DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55699#0033
VENICE.
15
apprehension through every quarter of the city. Six hun-
dred and nineteen senators met in this hour of terror to
resolve on such measures as their situation allowed them
to take. The doge, bowed with affliction, read a pro-
position, the purport of which was, to consider, with
Bonaparte, what changes might be most profitably made
in the government. A mournful silence succeeded ■, the
measure was put to the vote, and four hundred and ninety-
eight members of the council declared themselves in its
favour. When the report of this determination was pre-
sented to Napoleon, he replied, that unless the death of
his captain Laugier, and some others who had fallen in
a late affair with the Venetian fleet, were revenged by
the immediate punishment of those who had authorized
the assault, he would in fifteen days enter Venice sword
in hand. Neither the doge nor his councillors had any
means of resistance to propose, and they therefore gave
their commissioners full power to treat with the general
on his own terms. They found Bonaparte at Milan, and
there a treaty was entered into that put an end to the
sovereignty of the great council, which was thenceforth
to reside in the whole body of the citizens.
On the 12th of May, while the council was holding
its final session, and the doge was lamenting the miser-
able condition to which he was reduced, the sound of
musquetry was heard near the palace. The most frightful
confusion immediately prevailed throughout the cham-
ber. Every one believed himself on the point of being
massacred $ and without further debate, and more like
madmen than senators debating for the good of their
15
apprehension through every quarter of the city. Six hun-
dred and nineteen senators met in this hour of terror to
resolve on such measures as their situation allowed them
to take. The doge, bowed with affliction, read a pro-
position, the purport of which was, to consider, with
Bonaparte, what changes might be most profitably made
in the government. A mournful silence succeeded ■, the
measure was put to the vote, and four hundred and ninety-
eight members of the council declared themselves in its
favour. When the report of this determination was pre-
sented to Napoleon, he replied, that unless the death of
his captain Laugier, and some others who had fallen in
a late affair with the Venetian fleet, were revenged by
the immediate punishment of those who had authorized
the assault, he would in fifteen days enter Venice sword
in hand. Neither the doge nor his councillors had any
means of resistance to propose, and they therefore gave
their commissioners full power to treat with the general
on his own terms. They found Bonaparte at Milan, and
there a treaty was entered into that put an end to the
sovereignty of the great council, which was thenceforth
to reside in the whole body of the citizens.
On the 12th of May, while the council was holding
its final session, and the doge was lamenting the miser-
able condition to which he was reduced, the sound of
musquetry was heard near the palace. The most frightful
confusion immediately prevailed throughout the cham-
ber. Every one believed himself on the point of being
massacred $ and without further debate, and more like
madmen than senators debating for the good of their