sed to accept a ministry, to press
which upon him was an insult. Now, but only in order to save the lives of
the people around him, he submitted to this indignity. Mamiani, with his
former programme, supported by the constituent assembly, which consisted
of the representatives of all Italy, together with Dr. Sterbini, Garetti,
and four other persons equally unacceptable, constituted this Socialist
ministry.
They desired also to include in the sinister list the celebrated Abbate
Rosmini. But this gifted and eminent divine refused to take part with
them, or lend any countenance to their proceedings. On the 17th November
several members of the representative chamber proposed that a deputation
should be sent to Pius IX., in order to express to him their devotedness
and gratitude. They were not wholly lost to all sense of propriety. But
the Prince de Canino, true to his antecedents, succeeded in preventing so
laudable a purpose from being carried into effect. He declared that such a
step would be imprudent, and that they might have cause to repent it.
"Citizen Bonaparte," such was the appellation he gloried in, further said
that the Italian people were undeniably the masters now, and that they
well understood how to humble all parliaments, ministers and thrones that
should oppose their energetic impulses.
(M2) Meanwhile the Pope, in such a fearful crisis, was abandoned by all
save a few friends, the officials of his Palace, his faithful Swiss Guards
and the foreign ambassadors. Among those who remained with him were six
Noble Guards, and the Cardinals Soglia and Antonelli. This was all the
court and army that was left to the great Pontiff, who had been so
deservedly the idol of his people and the hope of mankind. In so desperate
a condition he never lost confidence. Throughout all the trying
circumstances he was self-possessed and serene. Nothing pained him so much
as the ingratitude of his people. The new ministry of subversion had
extorted from the Pope his forced and reluctant consent to their
formation. He deemed it his duty to protest, which he did in the most
solemn manner, against them and all their acts, before all the Christian
European nations, as represented by their ambassadors.
These ambassadors and diplomatists were Martizez Della Rosa, the
ambassador of Spain, with the Secretary of the Embassy, M. Arnao; the Duke
d'Harcourt, ambassador of France; the Count de Spaur, ambassador of
Bavaria; the Baron Venda
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