Property and trade were preserved, when General Baragney d’Hilliers entered Venice with his division.  Bonaparte, as usual, spared blood, and was the protector of Venice.  Whilst the French troops remained they conducted themselves peaceably, and only interfered to support the provisional Government.

Bonaparte could not say to the deputies of Venice, who came to ask his protection and assistance against the populace, who wished to plunder them, “I cannot meddle with your affairs.”  He could not say this, for Venice, and all its territories, had really formed the theatre of war; and, being in the rear of the army of Italy, the Republic of Venice was really under the jurisdiction of that army.  The rights of war confer upon a general the powers of supreme police over the countries which are the seat of war.  As the great Frederick said, “There are no neutrals where there is war.”  Ignorant advocates and babblers have asked, in the Club of Clichy, why we occupy the territory of Venice.  These declaimers should learn war, and they would know that the Adige, the Brenta, and the Tagliamento, where we have been fighting for two years, are within the Venetian States.  But, gentlemen of Clichy, we are at no loss to perceive your meaning.  You reproach the army of Italy for having surmounted all difficulties—­for subduing all Italy for having twice passed the Alps—­for having marched on Vienna, and obliged Austria to acknowledge the Republic that, you, men of Clichy, would destroy.  You accuse Bonaparte, I see clearly, for having brought about peace.  But I know you, and I speak in the name of eighty thousand soldiers.  The time is gone when base advocates and wretched declaimers could induce soldiers to revolt.  If, however, you compel them, the soldiers of the army of Italy will soon appear at the Barrier of Clichy, with their General.  But woe unto you if they do!

Bonaparte having arrived at Palma-Nova, issued a manifesto on the 2d of May 1797.  Arrived at Mestre, where he posted his troops, the Government sent three deputies to him, with a decree of the Great Council, without Bonaparte having solicited it and without his having thought of making any change in the Government of that country:  The governor of Venice was an old man, ninety-nine years-of age, confined by illness to his apartment.  Everyone felt the necessity of renovating this Government of twelve hundred years’ existence, and to simplify its machinery, in order to preserve its independence, honour, and glory.  It was necessary to deliberate, first, on the manner of renovating the Government; secondly, on the means of atoning for the massacre of the French, the iniquity of which every one was sensible..

Bonaparte, after having received the deputation at Mestre, told them that in order to obtain satisfaction, for the assassination of his brethren is arms, he wished the Great Council to arrest the inquisitors.  He afterwards granted