monalty, and even some persons, 
-not devoid of understanding, were 
induced to think, that the fury and 
|| indignation, excited by the persua- 
, 
: 
SS er ee - 
| sion of celestial assistance, being at 
hand, against the French, might 
supply the want of discipline, and 
animate the multitude to the most 
vigorous and effectual exertions. 
The French resident, at Rome, 
endeavoured to make the adminis- 
tration sensible of the dangers to 
which it exposed the state, by these 
jrash proceedings ; but his advice 
was rejected, and preparations ef 
war occupied the attention of all 
men: not however without mov- 
ing the compassion of those who 
foresaw the calamities, or the hu- 
miliations, that would result from 
these senseless measures, and the 
derision of those who secretly ridi- 
culed the idea of transforming a na- 
tion of bigots into an army of heroes. 
This, however, did not, perhaps, 
| appear to the court of Rome, what 
indeed it was not, impossible; and, 
as to the number of those who de- 
rided fanatical and superstitious no- 
tions, was probably believed to be 
far less than it really was. 
_ Whether the pope himself was 
prompted by his own credulity, or 
that of others, he completely threw 
off the mask of piety and resignation 
which he had formerly assumed, 
out the whole of this business, as 
if he considered the cause of the 
Roman see as entitled to superna- 
tural interposition. So deep rogted 
was his attachment to the rules 
and prescriptions of former times, 
| that he listened to no advice but 
that of ecclesiastics, and employed 
| Bo other persons to negociate with 
| the French, though he well knew 
how odious such persons were to 
‘them, and how likely to mar all 
he 08 | 
. HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
as above related, and aéted,through- » 
{117 
negociations on that very account. 
He behaved, in short, as if he had 
lived in those ages when the igno- 
rance of mankind, and the implicit 
respect rising from it for the ponti- 
fical character, subdued the dictates 
of good sense in all transactions with 
the church of Rome; and enabled 
it to domineer over nations with an 
authority that silenced every argu- 
ment, and commanded their obe« 
dience to him, on the despotic 
principle of his being the vicegerent 
of heaven upon earth. 
And yet had he turned his atten- 
tion to what was passing around him, 
and even among his own people, he 
must have seen the fatal impropriety 
of trusting to the disposition of men 
in religious or political matters, at 
the present zera, as might have been 
done heretofore, 
So impressive had been the ex- 
ample of the French in affairs of 
religion and politics, in every part 
of Italy, that avowed approvers of 
them had arisen in every province 
and sovereignty of that country. 
Republican principles especially, 
were maintained by those who still 
faithfully adhered to the tenets of 
Christianity, which, indeed, they 
explicitly asserted, was totally un= 
connected with any form of govern- 
ment, and inculcated no more than 
obedience to the established laws, 
and fidelity.to the government It- 
self, whatever its form might be. 
As these maxims, however sound and 
reasonable in themselves, militated 
gainst the systems prevailing in 
Italy,. the ruling powers felt, of 
course, an invincible repugnance to 
them. Hence their abhorrence of 
the French, and their readiness, at 
the same time, to enter into agree- 
ments with them, before their prin- 
ciples had gained sufficient latitude 
among their owr subjects to incite 
{I 3] them 
