84.} ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



He particularly mentioned his pur- 

 pose to relieve them from their ex- 

 orbitant taxes, to promote com- 

 merce and agriculture, and to re- 

 vive the lustre of theirholy religion ; 

 and he announced the abolition of 

 the military conscription. His 

 Majesty entered Turin on the 20th, 

 amidst the acclamations of the 

 people. Having no force under 

 his own command, his territories 

 continued in the military possession 

 of the Austrians, whilst the orga- 

 nizcition of the native troops was 

 carrying into effect. At length, in 

 August the Emperor of Austria 

 directed the entire evacuation of 

 the provinces of Savoy by histroops, 

 and the King determined upon the 

 re-establishment of the senate of 

 that Duchy. The citadel of Turin 

 had previously been occupied by 

 the Sardinian troops, and the strong 

 fortress of Fenestrella was deliver- 

 ed up to the Commissioners of his 

 Majesty. Difficulties, however, 

 appear to have occurred in com- 

 pleting the Piedmontesearmy, and 

 although the King conferred upon 

 the provinces their ancient privi- 

 leges of forming regiments under 

 their names, and even gave them 

 to their old titular proprietors, it 

 ■was found no easy task to keep 

 them to their colours. The valleys 

 were said at this time to be in- 

 fested by banditti which required 

 a regular force for their suppres- 

 sion, and Austrian garrisons still 

 held the towns of Ivree and 

 Alexandria. The long occupation 

 of Piedmont by France had, ap- 

 parently fostered a French interest 

 in that country, which obstructed 

 its ready return to its ancient alle- 

 giance. The King, however, acted 

 with prudence and moderation. — 

 No one was disturbed for the part 



taken under the former govern- 

 ment ; and several persons were 

 appointed toimportant judicial and 

 administrative posts who had been 

 employed by the French autho- 

 rities. 



The occupation of Genoa by an 

 English army in the month of 

 April has already been mentioned. 

 Lord W.Bentinck at that time issued 

 a proclamation importing that, 

 " Considering it to be the universal 

 desire of the Genoese nation to 

 return to that ancient government 

 under which it enjoyed liberty, 

 prosperity, and independence ; 

 considering also that this desire 

 seems to be conformable to the 

 principles acknowledged by the 

 high allied Powers, to restore to all 

 their ancient rights and privileges," 

 he declared the constitution of the 

 Genoese States, which existed in 

 the year 1797, re-established; and 

 he accordingly appointed a provi- 

 sional Government upon its prin- 

 ciples. The city continued in the 

 possession of the British troops, 

 and under the administration of 

 the provisional government, till 

 the month of December, when the 

 Marquis de Garail, Aide de Camp 

 to the King of Sardinia, arrived at 

 Turin from his father, Sardinian 

 Minister at the Congress of Vienna, 

 with the information, that by a 

 protocol, signed on the 14th, by the 

 Plenipotentiaries of the Powers 

 composing the Congress, the ces- 

 sion of Genoa and all the country 

 had been decisively fixed, and that 

 it had been agreed that his Majesty 

 might make the arrangements he 

 should judge advisable for their 

 organization, and consider them as 

 definitively united to his States. — 

 An order was at the same time, 

 sent to the English General at 



