118] 
them to throw off the yoke, and 
adopt the systein of the: French,who 
might easily be prevailed upon, in 
such case, to give them effeétual 
countenance. ’ 
This was fully verified in the 
instance of the duchy of Modena: 
its sovereign, when he fled to Venice, 
had established a regency, which, 
contrarily to the intent of the armis- 
tice concluded with the French, as 
they complained, set about repair- 
ing the fortifications of the city of 
thatname. This afforded them a 
plausible pretext to take it into their 
own possession ; they dismissed the 
ducal regency, and substituted a 
government on their own plan, and 
which was to rule im their name. 
This change was effeéted on the 
eighth of Odtober. 
The city of Reggio, the next in 
importance in that duchy, had al- 
ready cast off its obedience, and 
settled a republican government, 
in complete imitation of that in 
France. This happened towards the 
close of August. The cities of Bo- 
logna and Ferrara, which had sub- 
mitted to the French about two 
months before,were now so complete- 
ly revolutionized in their principles, 
that they sent a deputation to con- 
gratulate the people of Reggio upon 
avhat they had done, and to offer 
them assistance against all opposers. 
After the French had seized Mo- 
dena, an union of that city and those 
of Reggio, Bologna, Ferrara, and 
of their respeétive distriéts, into one 
commonwealth, under the. protec. 
tion of France, was immediately 
projected. The French forms and 
institutions were adopted in every 
respect ; but care was taken, at the 
same time, toprevent,by the striétest 
regulations, all tumultuous proceed- 
ings, on account of differences jn. 
opinion, and to secure the property 
o 
aoe 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
- 1796. 
of all those who behaved peaceably. 
Herein the conduét of Buonaparte_ 
was - remarkably impartial: he. 
threatened the severest punishment 
to those who violated the trane 
quillity of the public on pretext of 
avenging the state on the enemies to 
liberty. 
The spirit that animated the 
people of this new republic, and 
which was generally diffused every 
where, was highly unacceptable to 
the aristocratical governments int 
Italy. At Genoa, the mass of the 
inhabitants was evidently inclined 
to'the French, system, but the nobles” 
still continued inveterate to demo- 
cratical principles. ; 
In the ‘distriéts situated along 
the mountainous country, bordering 
upon the territories of Genoa, num=_ 
bers of banditti infested the roads, 
and were privately encouraged by 
the Austrian emissaries at Genoa ; 
whose ‘residence in that city was_ 
strongly suspeéted to be connived at _ 
by some principal persons in the 
Genoese government. These \sus- 
picions, and the repugnance of the 
nobles to favour popular notions, 
prevented a cordial correspondence 
from subsisting between this state 
and the French republic, 
In the duchy of Milan, the res 
publican Spirit prevailed,with hardly 
any other opposition than of those 
interested for the Austrians, by the 
employments they had held in their 
service. The administration of af- 
fairs, in this country, was now vested 
in the representative assembly chosen 
by the people, which exercised thé 
powers of government under thé 
proteétion of France. ; 
The members of this administras 
tion were men of conspicuous firms 
ness and determination in the cause 
they had embraced: they exerté 
all their abilities and influence over 
their 
