LIPB OP G.A:aiB.ALDI.

21

bread and in rags, Garibaldi was obliged to apply to the municipal
authorities of Arona. Two hundred and eighty pounds satisfied the
demands ofthe man whom theAustrians ih their proclamations denounced
as a vagabond and marauder. Convinced that any further resistance was
impossible, he then dismissed his legion and proceeded to Switzerland.
The intrepid soldier had scarce crossed the Alps, however, ere he fell
dangerously ill of the Lombardy manh fever, which had ravaged both
armies 110 severely. Striving energetically against the illness, he con­
tinued his journey to Nice and thence to Genoa, where, being entirely
exhausted, he rested during the rest of the autumn. The beginning of
November saw Garibaldi once again at work. Aa a tardy concession to
his c_ourage and univeraally recogniaed popularity, a high command was
offered him iu. :the Sardinillll army; but the offer came too late : the
Guerillero declined it, alleging that his determination was to devote his
aervices to Venice, then closely invested by the Austrians, but still offer­
ing a vigorous resistance. Leaving Genoa with about 250 volunteers, the
indefatigable fighter sailed up the Adriatic, and had arrived at Vicuna,
when the aituation of Rome caused him to give up his plan of proceeding
to Venice, and turn his steps towards the source of hia first patriotic
inapirationa.

Thinga had been going on very badly in the city of the Popes, and the
assasaination of the minister Rossi was an omen of the future fate of the
nascent republic. The Pope fled to Gaeta, and the French, fearing lest
t!J.e Austrians should be before them, offered their intervention for a
aatisfaotory settlement of affaire. On the 27th November, 1848, Cavaignac
iasued order11 for 3,600 troops of the line to be landed at Givita. V ecchia,
in order " to assure the liberty of the Pontiff." The Roman ministry
proteated, and atepa were taken to convoke the Constituent Assembly,
Garibaldi being elected by Macerata. On February, 1849, the deputies
met for the first time, and Garibaldi raised the cry of " Long live the
Republic," which was enthusiastically received. The temporal power of
the Pope once abolished, and the democratic government founded, Gari­
baldi had something better to do than trouble himself with the legislature ..
It was ever his highest ambition to serve Italy in the battle field and
lay down his life in her defence. In 184.8, as to day, no one was ignorant
of this noble eentiment ; and thus, so aoon aa he arrived at Rome towards
the end of November, the Guerillero waa immediately ordered off to
protect the poaition menaced by the King of Naples. Hia first care waa
to fortify Rieti, where he eatablished his head quarter& ; hia aecond, to
exerciae and drill the volunteen, who marched beneath his atandard,

bv Googl

LIY.S Oll' . GA..BIBJ.LDf.

t& the number of about 2,000.

, a superior officer o£ the Romaa

republic, gives us the following account of him, while thus engaged:­

" was stationed at Rieti with the rank of ·colonel. His

refusal to conform with the regulations to which the whole army was

subjected, rendered him a stumbling block to the partizans of the old

system, who considered him more injurious than useful. But, being

gifted with that ·peculiar genius, found in so few men, of keeping straight

in difficult circumstances, and knowing how· to utilize every element,

Garibaldi was regarded as an unique and precious being, if employed in

such a way as not to be removed from his own sphere of action. The war

committee were convinced of this truth, when during the formation ofthe

army and dividing it into two camps, they declared Garibaldi's corps, a

partizan band, independent of the army. Personally brave and of most

agreeable character, continually on the field of battle, making his arrange­

ments with the utmost calmness, this chief was extremely .dear to his

soldiers. His handsome appearance, his peculiar way of dressing him­

self, all his habits, in a word, had surrounded him with an extraordinary

prestige."

Though scarce recovered from his recent illness, Garibaldi allowed

himself no rest in the efforts he made to accustom his troops to endure

fatigue and encounter dangers. He might be seen traversing the adjacent

mountains, during the depth of winter, for several days in succession, in

order, by his example, to encourage the volunteers in enduring cold

and hunger without complaining. Forced marches, open air encampments,

paucity of provisions, nothing was -wanting to· harden the men. With the

exception of an excursion to Roni.e, to greet the proclamation of the

r.epublic, Garibaldi spent in this way the first months of 1849, while

the condition of Italy was daily 'becoming worse and more alarming.

Sicily, left to its own resources, was still engaged in a violent struggle
with N'aples ; Venice continued her defence, while never ceasing to
implore the aid of Piedmont and the French Republic; under
the strictest martial law, with powerful garrisons in every town, with
her richest and most worthy citizens ruined and proscribed, was wrapped
in the gloom of a hopeless slavery; Charles Albert was on the point of
seeing the foreigner overthrow his heroic efforts on behalf of an oppressed

.people ; the Austrians were advancing to subdue Bologna and the
Marches of Ancona; the King of Naples threatened to invad.e.the RolllAD.
Stntes; Spain had,promieed her·support to the Pontiff, and the envoys
of Fr!tllce, demanding no serious guarantee from Gaeta, e11gaged their