18iG.] The lial-Tnip. 55 



change of system must have its proof — tliat is, its victim. lie was 

 seized by the municipal autliorities without delay. Tried ; and wlien no 

 other witnesses, out of two hundred Ravennae present, came forward, 

 three strangers — said to be tlie cardinal's own spies — appeared, and 

 proved the blow. Still all this proceeding was so contrary- to pn-ce- 

 dent, that people believed it was only meant to terrify. Even after 

 the verdict was found of " guilt} ," neither the culprit nor his friends 

 could be persuaded that there wa^ any chance of the law's being car- 

 ried into execution. When the sentence of the court was confirmed, 

 Altieri's family interposed, but less with intreaties than with broad 

 and insolent menaces. And though these, when the danger grew 

 urgent, were, at length, softened into prayers, yet it was easy to per- 

 ceive that, by the great proportion of the higher classes in Kavenna, 

 the new order of things was contemplated as equally incompreiiensible 

 and offensive. 



The good people, however, who entertained these opinions, luxd still 

 to learn with whom it was they had to deal. Temperate, at first, in 

 spite of provocation ; patient, at last, under reiterated intreat}', though 

 perfectly unmoved by it ; there was conciliation — and a coffin — in every 

 sentence that the legate addressed to Altieri's mediators. The " long 

 impunity" which was urged as having encouraged the commission ot 

 similar crimes — rendered a " proof" the more imperative that " such 

 impunity" Mas at an end. The " rank of the offender" would shew 

 that the example was an impartial one ; and, therefore, it would operate 

 with increased effect. Aiiable, but perfectly inflexible — s])eaking no 

 daggers, however determined to use them — w hen one-half the influence 

 of Ravenna made common cause in Altieri's favour, the mere un- 

 wearied attention with which Sansovino heard their importunity, carried in 

 it the extinction of all hope. He explained the necessity — regretted — 

 but Carlo Altieri must die. An address was sent express to the Pope 

 — but the day of execution came — and Carlo was hanged two hours 

 before the answer could arrive. 



This act of severity, as might have been expected, led, at first, to 

 increased exasperation ; but the Governor had pri-pared even for a riot 

 at the scaffold, and met the danger by fresh edicts, which he carried 

 into operation, without mercy, against all classes. Two plots were 

 discovered against his life; and, in both, the conspirators were executed 

 to a man. In the last, having information of the attack (intended upon 

 him at the Opera-house), he went directly to the p'oint of danger ; stood 

 the conflict, cut his assailants to pieces, and the next moment appear- 

 ing in the theatre, gave the accustomed signal that the performance 

 should begin. Some persons, who affected what they called '• public 

 spirit," next made it a point of Jionour openly to brave his authority ; 

 but both life and honour, after one overt act of mischief, were found 

 so transitorj-, that few became proselytes to this example. The privi- 

 lege of " sanctuary " was one which could not well be violated ; 

 but even this the Cardinal contrived to render nearly nugatory ; for 

 parties of his guard loitered about the churches which possessed 

 this privilege, who detained, upon slight pretext, or no pretext at all, 

 any who a})proached the refuge in too great haste, or with daggers 

 drawn, or blood upon their garments, as not unfrequently was the usage. 

 Meanwhile, at the serious dilapidation of his own revenues, he in some 

 degree restored the value of the currency. It was seen that, iii all ap- 



