states to have been the original
dwelling-house of the Virgin Mary in Nazareth, transported through the
air to Italy by miracle. This was for ages the chief resort of Romish
pilgrims, and the riches of the place were _once_ enormous.]

CHAPTER VIII

Neutrality of Venice--The Archduke Charles--Battle of
Tagliamento--Retreat of the Archduke--Treaty of Leoben--War with
Venice--Venice conquered.

Napoleon was now master of all northern Italy, with the exception of the
territories of Venice, which antique government, though no longer
qualified to keep equal rank with the first princes of Europe, was still
proud and haughty, and not likely to omit any favourable opportunity of
aiding Austria in the great and common object of ridding Italy of the
French. Buonaparte heard without surprise that the Doge had been raising
new levies, and that the senate could command an army of 50,000,
composed chiefly of fierce and semi-barbarous Sclavonian mercenaries. He
demanded what these demonstrations meant, and was answered that Venice
had no desire but to maintain a perfect neutrality. Meantime there was
not wanting a strong party, throughout the Venetian territories of the
mainland, who were anxious to emulate the revolutionary movements of the
great cities of Lombardy, and to emancipate themselves from the yoke of
the Venetian oligarchy, as their neighbours had done by that of the
Austrian crown. Insurrections occurred at Bergamo, Brescia, and
elsewhere; and Buonaparte, though little disposed to give the
inhabitants of these places the boon they were in quest of, saw and
profited by the opportunity of dividing, by their means, the resources,
and shaking the confidence, of the senate. After some negotiation, he
told the Venetian envoy that he granted the prayer of his masters. "Be
neuter," said he, "but see that your neutrality be indeed sincere and
perfect. If any insurrection occur in my rear, to cut off my
communications in the event of my marching on Germany--if any movement
whatever betray the disposition of your senate to aid the enemies of
France, be sure that vengeance will follow--from that hour the
independence of Venice has ceased to be."

More than a month had now elapsed since Alvinzi's defeat at Rivoli; in
nine days the war with the Pope had reached its close; and, having left
some garrisons in the towns on the Adige, to watch the neutrality of
Venice, Napoleon hastened to carry the war into the h