y at Marengo, on the 14th June, 1800,
consolidated the French rule over Piedmont. But the Vaudois experienced
dreadful privations at this time, owing to the ravages of the soldiers of
the two armies, French and Austrian, and a period of scarcity. The stipends
of the pastors were also in great part wanting. The French government made
a provision out of appropriations formerly given to the Romish priests and
monks. Indeed, after a conversation which Napoleon held in a most agreeable
manner with M. Peyrani, moderator of the Vaudois Church, he assigned
stipends of one thousand francs yearly to the pastors of parishes, together
with an extra allowance of two hundred francs for work as secretaries of
the communes. On this occasion Napoleon referred in a spirit of admiration
to the exploits of Arnaud and other brave leaders of the Vaudois, and also
drew from M. Peyrani the statement that his church had an independent
existence from about the year 820. At this time the Vaudois rebuilt their
temple at Giovanni, closed since the year 1658. However, it was barely
finished when it suffered much damage from an earthquake, the shocks of
which were felt for a period of four months in the neighbourhood of
Pinerolo, and in other parts, both of Italy and France. Although the
prevalence of this earthquake inflicted great suffering on the Vaudois by
the cessation of all industrial pursuits, the necessity of living in tents,
and the general terror and alarm which it inspired, yet the actual loss of
life did not extend to more than three cases. There were many remarkable
deliverances. Notwithstanding this visitation of Providence, it does not
appear that religious life existed to the degree of former times. The
spirit of atheism stirred up in France; the prevalence of a cold
materialistic philosophy in those seminaries where the students for the
Waldensian ministry had to seek instruction; the absorption of the thoughts
by the reports of military expeditions; the bewitchery attached to the name
and achievements of Bonaparte, not only made the young men of the valleys
willing to enrol beneath his standard, but also had a tendency to restrict
the simplicity and the piety so characteristic of their forefathers to
those who from sex or age were left outside of that turbid wave which swept
others into the current of its power. In 1815 came the downfall of the
proud empire erected by the military prowess and boundless ambition of the
first Napoleon.