use for a display of military
power in the Pope's States on occasion of the threatened disturbance of
16th July. This parade was only the prelude to further military
operations. On 13th August, General Count Auesperg occupied all the posts
of Ferrara. Whatever may be said as to treaty rights, this was,
undoubtedly, an insult to the Papal flag. The most energetic remonstrances
were immediately addressed to the Cabinet of Vienna. Austria endeavored to
justify her proceeding by a wide interpretation of the right of
occupation, by alleging the disturbed state of the public mind at Rome,
and by insisting on certain precedents. But to no purpose. The diplomacy
of Ferretti contended successfully with that of Metternich. And Austria,
yielding with the best grace possible to the representations of the Holy
Father, evacuated Ferrara.

The Pope, far from allowing himself to be disquieted by the presence in
his States of Croat troops, proceeded with the work of reform which he had
undertaken, slowly, indeed, but with energy and perseverance. In these
labors of the statesman, he was ably aided by the Cardinal Minister
Ferretti. A promise was given that before the end of the year two great
political and administrative institutions would be called into existence.
Accordingly, so early as the month of October, two State papers appeared,
the one instituting the municipality of Rome, which was to be called _the
Senate_, the other decreeing an assembly that should be, to a certain
extent, representative, under the name of _Council of State_ (consulta).
The City of Rome had not, for a long time, possessed, like the other
cities of the Pontifical States, municipal institutions. It was now
ordained that there should be a City Council, consisting of the mayor (in
the language of the country, _Senator_), with eight colleagues and a
hundred other members. This is not unlike our own municipal magistracy,
wherein are the mayor, aldermen and common councilmen or councillors. With
us, however, aldermen could hardly be called the colleagues of the mayor.
This functionary stands alone in his worshipful dignity. The first
nomination of the members of this municipal body was reserved to the Pope.
But it was appointed that, ever after, it should be chosen by free popular
election. None will question the wisdom and liberality of the language in
which the Pope expressed himself in the preamble to the new law. "When we
were called by Divine Providence to go