Pius IX., in his allocution of the 29th of April last, has explained himself fully.  He has disavowed every liberal act which ever seemed to emanate from him, with the exception of the amnesty.  He has shamelessly recalled his refusal to let Austrian blood be shed, while Roman flows daily at his request.  He has implicitly declared that his future government, could he return, would be absolute despotism,—­has dispelled the last lingering illusion of those still anxious to apologize for him as only a prisoner now in the hands of the Cardinals and the king of Naples.  The last frail link is broken that bound to him the people of Rome, and could the French restore him, they must frankly avow themselves, abandon entirely and fully the position they took in February, 1848, and declare themselves the allies of Austria and of Russia.

Meanwhile they persevere in the Jesuitical policy that has already disgraced and is to ruin them.  After a week of vain assaults, Oudinot sent to Rome the following letter, which I translate, as well as the answers it elicited.

LETTER OF GENERAL OUDINOT,

Intended for the Roman Constituent Assembly, the Triumvirate, the Generalissimo, and the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard.

“General,—­The events of war have, as you know, conducted the French army to the gates of Rome.

“Should the entrance into the city remain closed against us, I should see myself constrained to employ immediately all the means of action that France has placed in my hands.

“Before having recourse to such terrible necessity, I think it my duty to make a last appeal to a people who cannot have toward France sentiments of hostility.

“The Roman army wishes, no doubt, equally with myself, to spare bloody ruin to the capital of the Christian world.

“With this conviction, I pray you, Signore General, to give the enclosed proclamation the most speedy publicity.  If, twelve hours after this despatch shall have been delivered to you, an answer corresponding to the honor and the intentions of France shall not have reached me, I shall be constrained to give the forcible attack.

“Accept, &c.

“Villa Pamfili, 12 June, 1849, 5 P.M.”

He was in fact at Villa Santucci, much farther out, but could not be content without falsifying his date as well as all his statements.

“PROCLAMATION.

“Inhabitants of Rome,—­We did not come to bring you war.  We came to sustain among you order, with liberty.  The intentions of our government have been misunderstood.  The labors of the siege have conducted us under your walls.  Till now we have wished only occasionally to answer the fire of your batteries.  We approach these last moments, when the necessities of war burst out in terrible calamities.  Spare them to a city fall of so many glorious memories.

“If you persist in repelling us, on you alone will fall the responsibility of irreparable disasters.”