“against Alvinzi, who was at the 
head of a numerous army, and had 
| obtained some successes over the 
‘French, which had revived thehopes 
of the Austrians, and their adhe- 
rents. But the’battle of Arcola, 
_ wherein these were completely de- 
ae and the subsequent advan- 
es gained by the French, made, 
at last, such an impression on the_ 
tet of Rome, that, dreading to 
_ wait any longer for more fortunate 
vents, the cardinal was directed to 
return an answer. This cameto pass 
“ae the lapse of six weeks from 
te the receipt of the general's letter. 
The motive for this delay being 
_ gbvious, it was necessary to qualify 
it, so as to soften his displeasure at 
an answer being: so long deferred: 
| The cardinal laid before the’ gene- 
> ral val e anxiety of the pope to re- 
C dy the disorders that had so long 
¥f ee acted France, and the sacrifices 
_ he had consented to make of every 
- worldly consideration, for the sake 
_ of restoring a good understanding 
_ between France and the Roman 
see. He complained that, not sa- 
tisfied with these concessions, the 
French government,elated with the 
bed success of itsarms, had made requis 
sitions incompatible with the dic- 
_ tates of his conscience, and she 
versive of all christian and mor: 
rinciples. Grieved at such into- 
Acai demands, he had implored 
_ the assistance of heaven, to direct 
him how to act in so difficult a situ- 
ation. Doubtless, said the cardi- 
sion, by that holy spirit which had 
} animated the primitive martyrs in 
| the cause for which they suffer- 
‘ed, Having laboured, in vain, to 
) bring the directory to a more equi- 
_ table way of thinking, he thought it 
“necessary to resist them by open 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
nal, he was inspired, on this occa- - 
pit 
force. He admonished the general 
to reflect, that the death which a-, 
waited men in battle was the com- 
mencement of eternal life and hap- 
piness to the righteous, and of ever- 
lasting misery to th wisi ete Arm- 
ed with this conviction, said the cars 
dinal, we shall oppose you with 
that confidence in the divine. aid, 
which a just cause inspires, He 
reminded himthat he was not invin- 
cible, and though infidels and pre 
tended philosophers ridiculed the 
idea of assistance from heaven, yet, 
if Providence were pleased to in- 
terpose, the French would contend 
in vain against the power of the Al- 
mighty. He concluded, by telling 
the general, that if the French were. 
desirous of peace, the Roman see 
desired it still more, and was wil- 
ling to’subscribe to any terms, con- 
scientious and equitable, in order to 
obtain it. 
Such was the purport of this re- 
markable letter, which, to speak 
truth, was written at a time, when 
the reasonings it contained were 
little calculated to influence the pros 
ceedings of such a people as the 
French. Nor did the court of Vi- 
enna itself testify much willingness 
to beconnected with a power whose 
co-operations were likely to prove so 
feeble. But the solicitations of the 
court of Rome were so pressing, 
that the Imperial ministers, unwilling 
wholly to abandon the holy see to 
the controul of France, consented 
to join a body of troops to those 
that were now raising in every. part 
of the papal dominions. 
In this dereliction of the pope, 
the most fervent of his former ad= 
herents seemed, at this period, to 
agree without reluctance: So ef- 
ficacious was either the dread, or 
the influence of France over the 
councils 
