After providing, in this effective manner, for the total extinction of ecclefiaftical power, the attention of the ruling powers, in conjunction with the French, was turned to the means of railing pecuniary fupplies for the military, the fervices of which, it was conjectured, would shortly be wanted in the conteft expected with Naples. An edict was therefore framed, by which three millions of piafters were placed in the hands of the confuls, for the ule of the army.

This expectation of hoftilities, on the part of Naples, was reafonably founded. General Mack had been dispatched, by the imperial court, to organize the Neapolitan army on the Auftrian plan, and was, at this time, exerting all his abilities and diligence to this purpofe. As foon as this could be effected, it was believed that a declaration of war would flue from the court of Naples, which had made the greatest efforts, and collected the largest army known in that kingdom for

ages.

In all thefe preparations for war, and in all the measures and regulations adopted by the republican government of Rome, upon this, as well as every occafion, it was evidently the paffive inftrument of France. Though fufficiently inclined to another government than that of the pope, the popular party was defirous to establish one that fhould embrace and fatisfy all parties, and was particularly averse to innovation in religious matters. The diminution of the ecclefiaftical power excepted, little alteration had been intended by the party that fought a revolation. It was therefore with the deep, but fecret refentment peculiar to the Ita

lian difpofition, that the Romans felt the heavy hand that oppressed inftead of eafing them. Numbers, doubtlefs, had fo far entered into French principles and plans, as to prefer them to all others; but a far greater majority difapproved of them, and would have refted at lefs than half way. But the fact was, that throughout the whole of the Roman revolution the French were abfolute dictators, as they had been every where on a fimilar emergency. Their influence had been fo carefully provided for in the prefent inftance, that it was actually specified in the conftitutional inftru ment of government, that during the first ten years of the republic, the commander of the French forces, at Rome, fhould poffefs a negative on all the proceedings of the government and legiflature. This was a ftretch of power, which the French had not exercised in the formation of any other ftate. It was an affront that funk deep into the minds of the Romans, who naturally thought themselves more competent to the management of their own affairs, than a nation of ftrangers, fo different from them in character, notions, habits, and a variety of other confiderations. The principal object of the leading men in Rome, was, therefore, to free themfelves, without offending the French, from the unceasing interference these affumed in all affairs, great and small, to the juft indignation of the former, to whom it foon became infupportable. Such, however, was their judgement and fagacity in obviating, or modifying, the precipitate meafures purfued or recommended by the French, that in the general deftruction or dilapidation effected by thefe, they found means to re

tain fome inftitutions, which, though founded on fuperftition, were become effential refources for the exigencies of the state. The moft confiderable of these were the feveral offices from which the bulls and briefs, and the many other inftruments of fpiritual authority, had iffued during fo many ages. Thefe, and others of a similar kind, were ftill fuffered to fubfift, notwithstanding the repugnance of the violent reformers. As their annual produce was computed at not less than three millions of French livres, this was a fund that prudence forbad to part with at a period of fuch pecuDiary fcarcity. It was a happy circumftance for Rome, that religious motives induced the catholic ftates, in Europe, to continue their fpiritual fubjection to the papal fee; the jurifdiction of which, though fufpended by temporary caules, they doubted not would recover its former exercife and influence. This perfuafion, though derided by the French, and those who adopted their principles, was of great efficacy in fupply ing many deficiencies, which muft without it have occafioned much private as well as public calamity. The fale of conventual lands, with the fuppreffion and plunder of monafieries and churches, had raifed large fums; but they were quickly confumed by the exigencies of the late, and ftill more by the avidity of the French, who, like most other invaders, thought themfelves entitled, by the right of conqueft, to difpofe of whatever they could lay their hands upon, and indifcrini'nately feized every fpecies of property.

While Rome, under the direction of France, was preparing to carry the revolutionary Spirit into Naples,

But

Re

the unhappy Pius, driven from the pontifical throne into exile, was endeavouring, by the confolations of religion, to reconcile himfelf to hi deftiny. He had, while head of the catholic church, difplayed an attachment to exterior greatness which induced the public to think that he would have been weighed down by misfortune, and have proved utterly unable to fupport the fatal reverfe that befel him. he met his trials with the decency of refignation, if not with the fpirit of fortitude, and by the unthaker firmnefs of his conduct, interefted all people in his fufferings. duced to the private enjoyments o a tranquil life in the monaftic retirement he had chofen, it is highly probable that he might have continu ed in a peaceable exiftance fevera years longer, if the politics of France had permitted it. But the rancour of the French government feemed determined to perfecute him to the laft moment he had to live. The meannefs of the ancient Romans in purfuing Hannibal through every country, wherein he took refuge was not more defpicable than the folicitude of the French, in expelling Pius from the retreats where he had hoped to have been left unmolefied Offended probably at the reverence fhewn to his perfon, and the fympa thy manifefted for his misfortunes, which appeared a tacit condemna tion of their behaviour to him, they were determined to deprive the ca tholic princes of this opportunity o acting in contradiction to them.

He had efcaped a remarkable danger in his retirement at Sienna An earthquake threw down fevera buildings in the neighbourhood o that where he refided, which was a convent, and received alfo fome da

mage

mage. From this place he removed to a Carthufian monaftary near Florence. Here he flattered himself that he fhould end his days in peace, and chearfully expreffed his expectation, that, after going through to many ftorms, he should here find a port at last.

It has been an object of fpeculation, what motives prompted the government of France to difturb the repole of an old man, incapable of giving them any caufe of apprebention, and who, they well knew, was weary of public affairs, and fincerely defirous to pafs the remainder of his life in peace, and at a dittance from the world. But the vain-glory of upholding their own determinations in preference, and in contempt, as it were, of the opinion of others, may have probably been the motive of the harsh treatment they inflicted on the pope.

Nor ought the fubferviency of the Roman catholic princes, on this occafion, to pafs unnoticed or uncenJured. The grand duke of Tufcany was wholly in their power, and cannot therefore be blamed for yielding to their mandates, in whatever related to the pope, or indeed to any other object: and yet it was not without a princely concern for the hard fate of the unfortunate pontiff, that he fignified to him the neceflity he was under to difmifs him from his dominions. The Imperial court was applied to for a place of refuge in his behalf; but, contrary to expectation, the requeft was refaled. The protection of Spain was next reforted to, but with no better fuccefs. The refufal of a power, late fo profoundly devoted to the Roman fee, was a matter of aftonishment to all Chrifiendom. Nothing, it was generally obferved,

could have more ftrongly demonftrated the fallen spirit of the Spanish monarchy, and its pufilanimous fubmiffion to the arbitrary mandates of the French republic.

After much wavering and confultation, on the fittest place for his refidence, it was at length determined to remove him to the island of Sardinia. Here he would be at a diftance from all scenes of intrigue, and neither could take an active nor paffive fhare in the efforts of his adherents to reftore him to his former power. Here, too, it feems, the French government was meditating. to provide a place of banishment for another Italian prince, the very fovereign of the island appointed for the refidence of the pope.

Whether through grief at feeing himfelf the fport of fortune in his latter days, or through the natural infirmities of age, Pius was at this period feized with a dangerous illnefs, which, it was thought, for fome time, would have carried him to the grave. His removal now became impracticable, and the French government, unwilling to incur the imputation of having purpofely abridged his days, left him for the prefent unmolested.

The perfonal fufferings of a fovereign, venerable by the rank he held among Chriftian princes, and by his great age, and the patience with which he bore his calamities, had rendered him an object of refpeful attention through all Europe. Both proteftants and catholics united in commifferating his condition, and reprobating the unneceflary and unfeeling feverity with which he was treated by an unpitying conqueror, and upon pretexts that were unjustifiable, as they were evidently unfour.ded.

In

In this general fenfe and compaflion for his misfortunes, neither his religion nor his character interterfered. Pius VI. was not irreproachable in his public or in his private capacity; but adverfity had drawn a viel over his errors and trefpafles, and the courage with which he fupported his fate gave him a dignity which he had not commended at the higheft fummit of his paft elevation. In this light his fall. was advantageous to him, as it procured him a reputation he would not have otherwife attained.

His reign, it has been faid, was a continued feries of mistakes: but the truth was, that he reigned at a time when both his temporal and fpiritual fubjects were almoft equally ungovernable, and when not only the authority of the Roman catholic church was fhaken to its foundations, but when even the Chriftian religion itself was called in queftion, and affailed with more enmity and virulence than it had experienced in any former ages.

From the time that Pius mounted the papal throne, he may, without exaggeration, be faid to have ruled in a perpetual form. Hofts of enemies arofe on every fide, and he was thwarted at home and abroad with much more obftinacy than his predeceffors. With abilities of an inferior clafs, he had almost inceffantly to contend with difficulties of the higheft; and the weapons that he ufed in the conteft, had long been blunted and worn out; for fuch certainly were the arguments and reafonings he brought forward to fupport his pontifical authority.

Inaufpiciously for the tranquillity

of his people, as well as for his own, he was not at liberty to embrace a fyftem of neutrality in the agitations that followed the French revolution. He was bound, in duty to his fpiritual character, to anathematife the proceedings that overturned the Gallican church. But it may juftly be queftioned, whether he ought in policy to have moved any farther, and whether, by abftaining from interference in its civil concerns, and fubmitting to the lofs of the inconfiderable territory which he poffeffed, in France, he might not have fecured the peace of the Roman fee, and tranfmitted the papal dignity to others unmolefted and undiminished, together with the temporal power and dominions annexed to it, and which no potentate in Europe was inclined to lessen.

It is chiefly for his conduct in this latter inftance, that he has been cenfured. Others indeed have juftified him on the principles of the coalition, to which he could not decently refuse his concurrence against a people accused of aiming at a fundamental fubverfion of all religion and government.. But without entering into a difcuffion upon this fubject, when it is confidered, of how little weight the papal power was in the feale, that he had nothing to gain through the fuccefs of the coalition, and, if it failed, he had all to lose, which unfortunately proved the cafe, it would, confiftently with the plainest policy, have been more prudent to preferve a neutrality that might evetually be beneficial to himfelf, than to act a part that could be of no utility to others.

CHAP.