made, were quickly dissipated. Before the year 1797 was out, on the 28th December a tumult occurred in the streets of Rome, when the French general Duphot was killed, and Joseph Bonaparte, the diplomatic representative of the Republic, left the city, in spite of the Papal Government having offered to make every apology that might be required for the crime that had been perpetrated. It was manifest that a fixed intention was entertained to make the worst of an untoward incident, and that the French authorities meant this time to avail themselves thereof to push the Pope against the wall. Accordingly, two days after the out. rage, on the 30th December, a Bull, beginning with the words[1] Christi ecclesiæ regendæ, was issued by Pius VI. to give formal validity to the provisions contemplated in the former Brief. There can be no doubt as to the authenticity of this instrument; for although it is not to be found in the Bullarium, it is
- ↑ This Bull was not seen in the Latin text by Baldassari. who. at p. 222. vol. ii.. gives an Italian summary of its contents. We have been favoured with a précis from the Latin in MS. Baldassari says that all his researches failed to make him find R Latin copy, which he ascribes to the losses that the Papal archives experienced at that period.
