the office of President, in which he comported himself as honour and duty enjoined, his place had been filled by Carlo Berti Pichat, a man of mind, sound morals, and spirit; a republican, but deeply attached to social order, and a foe to any kind of folly or iniquity. He applied the greatest attention to securing the city against disorders, broils, and the attempts of the ruffians, on whom Biancoli, the Director of Police, waged most effectual war. So Bologna got on, if not gaily and happily, for the times did not admit of happiness or gaiety, yet less dismally than other cities, in which the rabble of the clubs bore sway, and the resentments of political factions spread panic and affliction. But at this juncture she was a prey to serious troubles. The first was this, that, at a time when the ordinary gangs of blackguards, whose daring was stimulated by the political commotions, could but just be kept in check, the rulers of Rome, by a decree of the 19th of January, struck two years off the sentences of the convicts condemned to hard labour, except the old offenders and those sentenced for murder, forgery, and felonious robbery: and they liberated all those whose sentences had not more than two years to run. The President of Bologna all but resigned his office on the instant, such was his pain at this imprudent decree, and such the addition to his difficulties in keeping the public peace; and though, from regard to his birth-place, he did not actually throw up the Government, he wrote to Rome, demanding to be relieved. Meantime fresh and greater cause of dismay and danger was impending.

The Swiss troops were commanded by General Latour, who had received orders from Zucchi to remain in readiness to execute whatever instructions might come from Gaeta. There were in the town 1300 Swiss foot, with 8 guns, and 180 artillerymen, brave and well disciplined troops; 1000 more infantry were scattered through Romagna. The Court of Gaeta determined to call off those forces, thinking to pick up others and make an effort against Rome. They did not appre ciate the great impediments to such a scheme, the distance, the want of money, the condition of Bologna, menaced with being left at the mercy of the marauders: and they deputed Monsignor Bedini to get an order executed, which bore, that General Latour was to set out from Bologna with all his men, to march them in a body and with closed ranks across Romagna, to gather in the dispersed companies of the second regiment as he went along, and then to proceed in order of battle through the Marches and Umbria, towards the Neapolitan confines. Monsignor Bedini pressed on Latour an early decision, appealing to his oath, and to the terms on which the Pope had engaged the Swiss regiments; but brought him no aid in money or suggestions. The General, who had given his word of honour to the President of Bologna to acquaint him with any tidings that might affect the tranquillity of the city, accordingly made known these orders to him, and the obligation he felt to obey them, however desperate he might think the scheme, No intreaties, no representations would avail; for he persisted in answering, it was his duty to obey the

Pope's messenger, whatever it cost him to run the risk of having to act against men, by whose side he had so gladly combated for Italian independence: he was aware, that, probably, he might fail to get his men safely through; still, the sanction of his oath outweighed with him every other consideration, every sympathy, every peril; and he would keep it, by obeying Monsignor Bedini at all hazards. When this was known in the town, there was great excitement, and a resolute determination to oppose by force the execution of his design. The President bethought himself how to direct and organise this general spirit so intent upon resistance, and at the same time he applied to the citizens of most weight, to induce them to dissuade the Swiss General from his hopeless undertaking; he also wrote to the English and French Ministers at Florence, intreating them to interpose their good offices. During this interval, the preparations for resistance went on, both at Bologna and in Romagna, near at hand. General Latour asked Monsignor Bedini for cash to furnish the pay of his men; but the Prelate replied he had none, and would repair to Imola to obtain it from Cardinal Baluffi: to whom he carried with him, clandestinely, De Sere, a captain of artillery. But neither had the Cardinal the means of satisfying him. The juncture was now most serious; to carry troops without their pay through a march of at least fifteen days, and this amidst civil war; no chance of quitting Bologna but with a battle; with loss therefore, and bloodshed, without provisions, and liable to a new engagement at every step; perhaps to

have to attack friendly towns, with troops savage from hunger and from the heat of conflict; perhaps to carry havock into the houses, and defilement into the families, where they had enjoyed hospitality and all the comforts of social life. This was an irksome, a distracting prospect. Nor did Monsignor Bedini bring any order from Zucchi as Minister of War, to explain and follow up the former one, which had instructed the General to hold himself in readiness. Nor was there a single magistrate, a single citizen of Bologna, who did not exert himself to overcome the resolution of Latour. Nay, as is said, the Cardinal Archbishop Opizzoni himself advised him to take time. At last, with deep regret, and torn by conflicting emotions, he yielded to staying where he was. Such were the troubles of

Bologna, when the time arrived for the elections to the Constituent Assembly.

CHAP. IX.

GIUNTAS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. PROCLAMATION OF ARMELLINI. —
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSTITUTIONALISTS FOILED BY THE POPE'S
MONITORY.
ACCOUNT OF THE DAYS PRECEDING
OCCURRENCE AT ORVIETO.

REMARKS.

THE ELECTIONS.

LAWS PROMUL

ON REFORM OF CIVIL PROCESS. — APPOINTMENT OF A MILITARY -LAW ON A MILITARY COMMISSION FOR OFFENCES

COMMISSION.

STATE OF EUROPE. GIOBERTI'S DISPATCH OF JANUARY 28. TO

MUZZARELLI.

GIOBERTI'S ANSWER TO THE PROPOSAL OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE AT ROME. PREPARATORY ASSEMBLAGES. VARIETY OF OPINIONS.

THE monitory of the Pope, the attempted flight of General Zamboni, the orders of Zucchi, the apprehension of a separation from Bologna and Romagna, and the misgivings that naturally depress the spirit of all Governments sprung from or supported by violence, led the Provisional Committee to decree, on the 13th of January, that any private person or public officer, who should directly or indirectly obstruct the meeting of the electoral colleges, should be proclaimed as a disturber of public order and an enemy to his country, and punished