pillage. 472 Readings ill European History the Alps and bear patiently the insults of a slavish soldiery? No, there is none such among the conquerors of Monte- notte, of Dego, of Mondovi. All of you are burning to extend the glory of the French people. All long to humiliate those haughty kings who dare to contemplate placing us in fetters. All desire to dictate a glorious peace and one which will indemnify our country for the immense sacrifices which it has made ; all would wish, as they return to their native villages, to be able to say proudly, " I was with the victori- ous army of Italy ! " stern prohi- Friends, I can promise you this conquest, but there is one bition of condition which you must swear to fulfill. That is to respect the peoples whom you deliver, and repress the horrible pil- lage which certain rascals, incited by our enemies, commit. Otherwise, you will not be the deliverers of the people but their scourge ; you will not do honor to the French people, but will thereby disavow your country. Your victories, your bravery, your success, the blood of our brothers who have died in battle, — all will be lost, even honor and glory. As for me and the generals who have your confidence, we should blush to command an army without discipline and restraint, which recognizes no law but force. . . . Any one who en- gages in pillage will be shot without mercy. Peoples of Italy, the French army comes to break your chains ; the French people is the friend of all peoples. You may receive them with confidence. Your property, your reli- gion, and your customs will be respected. We are carrying on war as generous enemies, and we have no grudge except against the tyrants who oppress you. _^tf>T* Bonaparte. , Bourrienne, one of Napoleon's early companions and later his secretary, gives us an account in his memoirs of the motives which led General Bonaparte to sign the Treaty of Campo-Formio. The early appearance of bad weather hastened Napo- leon's determination. On the 13th of October, at daybreak, on to*Mrti
