Napoleon was far less Papal in his sentiments than were most of the assenting deputies; his own opinion was more truly represented by the letter which, as a private citizen, he wrote to the ‘Constitutionnel’ in December 1848 than by his subsequent course as President.  In this letter he declared that a military demonstration would be perilous even to the interests which it was intended to safeguard.  He had but one fixed purpose:  to please France, so as to get himself made Emperor.  France must be held answerable for the means taken to please her.

General Oudinot landed at Civitavecchia on the 25th of April, his friendly assurances having persuaded the local authorities to oppose no resistance, an unfortunate error, but the last.  The correct judgment formed by the Roman Government of the designs of the invaders was considerably assisted by a French officer, Colonel Leblanc, who was sent to Rome by Oudinot to come to an agreement with Mazzini for the amicable reception of the French, and who, losing his temper, revealed more than he was meant to reveal.  His last words, ’Les Italiens ne se battent pas,’ unquestionably expressed the belief of the whole French force, from the general-in-chief to the youngest drummer.  They were soon going to have a chance of testing its accuracy.

The Roman Assembly passed a vote that ’force should be repelled by force.’  Well-warned, therefore, but with the proverbial coeur leger, Oudinot advanced on Rome with 8000 men early on the 30th of April.  At eleven o’clock the two columns came in sight of St Peter’s, and soon after, the first which moved towards Porta Angelica was attacked by Colonel Masi.  Garibaldi attacked the second column a mile out of Porta San Pancrazio.  At the first moment the superior numbers of the French told, and the Italians fell back on Villa Pamphilli, but Colonel Galetti arrived with reinforcements, and before long Garibaldi drove the French from the Pamphilli Gardens and had them in full retreat along the Civitavecchia road.  Oudinot was beaten, Rome was victorious.  ‘This does not surprise us Romans; but it will astonish Paris!’ ran a manifesto of the hour; the words are a little childish, but men are apt to be childish when they are deeply moved.  And as to the astonishment of Paris, all the words in the world would fail to paint its proportions.  Paris was indeed astonished.

Garibaldi had not the chief command of the Roman army, or he would have done more; there was nothing to prevent the Italians from driving Oudinot into the sea.  The Triumvirate, when appealed to directly by Garibaldi, refused their sanction, either fearing to leave the capital exposed to the Neapolitans who were advancing, or (and this seems to have been the real reason) still hoping that France would repudiate Oudinot and come to terms.  Garibaldi was right on this occasion, and Mazzini was wrong.  When you are at war, nothing is so ruinous as to be afraid of damaging the enemy.