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At Leoben, to induce Austria to treat for peace without
the intervention of Great Britain, Bonaparte then offered her the possession
of the Venetian dominions as an equivalent for the Netherlands, which Bonaparte
had wrested from her; this she eagerly accepted, tempted by the hopes of
thereby becoming a commercial, perhaps a naval power, in consequence of
this accession of maritime territory. |
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| It will therefore appear, whilst Napoleon was signing
the peace of Leoben, that he was actually engaged in planning the destruction
of Venice, one of the most ancient republics in the world, and Augereau
was fixed on to carry this into effect. To bring about some excuse for this
premeditated attack, a few inhabitants of the Venetian terra-firma, seduced
by French emissaries, and no doubt irritated by French oppression, had been
reduced to oppose resistance to the marauding parties of republican troops
then desolating their hitherto peaceable homes: the opposition, however,
soon became more formidable, and 40,000 peasants were not only in arms,
but might also have cut off the retreat of the whole French army from Carinthia,
if it had not been for the unfortunate treaty just concluded. |
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| At this period, General Augereau commanded that part
of the army between the Piave and the Adige; and as he was not in sufficient
force openly to oppose the insurrection which was making considerable progress,
he found it necessary to publish a most deceitful proclamation, promising
redress for all grievances, and offering general amnesty and oblivion with
respect to hostilities. |
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| He partly succeeded in his intentions, which were merely
intended to gain time, to suspend the activity of the insurgents, and also
to divide their opinions until Bonaparte himself should arrive; nor was
he disappointed, for Bonaparte having collected a part of his army, early
in May, immediately published a declaration of war against Venice; and without
the slightest resistance, he instantly took possession of the Venetian dominions
upon the main land, permitting his troops to live there, for some time,
uncontroled. Augereau was now ordered to march a column of 25,000 men to
the sea-coast, opposite to the numerous islands on which the city of Venice
is situated; and though its natural defences would have served to defend
it against an attack, yet there, as in other places, he had by plots and
intrigues paved the way, by dividing the people, that no resistance was
offered; and Augereau took possession of the city on the 12th of May. |
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| In furtherance of Napoleon's plans, his first object
was to seize the arsenal, and to occupy the military works; after which
he established a municipality, imprisoning and shooting several of the most
eminent nobles of the state, plundering private property as well as the
public establishments. In this system of plunder he was greatly assisted
by the savans, who always accompanied his army; but so extensive was the
city, and so great its wealth, that it took him eight weeks to complete
its destruction. This Bonaparte denominated "The regeneration of Venice." |
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| Amongst other things which Napoleon took from the state,
were six ships of the line completely equipped; forty paintings, to be chosen
by his savans or commissioners; the most precious monuments of the library
of St. Mark; the four famous horses, said to have been the work of Lysippus,
and the two lions of gilt bronze, which had been brought from Constantinople;
all of which were packed up, and sent off to ornament the National Museum
and the city of Paris. |
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