napoleon bonaparte, v10-第5章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
On the death of the bishops of Anagni and Rieti; their dioceses
shall be united with that of the six bishops aforesaid; in
conformity with the agreement between his Majesty and the Holy
Father。
7。 In respect to the bishops of the Roman States; unavoidably
absent from their dioceses; the Holy Father shall exercise his right
of bestowing bishoprics 'in partibus'。 He shall give them a pension
equal to the revenue they formerly enjoyed; and their places in the
sees thus vacated shall be supplied; both in the Empire and the
Kingdom of Italy。
8。 His Majesty and His Holiness will agree on some opportune
occasion as to the reduction to be made in the bishoprics of
Tuscany; and the province of Genoa; as well as those to be
established in Holland; and the Hanseatic departments。
9。 The propaganda; the penitential court; and the court of
archives shall be established in the place of residence of the Holy
Father。
10。 His Majesty pardons freely the cardinals; bishops; priests; and
laity who have incurred his disgrace in consequence of certain
events。
11。 The Holy Father agrees to the above resolutions in
consideration of the existing condition of the church; and his
confidence that his Majesty will grant his powerful assistance to
the needs of the church; which are so numerous in the times in which
we live。〃
NAPOLEON。 PIUS VII。
Fontainebleau; 25 January; 1813。
It has been attempted by every possible means to throw odium on the
conduct of the Emperor in this affair。 He has been accused of having
insulted the Pope; and even of having threatened him; all of which is
most signally false。 Everything was arranged in the most agreeable
manner。 M。 Devoisin; bishop of Nantes; an ecclesiastic who was highly
esteemed by the Emperor; and was his favorite mediator; in the frequent
points of difference which arose between the Pope and his Majesty; had
come to the Tuileries on the 19th of January; and after being closeted
with the Emperor for two hours; had left for Fontainebleau。 And it was
immediately after this interview that the Emperor entered his carriage
with the Empress in hunting costume; followed by the whole suite;
similarly attired。
The Pope; forewarned by the Bishop of Nantes; awaited his Majesty; and as
the most important points had been discussed and arranged in advance; and
only a few clauses accessory to the main body of the Concordat remained
to be decided; it was impossible that the interview should have been
otherwise than amicable; a truth which is still more evident when we
reflect on the kind feelings of the Holy Father towards the Emperor;
their friendship for each other; and the admiration inspired in the Pope
by the great genius of Napoleon。 I affirm then; and I think with good
reason; that the affair was conducted in a most honorable manner; and
that the Concordat was signed freely and without compulsion by his
Holiness; in presence of the cardinals assembled at Fontainebleau。 It is
an atrocious calumny which some one has dared to make that; on the
reiterated refusal of the Pope; the Emperor placed in his hand a pen
dipped in ink; and seizing him by the arm and hair; forced him to sign;
saying that he ordered it; and that his disobedience would be punished by
perpetual imprisonment。 The one who invented this absurd fabrication
must have known little of the Emperor's character。 A person who was
present at this interview; the circumstances of which have been so
falsified; related them to me; and is my authority on the subject。
Immediately on his arrival at Fontainebleau; the Emperor paid a visit to
the Holy Father; who returned it next day; remaining two hours at least;
and during this time his Majesty's manner was calm and firm; it is true;
but full of respect and kind feeling for the person of the venerable
Pope。 A few stipulations of the proposed treaty alarmed the conscience
of the Holy Father; which the Emperor perceived; and without waiting for
any arguments declared that he would renounce them; and every scruple
remaining in the mind of the Holy Father being thus satisfied; a
secretary was called; who drew up the articles; which the Pope approved
one by one; with most paternal benignity。
On the 25th of January; after the Concordat was definitely settled; the
Holy Father repaired to the apartments of her Majesty the Empress; and
both of the contracting parties appeared equally well satisfied; which is
a sufficient proof that neither treachery nor violence had been used。
The Concordat was signed by the august parties in the midst of a
magnificent assemblage of cardinals; bishops; soldiers; etc。 Cardinal
Doria performed the duties of grand master of ceremonies; and it was he
who received the signatures。
A countless number of congratulations were given and received; pardons
asked and obtained; and relics; decorations; chaplets; and tobacco…boxes
distributed by both parties。 Cardinal Doria received from his Majesty
the gold eagle of the Legion of Honor。 The great eagle was also given to
Cardinal Fabricio Ruffo; Cardinal Maury; the Bishop of Nantes; and the
Archbishop of Tours received the grand cross of the order of the Reunion;
the Bishops of Evreux and Treves; the cross of officers of the Legion of
Honor; and finally the Cardinal of Bayonne and the Bishop of Evreux were
made senators by his Majesty。 Doctor Porta; the Pope's physician; was
presented with a pension of twelve thousand francs; and the
ecclesiastical secretary who entered the cabinet to copy the articles of
the Concordat received a present of a magnificent ring set with
brilliants。
His Holiness had hardly signed the Concordat before he repented of it。
The following was related to Marshal Kellerman by the Emperor at Mayence
the last of April:
〃The day after the signing of the famous Concordat of Fontainebleau; the
Pope dined in public with me; but in the night he was ill; or pretended
to be。 He was a lamblike; honest; and truly good man; whom I highly
esteemed and loved; and who had some regard for me I am sure。 Would you
believe it; he wrote me a week after signing the Concordat that he much
regretted having done so; that his conscience reproached him for it; and
urged me earnestly to consider it as of no effect。 This was owing to the
fact that immediately after leaving me he had fallen into the hands of
his usual advisers; who made a scarecrow out of what had just occurred。
If we had been together I could easily have reassured him。 I replied
that what he demanded was contrary to the interests of France; and
moreover; being infallible; he could not have made a mistake; and his
conscience was too quick to take the alarm for him to have done wrong。
〃In fact; compare the condition of Rome formerly with what it is to…day。
Paralyzed by the necessary consequences of the Revolution; could she have
risen again and maintained her position? A vicious government as to
political matters has taken the place of the former Roman legislation;
which; without being perfect; nevertheless contributed to form great men
of every kind。 Modern Rome has applied to its political government
principles better suited to a religious order; and has carried them out
in a manner fatal to the happiness of the people。
〃Thus charity is the most perfect of Christian virtues; it is necessary
to give charity to all who ask it。 This form of reasoning has rendered
Rome the receptacle of the dregs of all nations。 One sees collected
there (so I am told; for I have never visited it) all the idlers of the
earth; who come thither to take refuge; assured of finding an abundant
support with much to spare。 And thus the papal territory; which nature
has destined to produce immense wealth from its situation under a
favorable sky; from the multiplicity of streams with which it is watered;
and above all from the fertility of the soil; languishes for want of
cultivation。 Berthier has often told me that large tracts of country may
be traversed without perceiving the impress of th