Oudinot "de Reggio" has again been baulked of his victory,
by the cession of Rome. His slow approaches had at length given him a position within the city, and on the 30th of June the Triumvirate yielded, rather than expose their "monumental city " to the destruction of a bombardment. This was a wise and poli- tic act. The Romans have defended their city with a spirit and perseverance that have surprised the world, after their so long slumber beneath the enfeebling influence of the Papal govern- ment; and their affairs have been conducted with singular courage, calmness, and discretion. The taunt that Rome has been defended by "foreigners" is absurd : there are, no doubt, some refugees, such as have taken part in all-the wars of Italy ; but many are called "foreigners" only by a licence peculiar to Italy, which treats the natives of different states in the Peninsula as such : thus even a Lucchese may be vulgarly called a foreigner in, Florence • and by the same rule, Virgil and Ovid would have been ioreigners in Rome. Mazzini, once sneered at as a mad enthusiast, has vindicated his fame as one of the ablest men in the conduct of public affairs that the European juncture has produced. After defending the feebly fortified city against an army from a country most accomplished in war, until the delay was almost equal to defeat, the Triumvirs have judiciously left the responsibility of the sequel to the French.
'Meanwhile, General Bedeau had been despatched to overrule if not to supersede the incapable Oudinot ; and as the new com- mander is not only a much better officer, but also—whatever his honesty—a much cleverer politician, it is to be hoped that he will conduct the diplomacy as well as he would have conducted the siege. The altered position of affairs should be seized by France as a blessed opportunity to retreat from the position into which she had been betrayed by the weakness and rashness of General Oudinot, and to revise the whole subject of Roman relations. The " honour" of France has had its peace-offering, and her ser- vants should do something to restore her true honour and dignity.
Previous page
