1801.] 
fons, and thereby the profeffion was ren- 
dered contemptible in the eyes-of the 
nation. 
The Nobility had not yet fufficient rea- 
fons to proclaim their diflike to this Mi- 
nifter, trom any glaring injuries done 
them, either individually or collectively. 
The Neapolitans, more than any other 
people, are renowned for hofpitality, and 
their attachment to foreigners. ‘They are, 
perhaps, the only nation in Europe who 
have, in lefs than fixty years, fuffered 
nine foreigners to be Minifters_of State. 
In return they think themfelves entitled 
to fome degree of refpeét, and require that 
a foreigner exalted above them in their 
own country fhould be a perfon of me- 
rit. General Aéton’s new military plan 
was brought to an ifflue in the year 
1786: but as it was deemed proper to 
effect the deftruéction of the army, and its 
execution would have given the higheft 
offence to the nobility, it was refolved 
that a foreign officer fhould be invited to 
Naples to carry the plan into execution, 
and upon whom, in cafe of need, the 
whole odium of the innovation might be 
thrown. A German officer would cer- 
tainly have been employed in this tafk, 
had it not been for fear of giving farther 
umbrage to the Bourbon Courts, already 
difguted with the Neapolitan Govern- 
ment. Baron de Salis, a Swifs officer of 
diftin@ion in the fervice of the French 
army, was the perfon appointed for the 
reform, and accordingly he repatred to 
Naples in December, 1786. Here again 
we are obliged to caft a veil over many 
difagreeable occurrences, which took place 
at the arrival of this officer in Naples, as 
well as on his cperations, and confine our- 
felves to the nature of the difguft excited 
in the nobility. 
Baron de Salis brought with him to 
Naples about fitty French officers of dif- 
ferent rank, who were to co-operate under 
him in the great work of reform. Thefe 
were men of little confideration, and what 
was worfe, of ftill lefs ability. Intoxi- 
cated, however, with the charafter of re- 
formers, and not refleéting whether the 
intended reforin was a ferious undertaking 
or 2 pantomime, to draw attention from 
other interefted defigns, they gave them- 
felves a domineering air, and began to 
treat the Neapolitan officers belonging to 
the Nobility with indifference and con- 
tempt. Mary inftances could be given of 
their infolence, but we fhall only remark, 
that one of the /o2-difant reformers ad- 
drefled, with improper language, one of 
Memoirs of General Afton. 
‘banks. 
135 
the youngeft fons of Prince Stigliano, of 
the illuftrious Houfe of Colonna. -Baron 
de Salis himfelf, one day, arrogantly fum- 
moned to his prefence the Marquis Mauri, 
Governor of Capua, a venerable man, $4 
years old ; and Prince de Sangro (fon of 
the celebrated General cf this name, and 
one of the Noblemen moft devoted to the 
reigning Houfe) after having been de- 
prived of his prerogatives, as Colonel of 
a regiment, and having given in his re- 
fignation, was, by a dilpatch from Mr. 
A&ton, confined in the Caftle of St. Elmo! 
This lait event is {aid to have rendered the 
Minifter not a little odious to the No- 
bility. a 
From the year 1787 to 1789 new at- 
tempts were made upon the banks of the 
metropolis, upon public credit, and the 
charitable foundations—1. The feven 
banks of Naples, founded about two cen- 
turies ago, had always been the depofitory 
of a contiderable part of the national mo- 
ney, and delivered their notes to their re- 
{pective creditors. It was. natural that 
many of thefe notes fhould be Jeft in the 
hands of the poffeffors, efpecially by ex- 
patriation, fudden deaths, or neglect in 
the heirs of the poffeffors. In the courfe 
of two centuries, thefe notes, never claim- 
ed, had made a coniderable fum, and 
were deemed a natural acquifition to the 
But General Aéton, according te 
the maxim in the Roman laws—Bonag va- 
cantia Fif-us occupat, confifcated the mo- 
ney.—2z. From the very foundation of the 
-banks, it was a cultom conftantly ob. 
ferved, that each perfon, on exchanging 
their notes, fhould pay a penny to the 
banks. This was, perhaps, originally 
intended to defray the expenditure of the 
adminiftration. But as the banks had, in 
procefs of time, grown rich, thefe pence 
fo accumulated during’ two centuries, 
(being never touched) that they amounted 
to fome millions. Boza vacantia Fifcus 
occupat !—3. A confiderable addition had 
been made to the national debt in the 
courfe of this century, and the ftate cre- 
ditors of this defcription had lent their 
money at 4 percent. The prefent rate of 
money in the minifterial financial aids, 
was much inferior. An order was iffued, 
that the creditors and their heirs fhould 
declare, within one month, whether they 
would be paid the capital, or confent to 
receive 3 percent. This order, which, in 
the fuppofition of a necefiary execution, 
would have required upwards of 8,000,000 
in ready cafh, was iffued at a time when 
not a fingle farthing was to be found in 
Aor the 
ener ro 
——y ee 
