who were skilled in military tactics saw clearly through the stratagem, and did all they could to warn the people, who wanted to rush upon the guns, but the foolhardy temerity of the inexperienced populace, and the shouts of others who took care not to scorch themselves whilst they fanned the flame, prevailed over their prudent advice, and it was determined forthwith to make a sally; and because the turbulent

cast reproaches on the officers who were loth to put the lives of the citizens in such desperate jeopardy, Marliani, an excellent musical composer, and a courageous soldier in the War of Independence, braved the peril that he might humiliate the insolence of the calumniators; and Colonel Boldrini, who had insisted, more than any one else, on the certain loss which would ensue, courageously volunteered to head the sally. The Bolognese then issued forth from the Porta Galliera, but they had scarcely reached the abandoned guns, when others, concealed at a short distance, began to pour forth destruction, and twenty valiant men were killed; among the first who fell were Marliani, Boldrini, and Pavoni, a subaltern officer in the Carabineers; several others were wounded, among whom was Major Colombarini. The attack and defence having lasted until the close of day, the Municipal authorities requested the President to summon the Committee of Defence to a Council, that they might consider whether, destitute as they were of means for gaining a victory, and having secured the honour of the Bolognese arms by the engagement in which many brave men had fallen, it would not be advisable to consent to terms such as would preserve the citizens from further peril, and the city from destruction. The Commissioners, who were Bignami, General of the National Guard, Colonels Pichi and Marescotti, commanding the few soldiers of the line, and Majors Colombarini and Paulucci, made answer, that considering the want of means and the preponderating force of the enemy, inasmuch as the engagement had lasted seven hours

with serious loss to the defenders and damage to the city, the honour of their arms was saved, and Europe had received a fresh proof of the national spirit of Bologna; they therefore felt it was their duty to agree in opinion with the President Biancoli, that he might consent to terms. The President, who considered he had fulfilled his duty in the first instance by counselling resistance, believed that he should now be fulfilling the duty of a citizen by taking care that the city should suffer no further damage, so far as he could prevent it, he therefore caused a white flag to be hoisted on the tower of the observatory, and resigned his authority into the hands of the municipality. They ordered another white flag to be hoisted on the clock tower, and sent Count Aldrovandi and Eugenio Alberi sa a deputation to Wimpffen to request an armistice, which they promised to employ in endeavouring to persuade the people to return to tranquillity. The Austrian General detained Aldrovandi as a hostage, and sent back Alberi with the promise of an armistice to last until the middle of the following day.

But, meanwhile, the people had risen, torn down the white flags, taxed the President with treachery, and demanded his death. Vain was all admonition amidst the menaces of vengeance and the fury of the brigands who had tyrannised over the city during the preceding year. The Municipal magistrates, who did not spare themselves any pains in the fulfilment of their civil duties, summoned the Council in order that three citizens might be elected to hold the reins of Government, and accordingly Antonio Alessandrini, an able cultivator of the natural sciences, who, by his irre