‘HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
their countrymen, in order to. pre- 
serve that spirit of liberty among 
them, on which, they were con- 
scious, depended the favour of. the 
French, without which their con-+ 
dition would not be better than un- 
der the Austrian domination. This 
indeed was held in particular de- 
testation by the persons eminent for 
their literary talents, for whom it 
expressed a marked aversion, on ac- 
count of the freedom-they frequently 
took in their writings and conversa- 
tions, when treating of religious or 
“political subjects. 
The return of this odious domina- 
tion was extremely dreaded by the 
Milanese. Those, in whom the 
change of affairs had placed the 
supreme authority, well knew, that, 
were the Austrians to regain pos-. 
session of this country, its inhabi- 
tants would suffer severely, on ac 
count of the preference they had 
manifested for the French; and that 
they themselves had no other pros- 
pect than of capital punishment for 
the part they had acted. 
Swayed by these motives, they 
used every means, and employed 
every argument, to inspire their 
countrymen with the resolution to 
‘oppose, to the last- extremity, the 
Te-establishment of the Austrian 
power. They published admoni- 
_ tions and addresses to the public, 
several of which were strikingly 
eloquent and pathetic: they warmly 
exhorted their countrymen, and, 
through them, the people of all 
Italy, to improve the opportunity, 
arisen from the entrance of the 
French, and their readiness to eman- 
cipate the subjects of the despotic 
princes, who had so long oppressed 
the country, to throw off the yoke, 
and to establish free constitutions. 
They enforced this advice with, 
every reason that could be adduced, 
fi19 
but especially the facility they would 
find, in conjunction with the French, 
to. bring about every alteration ne- 
cessary for their welfare. Never 
might so auspicious an occasion re- 
cur, to substitute the governments, . 
founded on liberty, to the tyrannical 
systems from which every man 
among them, that dared to speak 
his mind, openly expressed his wish 
to be delivered. 
In pursuance of these sentiments, 
which were almost universally dif- 
fused through all classes, the admini- 
stration publicly offered a prize for 
the best treatise that should be pro 
duced on the important question, 
which was the free government best 
calculated to promote the happiness 
of Italy ? The subject was handled, 
accordingly, with all the freedom it 
merited: the pens of some,of. the 
most eminent writers were employ- 
ed on this occasion, and though, by 
venturing to utter their thoughts). | 
they might eventually expose them- 
selves to the greatest danger, their 
zeal and courage raised them above 
all apprehensions. 
_ The publications of this kind, that 
frequently appeared at this period, 
made so effectual an impression upon 
those for whom they were intended, 
that a general inclination to take an 
active part against the Austrians - 
was every where visible. They 
were, in fact, considered by most of 
the Italiansas the common enemy. 
of their country, long before.:the 
French expedition.. The only difs 
ference between these and the Ger- 
‘mans, was, that the latter had pos« 
session, and the former was striving 
to gain a footing. But then, the 
views of both were professedly op= 
posite; the one meaning to retain’ 
his possessions, the other to:set them, 
free from their present holders,and to 
erect them into independent states. 
14] Animated 
