THE MISSION TO ROME. 59 



of persons with, whom I was desirous of acting in 

 concert. It was on this account that I was led to 

 propose that the military service of the capital should 

 be performed by our troops conjointly with those of 

 Eome. Nevertheless, we had already before us the 

 example of Civita Vecchia, which was by no means 

 calculated to encourage a continuance of the same 

 system. 



The Triumvirate informed me, in a note dated the 

 19th, that our proposals could not be accepted, as 

 they were not considered to offer a sufficient guarantee 

 in favour of the liberties and independence of the 

 Eoman States, and because the military occupation of 

 Eome was viewed with disfavour by public opinion. 

 It was added that the siege operations and the closer 

 investment of the city by the French army, regarded 

 as contrary to the spirit of the suspension of arms, 

 had contributed not a little to the decision of the 

 Assembly. The note wound up by announcing that 

 a counter proposition, which would, it was hoped, 

 facilitate an understanding, would be submitted to me 

 the following day. 



As no such counter proposition had reached me on 

 the 22nd, I felt it incumbent, after consultation with 

 General Oudinot, to intimate that we considered that 

 we had exhausted all the means of conciliation, and we 

 accompanied this note by announcing the rupture of 

 negotiations, and stating that we would notify the 

 resumption of hostilities a week in advance. I had 



