To both of these proposals the Court of Rome offered a tenacious resistance.  The idea of compelling long-persecuted bishops to resign their sees was no less distasteful than the latter proposal, which involved acquiescence in sacrilegious robbery.  At least, pleaded Mgr.  Spina, let tithes be re-established.  To this request the First Consul deigned no reply.  None, indeed, was possible except a curt refusal.  Few imposts had been so detested as the tithe; and its reimposition would have wounded the peasant class, on which the First Consul based his authority.  So long as he had their support he could treat with disdain the scoffs of the philosophers and even the opposition of his officers; but to have wavered on the subject of tithe and of the Church lands might have been fatal even to the victor of Marengo.[154]

In fact, the difficulty of effecting any compromise was enormous.  In seeking to reconcile the France of Rousseau and Robespierre to the unchanging policy of the Vatican, the “heir to the Revolution” was essaying a harder task than any military enterprise.  To slay men has ever been easier than to mould their thoughts anew; and Bonaparte was now striving not only to remould French thought but also to fashion anew the ideas of the Eternal City.  He soon perceived that this latter enterprise was more difficult than the former.  The Pope and his councillors rejoiced at the signs of his repentance, but required to see the fruits thereof.  Instead of first-fruits they received unheard-of demands—­the surrender of the three Legations of Bologna, Ferrara, and Romagna, the renunciation of all tithes and Church lands in France, and the acceptance of a compromise with schismatics.  What wonder that the replies from Rome were couched in the non possumus terms which form the last refuge of the Vatican.  Finding that negotiations made no progress, Bonaparte intrusted Berthier and Murat to pay a visit to Rome and exercise a discreet but burdensome pressure in the form of requisitions for the French troops in the Papal States.

The ratification of peace with Austria gave greater weight to his representations at Rome, and he endeavoured to press on the signature of the Concordat, so as to startle the world by the simultaneous announcement of the pacification of the Continent and of the healing of the great religious schism in France.  But the clerical machinery worked too slowly to admit of this projected coup de theatre.  In Bonaparte’s proposals of February 25th, 1801, there were several demands already found to be inadmissible at the Vatican;[155] and matters came to a deadlock until the Pope invested Spina with larger powers for negotiating at Paris.  Consalvi also proceeded to Paris, where he was received in state with other ambassadors at the Tuileries, the sight of a cardinal’s robe causing no little sensation.  The First Consul granted him a long interview, speaking at first somewhat seriously, but gradually becoming more affable and gracious.