ffected great changes in the affairs of Italy.
Having adopted his son-in-law, Eugene Beauharnois, as his own son, he
settled that kingdom upon him in tail male, and incorporated with the
legations of Ancona, Urbino, Macerata, and Camerino, which were the
pope's dominions; stating in a decree as the sole reason for this act of
undisguised despotism, "that the sovereign of Rome had refused to make
war against England." Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, were also annexed
to the kingdom of Italy, as were Kehl, Wesel, Cassel, and Flushing to
France. To complete his domestic policy, Napoleon now instituted an
hereditary nobility; princes, dukes, counts, barons, and knights of the
empire sprung up like mushrooms on every hand, in order to ennoble
his newly created empire. Napoleon likewise instituted an imperial
university; but his school was rather calculated to train up agents of
imperial despotism, than men of learning and enlightened minds. As the
sworn enemy of liberty, he declared himself the head of this university,
and decreed that all schools or seminaries should be under its control.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

{GEORGE III. 1809--1812}

Meeting of Parliament..... The Supplies, &c...... Charges
against the Duke of York..... Parliamentary Corruption.....
Motion for Reform..... Prorogation of Parliament.....
Affairs of Spain..... Further Operations in Spain.....
Campaign of Napoleon in Italy..... British Expedition
against Naples and Walcheren..... Dissensions in the
Cabinet..... Meeting of Parliament..... Debate on the
Walcheren Expedition..... Proceedings against Sir Francis
Burdett..... The Supplies..... The Slave-Trade Question.....
Petition of the Irish Catholics. &c...... Prorogation of
Parliament &c...... . Campaign in Portugal..... Affairs of
Spain..... Foreign Conquests, &c...... The Marriage of
Napoleon, &c...... Illness of His Majesty: Opening of
Parliament, &c...... Opening of Parliament by the
Regent..... Debate on the Re-appointment of the Duke of York
to the War-office..... The Supplies..... The Bullion
Committee, &c...... Subject of Military Discipline..... Lord
Sidmouth's Motion respecting Dissenting Preachers.....
Affairs of the Irish Catholics..... Amendment of the
Criminal law..... . Prorogation of Parliament..... Disputes
with America..... Capture of Java..... Affairs of
Portugal..... Aff