to the Papal Nuncio: "My Lord, I
am anxious that the rumors which tend to make me an accomplice of the
conduct of Prince Canino at Rome should not be credited by you. I have
not, for a long time, had any relations with the eldest son of Lucien
Bonaparte; and I am profoundly grieved that he has not understood that the
maintenance of the temporal sovereignty of the venerable Head of the
Church is intimately connected with the glory of Catholicism, no less than
with the liberty and independence of Italy. Accept, my Lord, the
expression of my sentiments of high esteem.

"LOUIS NAPOLEON BONAPARTE."

(M11) Spain had already despatched a fleet to Gaeta, the Austrians had
advanced in the direction of Ferrara, and the King of Naples at Terracina,
when, on the 25th of April 1849, a French army, under the command of
General Oudinot, disembarked at Civita Vecchia. This military expedition
was, at first, considerably thwarted by diplomacy. The general-in-chief
was assured at the outset that he had only to show himself before the
walls of Rome, and the gates would be opened immediately in consequence of
the reaction which was taking place within. Accordingly, the army
advanced, on the 30th April, to the foot of the ramparts, and was received
with a discharge of fire-arms. Nevertheless, one of the gates was opened
to a French battalion. The Romans came out in crowds, waving white
handkerchiefs, and shouting, "Peace is concluded! Peace for ever! Enemies
in the morning, we are brothers this evening! Long live the French!" The
soldiers, deceived by these demonstrations, were persuaded to enter they
city. They were at once disarmed and declared prisoners of war. It was now
manifest that a regular siege was necessary. An impediment was, however,
thrown in the way of military operations, by a civil or diplomatic agent
who entered Rome, and in the course of a few weeks concluded with the
revolutionists a treaty which was contrary to his instructions, to those
of the commander-in-chief, to the honor of France and the objects of the
expedition. Odillon Barrot was, at that time, President of the French
Ministry--the same Odillon Barrot who, in 1830, was prefect of police, and
allowed the mansion of the Archbishop to be demolished without taking any
measures for its protection. Such conduct, as has been well observed,
showed that this official loved anarchy more than order. Hence, probably,
arose those impediments to the Roman expedition which