158 
only they could expect security and 
protection. ‘he knowledge that 
such were the sentiments of the prin- 
cipal Neapolitans, determined Bo- 
naparte to make known, without 
further delay, his ultimate inten- 
tions with respect to Naples. He 
had already declared, that the ex- 
iled family should never return to 
occupy the throne which they had 
abandoned. He now issued a de- 
cree, conferring the crown of Naples 
on his brother Joseph and his legi- 
timate heijrs-male; without preju- 
dice to their eventual claim to the 
throne of France; but with a pro- 
viso, that the crown of France and 
that of Naples should never be u- 
nited on the same head, In pursu- 
ance of this decree, which was com- 
municated to the French senate on_ 
the 30th of March, Joseph Bona-~ 
parte caused himself to be pro- 
claimed kiyg of Naples, and made 
all the constituted authorities of the 
kingdom, take an oath of fidelity 
to him: The city of Naples was 
Hlnminated on this occasion, with 
every demonstration of joy and sa- 
tisfaction on the part of the nobles, 
whe were eager to shew their at- 
tachment to their new king, and ac- 
eept of offices and distinctions in his 
Service, in order to mark, not so 
much their devotion to him, as their 
aversion for the exiled family. ‘That 
those, whose families had suffered 
in the former revolution, and who 
had since lived in banishment or re- 
tirement, should join heartily in 
support of the new government, is 
not to be wondered at, nor blamed. 
But there was a want of decency 
and propriety in the conduct of 
those, who haying recently held em- 
ployments under the late govern- 
ment, and enjoyed its fayours and 
-eonfidence, took this early oppor- 
tanity of reuouncing all connection 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. . 
with it, and of attaching themselves 
to the fortunes of their new king.— 
The marquis di Gallo, for example, | 
must have offended every man of 
honour, by the political profligacy 
he displayed, in accepting the office 
of minister of foreign affairs from 
Joseph Bonaparte, within three 
days after his return from Paris, 
where he had been ambassador — 
of Naples, under the former go- 
vernment. Nor can the duke of St. 
Theodore, who accepted of a place 
in the household of the new king, 
be excused for his desertion of the 
exiled monarch, on account of his 
near relationship to Caraccioli, when 
it is considered, that, subsequent to 
the melancholy fate of his kinsman, 
he had been ambassador of Naples 
at the court of Madrid,and so much 
in the confidence of their Neapoli- 
tan majesties, as to have been se. 
lected for that post, to serve as a 
counsellor and director to their un- 
fortunate’ daughter, married to the 
heir apparent of the Spanish mo- 
narchy. From cardinal Ruffo no 
person ever expected either honour 
or consistency; and his apostacy 
was received without the smallest 
surprise. 
The assumption of the regal dig- 
nity in Naples by Joseph Bona- 
parte, and the defection of-so many : 
persons of distinction, excited the 
liveliest indignation at the court of 
Palermo. Instead of profiting by 
their past misfortunes, the queen 
and duke of Calabria listened to no 
counsels, but such as flattered their 
anger with plans of vengeance, or 
soothed their impatience with idle 
projects for regaining their lost 
dominions. Though driven from 
Naples by their inability to resist 
the French arms, they were now. 
eager to attempt the recovery of 
that kingdom, and confident of -ex- 
2 pelling 
