102] 
that purpose, on account of their 
being ecclesiastics, a profeesion of 
which they had declared to admit 
no members in the quality of nego- 
ciators. 
A suspension of arms had already 
been concluded with the king of 
Naples, on terms of more equality. 
The multiplicity of operations, un- 
dertaken by the French, did not 
permit them to exert the like seve- 
rity with a prince who was so much 
more able to oppose them. 
In the mean time, the resolution 
taken by the directory, to exclude 
the English from an access to any 
port to which it could barr their 
entrance, prompted them to direct 
their general to seize on the port 
of Leghorn, on pretence of the flag 
of France having been insulted there, 
and the French merchants ill-treated, 
in violation of the rights of neu- 
trality. On the twenty-cight of 
June, a detachment of Buonaparte’s 
army took possession of this place. 
‘The English merchants, bowever, 
‘being apprised of bis intentions, had 
sufficient time to remove their pro- 
perty on board their ships in the 
harbour, and very little was seized 
by the French. 
The seizure of Leghorn was ac- 
companied by the reduction cf the 
castle of Milan: this celebrated 
fortress, surrendered to them on the 
Jast day of June, The garrison, con- 
sisting of more than two thousand 
men, convinced of the impossibility 
of making any effectual resistance, 
yielded themselves prisoners of war. 
One hundred and fifty pieces of 
cannon, with an immense quantity 
of ammunition and_ stores, 
taken here by the French. 
During these various transaétions, 
while Buonaparte was occupied in 
extending through Italy the empire 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
were | 
1796. 
of the French, and the terror. of. 
his arms, he was equally careful to’ — 
impress the Italians with favourable 
opinions of his inclination to pro- 
mote their general welfare, and 
equally of his respeét for learning 
and literary men. This, he knew, 
would exhibit an advantageous con- 
trast of the respeétive dispositions of 
the French and the Austrians, in mat- 
ters of this nature. The negleét and 
indifference of these latter, for the 
polite arts and sciences, and their 
professors had long been well known, 
and it was a part of Buonaparte’s 
policy, by displaying his partiality 
to charaéters of this description, to 
conciliate their esteem, and secure 
their prepossession in his favour. 
To this intent he had taken with 
lum, toltaly, several eminent literati 
from France. They were the com- 
panions of his private hours, and 
were looked upon as a credit to his 
expedition: with them he consulted 
in what manner he could make it 
redound to the benefit of lettersand » 
philosophical knowledge. 
The cultivators of learning in 
Italy, to whom he was represented 
in this advantageous light, could not 
fail to conceive amicable ideas of 
him, and he was particularly soli- 
citous toimprove them. An oppor- 
tunity offered, on the reduétion of 
Milan, where he requested an in- 
terview with the celebrated astro- 
nomer Oriane, in order to testify 
his respeét, and that of the French 
nation, for his extraodinary merit. 
In a letter, written to him on this 
occasion, and addressed, through 
him, to all the Italian literati, Buo- 
naparte exerted his persuasive talents 
to convince him and them of the 
predeliétion with which the rulers 
of France regarded all individuals 
of his character, aud how zealous 
they 
