murdering before his eyes a French general, the brave Duphot, who had hitherto escaped all the dangers of war, but could not avoid this act of cowardly perfidy. The Papal government had, for fome time previous to this event, fecretly recommenced hostilities, and made preparations for war, against the French republic: they called foreign generals to their affiftance; they correfponded fecretly with the confpirators whom the 18th Fructidor defeated. To excite new troubles in the heart of France, they oppofed the decifions of theologians to the laws of the republic. Finally, they organized a mock infurrection against themselves, from which they hoped to find a pretext for calumniating France, and committing an outrage on her ambaffador, but which was marked by all that giddinefs and rage which were difplayed in the events of the 8th Nivofe. Since that day they have continued their manœuvres and their hoftilities. It was the duty of the Executive Directory, upon this occafion, to employ for the defence of the ftate all the means which the conftitution has placed in their hands. They ordered the general in chief of the army of Italy to march towards Rome; and a courier who is juft arrived brings the information that the troops of the French republic occupy, fince the 22d of Pluviofe (Feb. 10), the caftle of St. Angelo and the Capitol.

The Executive Directory conform to the 328th article of the conftitution, by immediately informing the legislative body of the first steps which have been taken against a government incorrigible in its perverfity, and furious in its hatred, against the revolution and the French republic.

P. BARRAS, Prefident.
LAGARDE, Secretary-general.

Proclamation of Cardinal Dona at Rome, on the 3d Feb. 1798. ROMANS, wife and virtuous Romans, your dear father, your fovereign, fpeaks to you by me. He informs you that he has received notice of the approach of a French army against this capital, and he is affured that it does not come to act hostilely against you. Fear not, therefore, but take courage from the prefence of his Holinefs. Full of confidence, infpired by the public conduct and magnanimity of the French republic, your fovereign feels no alarm. Animated with the greatest tenderness towards you, he will not forfake you at any time when you may be expofed to danger.

Procla

Proclamation to the infurgent Communes of Mafaccio, Cingoli, &c. Bologna, 17 Pluviofe (Feb. 5). HYPOCRITES and fanatics have for a moment misled you. The French troops marched into the midst of you, declaring and proving by their deeds, that they were the friends of the people but you have endeavoured to obftruct their progrefs; you have even been guilty of firing upon the foldiers of France, though, when their phalanxes approached, you were difmayed, and fled. The French foldier knows that thofe alone are criminal who are the fecret agents of the government of Rome. He pardons you, and will even refpect the property which you have abandoned. As general in chief, I pardon you in the name of the French republic. Return peaceably to your, homes, and confider the French army as an army of friends. I repeat to you, that perfons and property, worship, and your temples, fhall be refpected. Pay obedience to your municipal magiftrates; fubmit to the authority of the French officers, who command only for the prefent moment. Follow your ufual occupations, and continue to preferve your manners and customs in peace: in doing fo, you will foon fee happiness diffused among you. The French army marches towards Rome, not to make conquests, but to punish the affaffins of General Duphot, and the infult given to the ambassador of the republic.

Speech of General Berthier on taking poffeffion of the Capitol, on the 15th Feb. 1798.

MANES of Cato, of Pompey, of Brutus, of Cicero, and of Hortenfius! receive the homage of free Frenchmen, in that capitol where you have fo often defended the rights of the people, and reflected a luftre on the Roman republic.

The defcendants of the Gauls enter this auguft place, bearing the olive-branch of peace in their hands, to re-establish the altars of liberty, erected by the first of the Brutus's.

And you, Roman people! who are about to refume your legitimate rights, recollect the blood which runs in your veins-regard the monuments of glory by which you are furrounded-refume your ancient grandeur, and the virtues of your ancestors.

Procla

Proclamation by the Department of the Police.

LIBERTY-EQUALITY.

February 10, First Year of the Roman
Republic, one and indivifible.

IT is ufelefs to demonftrate by words, to the fovereign people of Rome, the iniquity of the government which is juft abolished, and the advantage of the change which has taken place. Every fenfible man muft acknowledge, that the will of all ought to prevail over the will or the defpotifm of a fmall number of interested perfons; and that the unanimous confent of citizens who love their country is more free and more fincere than that of the foreigners who compofed a theocratic government of fo monstrous a nature. Abufes have been carried to their height. The debt greatly exceeding the revenues of the ftate, or the ability of the people to pay it, the fcarcity of commodities having reduced all clafles to the greateft diftrefs, bafe money circulated to a great amount, and impunity given to the moft unjuft monopoly of provifions, are inconteftable proofs of the excefs to which the Papal tyranny has been carried.

The provifional government of the Roman republic, which has recovered its ancient rights, promife to pay unremitting attention to the re-establishment of the equality and the balance of commerce, fo that provifions of every kind may be procured for their fellow-citizens. At prefent they content themfelves with announcing, that the Mount of Piety fhall be immediately opened, and that the perfons who have goods depofited there may have them reftored to the amount of twenty paoli.

The free Romans, confident of the future profperity of a republic which will render them happy, are invited to give proofs of their joy and their patriotifm by illuminations to-morrow.

To crown this feftival by a fraternal meeting, there will be a public and gratis ball on Sunday evening, in the great theatre of Alberte; but without mafks, as that kind of amusement is only an infamous remnant of the barbarous feudal fystem.

The good order and the tranquillity of the city requires that all citizens thould identify themselves with the general will. Every perfon is therefore expected to wear the national cockade, the colours of which are white, black, and red. Those who appear with the cockade of a foreign nation, muft produce their authority for wearing it.

The fovereign people have already, in feveral places, pulled down the armorial bearings of the abolished government: but juftice and order demand that all marks of flavery should be every where inftantly laid afide by those who arrogate to themselves such ridiculous pretenfions.

In abolishing thefe enfigns of tyranny, it is proper alfo to fupprefs all diftinctive figns of aristocracy whatever: therefore all orders of chivalry, gold keys, titles of nobility, or pre-eminence of any kind, are prohibited, as injurious to equality. Liveries, laces, and other badges of perfonal fervitude, are alfo prohibited, as infulting to God, and degrading to man.

N. CORONA, Præfect.
MARTELLI, Secretary.

General of Brigade Vial, Commandant of Rome, to the peaceable Inhabitants of the City, and to the Civic Guard.

Rome, 8th Ventofe, (26th Feb.) ·

A REPORT was spread yesterday, that there was a divifion in' the French army. The factious, the fanatics, affaffins, and robbers, inftantly formed the defign of taking advantage of this circumftance. They began by organizing affaffination in every quarter of the town, and fome French foldiers were furrounded and murdered. They then affembled in the quarter of Tranfteverro, with the fanatics at their head, carrying an image of the Virgin. They appeared near St. Peter's church, crying Viva Maria! where, as the first act of their religion, they put to death a whole guard of foldiers. They next took poffeffion of the bridge of Sextus, and of all the neighbouring streets. The pillaging was to have begun in the quarter inhabited by the Jews, and was afterwards to have been carried through the whole city, had the first attempts been fuccefsful; but the ruffians were ignorant of the fpirit which animated the French troops; they knew not that upon the first fuminons every one would be upon his post, particularly when it was neceffary to defend a people (the Jews) whom our principles teach us to protect. I was foon informed of all that had paffed; and corps of troops fent into different quarters of the town affured me of the tranquillity of thofe places; but at Tranfteverro the mifcreants were in confiderable force. It was neceffary to march against them, and without lofing a moment's time I proceeded against them myself, at the head of fome troops. They received us with a fire of mufketry; but the bayonets of republicans foon overcame every obftacle. The gate near which the unfortunate Duphot was affaflinated was forced with fixed bayonets, and the bridge of Sextus was carried in the fame

manner.

Inhabitants of Rome! be confident that the French wish to promote your happiness of this intention they last night gave you a convincing proof. Had we not wifhed to give security to the lives and properties of the peaceable citizens, we might have con tented ourselves with occupying fome military pofitions, and the

promife

promife of protection we made to you would not, as now, have been fealed with the blood of our brethren in arms.

As for you, civic guard, you have difplayed on this occafion a zeal and devotion for good order which will for ever fecure to you the gratitude of your fellow-citizens. I am happy to have the opportunity on beftowing on you in this public manner that tribute of eulogy and efteem which your condu&t has fo juftly merited.

A great number of affaffins who were taken with arms in their hands will be tried within twenty-four hours.

Alexander Berthier, General in Chief of the French Army, to the People of the Roman Republic.

THE HE enemies of your happinefs, and of liberty, have endeavoured to mislead you. Some movements took place yefterday in the quarter of Tranfteverro, which were repreffed by force. Several Frenchmen were affaffinated-fome of the guilty have been arrefted, and fhail be punished.

It was believed the French army was difunited, but those who thought fo were deceived: were it poflible that difcord should ever prevail in the army, be convinced that the moment in which the enemies of liberty and of France fhould dare to thow themselves, under any colour whatever, that moment the French troops would be united, and difplay the energetic character which has fo often conducted them to liberty, and taught their enemies to tremble.

Roman people! liften not to perfidious counfels; respect the conftituted authorities, who are conftantly employed in endeavouring to promote your happinefs. Invite every Roman citizen to make known directly to me every inftance of vexation or oppreffion of any kind he may be fubject to. All criminals fhall be feverely punished..

(Signed)

BERTHIER.

Meffage to the Council of Five Hundred, on the 13th Ventofe (3d March).

Citizens Representatives,

TWO governments of Europe have been remarked for a cunning and fanguinary policy, and for their hatred to France, particularly France free and a republic. These are the cabinet of St. James's, and the theocracy of Rome. The crimes of the former of thefe governments have long excited our indignation; they will foon receive their juft chaftifement, Thefe

crimes,