him. "I thus
recapitulate," said the president, in this memorable epistle, "the
temporal power of the Pope, _a general amnesty, secularization of the
administration, and liberal government_." It was appointed that General
Rostolan should publish this ill-timed letter, and carry it into effect.
He refused to do so, tendered his resignation, and thus firmly replied:
"Conscience requires that I should sacrifice my position and my
sympathies. My successor, more fortunate than myself, will perhaps enjoy
the signal honor to terminate peacefully the work which we have begun at
the head of the army. As a soldier and a Christian, I will rejoice on
account of the Sovereign Pontiff, who will have been restored to his
people, and because of France, which will have accomplished a noble and
most worthy mission." To the Odillon Barrot ministry, which at one time
disowned the letter, and at another acknowledged it, and ordered its
publication, the general declared that he would never identify himself
with an act which, besides being unjust, would endanger the peace of all
Europe. According to his view, which was the same as that of the French
ambassadors, M. de Rayneval and M. de Corcelles, a general war would
follow the official publication of the letter of 18th August; and such a
war could not but prove fatal to the ideas of order which were beginning
to resume their empire. He loved his country too well to bear part in
incurring for it such fearful risks. Messrs. de Rayneval and de Corcelles
wrote to the same effect, and communicated to the French Government the
resolution of the Sovereign Pontiff to seek the protection of Austria, or
even to repair to America, rather than submit to the constraint with which
he was threatened.

(M19) It was not, however, ordained that the conditions of the Pope's
restoration should be decided by the President of the French Republic, or
the Odillon Barrot ministry. The National Assembly of France took the
matter in hand, and after a keen debate, which lasted three days--13th,
18th and 19th October--came to a resolution favorable to the Holy See.
There can be no doubt that the Chamber was greatly influenced by the
powerful eloquence of M. de Montalembert. "It has been said," observed
this orator, "that the honor of our flag was compromised by the expedition
undertaken against Rome in order to destroy the Roman Republic and restore
the authority of the Pope. All in this Assembly must feel insulted by t