The life of Napoleon Buonaparte, emperor of the French. By Sir Walter Scott.

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 219
in the person of the Abbe Gregorio Bonaparte, the agreed to guarantee his principality, on paymetnt of
only remaining branch of that Florentine family, of inmmense contributions in muoney and stores, besides
whom the Corsican line were cadets. He resided at the surrender of the most valuable treasures of' his
San Miniato, of' wich he was canon, and was an old museum. In consequence, the Duke of Modena
mlan, and said to be wealthy. The relationship was was permitted to govern his estates by a regency,
eagerly acknowledged, and the general, with his lie himself fixing hiis residence in Venice. But his
whole staff, dined with the Canon G(regorio. The two principal towns, Reggio and Modena, especially
whole mind of the old priest was wrapt up in a pro- the former, became desirous of shaking off his gojc-ct of obtaining the honours of regular canonization verninent. Anticipating in doing so the approbation
for one of the amrnily called Bonaventura, who had of the French general and government, thle citizens
been a capuchin in the 17th century, and was said of Reggio rose in insurrection, expelled froml their
to have died in the odour of' sanctity, though his town a body of the ducal troops, and planted thle
right to divine honours had never been acknow- tree of liberty, resolved, as they said, to constitute
ledged. It must have been ludicrous enough to themselves a free state, under the protection of thle
have heaid the old man insist upon a topic so unin- French Republic. The ducal regency, vith a View
teresting to Napoleon, and press the French repub- of protecting Modena fromi a similar attempt, mourntlican general to use his interest with the pope. ed cannon on their ramparts, and took othier defenThere can be little doubt that thIe holy father, to sive lmeasures.
have escaped other demands, would have canonized Bonaparte affected to consider these preparations
a whole French regiment of Carmagnoles, and rank- as designed against the French, and, marching a
ed' them with the old militia of the calendar, tile body of troops, took possession of the city without
Theban Legion. But Napoleon was sensible that resistance, deprived the duke of all tile advantages
any request on such a subject coming from himr which he had purchased by tile iimediation of the
would be only ludicrous.* celebrated Saint Jerome, and declared the town
The progress which Bonaparte made personally under protection of France. Bologna and Ferrara,
in tile favour of the Italians was, doubtless, a great legations belonging to the papal see, had been
assistance to the propagation of the new doctrines already occupied by French troops, and placed tillwhich were connected with the French Revolution, der the mana-gement of a committee of their citizens.
and was much aided by the trust which lie seemed They were now encouraged to coalesce wvith Regdesirousto repose in the natives of the country. He gio and Modena. A congress of a hundred deleretained, no doubt, in his own hands the ultimate gates fiom the four districts was summoned, to effect
decision of everything of consequence; but in rmat- the formation of a govelrnmlent which sllould extend
ters of ordinary importance lie permitted and encou- over thenm all.'T'he congress met accordingly, enraged the Italians to act for themselves in a nmanner gaged their constituents in a perpetual union, under
they had not been accustomed to tinder their Ger- title of the Cispadane Republic, friomn their situation
man masters. The internal government of their on the right of the river Po; thus assuming the cllatowns was intrusted to provisional governors, chosen racter of independence, while, illn fct, they remained
without respect to rank, and the maintenance of under thle authority of Bonaparte, like clay in tlle
police was committed to the armed burghers, or hands of the potter, who may ultimately model it
national guards. Conscious of the importance an- into any shape lie has a mind. In tile meantime,
nexed to these privileges, they already becanie iu,- he was careful to renlind them that the liberty which
patient for national liberty. Napo!eon could hardly it was desirable to establish ought to be consisteint
rein back the iintense ardour of the large party with due subjection to tile laws. " Never folget,"
among the Lomlbards who desired an innmmediate he said, in reply to their address announcing tlheir
declaration of independence, and lie had no other new form of governmient, " that laws are mere nulexpedient left than to amnuse them with procrasti- lities without the force necessary to suppl)(t themll.
nating excuses, which enhanced their desire of such Attend to your military organization, vlhichl you have
anll event while they delayed its gratification. Other the means of placing on a respectable footing. —you
towns of Italy-for it was ariong the citizens of the will be more fortunate than tile people of France,
towns that these sentiments were chiefly cultivated foir you will arrive at liberty without passing thllrough
-began to evince the same wish to new-model their the ordeal of revolution."
governments on the revolutionary system; and this This was not the language of a jacobin, arnd it
ardour was chiefly shown on the southern side of flrtifies tile belief that, even now, while adheing
the Po. ostensibly to tile republican systemn, Bonaparte anIt nmrst be remembered, that Napoleon had en- ticipated considlerable changes ii that of F'rance.
gaged in treaty with the Duke of Modlena, and had Aleanwhile thle Lombards becarme irirpatient at
seeing tlheir neighbours outstrip tlhem in the path of
* Las Csses says, thrt'afterwards the pope himself
* Las Cases says, that rflerovarls tle pope himself revolution and of nonminal independence. Tle ratouched on the same topic, aid was disposed to see the im- nicipality of ilan proeeded to destroy all titles of
iediasie guidance arid protection afforded by the consan- nIcipality of M eeded to destoy titls of
guinrean Saint Bonaventura in the great deeds wrought y honour, as a balge of ferdrl dependence, ind behiis relation. It was said of the church-endowing saint, came so inipatient that Bonaparte was obliged to
rnavid King of Scotland, that he was a sore saint for the pacify themll by a solemn assurance that they should
crownr; certainly Saintt Bonaventura n'ust hiave ieen a sp eedily enijoy tile benefits of a republican constitusore saint for the papal see. The oldt aht left Nspoleon tionl, and, to tranqutillize their irritation, placed them
hiis fo)rtune, which he conferred onl sonme public ilnstitu- under thle goverinmtient of a provisional council, se_
tion. lected frio all classes. labourers included.