Rom. x. 12.
steadily to carry out Bonaparte’s plan under General Landrieux, whom he had deputed to take charge of that end of it.
Bergamo was the first city to rise and drive out the Venetian governor, in order to join the Cispadane Republic; the city of Brescia followed,
Molmenti, Nuovi Studi, 356.
naturally enough. But the country people of the two provinces still remained faithful to the Republic, and the peasants about Brescia were so indignant with the city for its defection that they would have marched upon it to burn it down if they had not been hindered by their Bishop, Dolfin. At Vallesabbia, certain emissaries of the republicans from the city were so ill received that they fled precipitately in fear of their lives.
Two days after the latter incident, the inhabitants of the villages of the valley met in a field
March 1797.
near Nozze, and drew up the following declaration, which was approved with absolute unanimity.
Vallesabbia, March 27th, 1797.
In order to record its own fidelity and obedience to its beloved Prince of Venice, and taking oath of perpetual loyalty and adherence to the said Prince, this body votes that if persons of any class or condition are found in this Valley having the cockade of rebels against the Prince of Venice, and actually having that cockade on their hats, any one shall be free to arrest them, and let him have a prize of three hundred lire piccole for each one, of [the funds of] the Valley.