held out to the latter of being invested with the Sovereigntyof Portugal. But the landing of the English in thatcountry, and the hostilities of the Spanish people, put a stopto that arrangement, if ever it had been intended. Fortu-nate, indeed, was Murat in the escape from the Sovereigntyover such a semi-barbarous nation as the Portuguese , and inobtaining in its stead, dominion over one of the mostbeautiful, civilized, and interesting countries on the faceof the globe!
On the 5th of September, 1808, Joachim Murat arrivedon the frontiers of his new kingdom of Naples, where hewas met by all the civil, judicial, and military authorities,with the French Marshal Perignon at their head, who had,during the interregnum, acted as Lieutenant General of thekingdom. The next day he made his public entry intoNaples.
King Joachim maintained in their places, the ministersleft by Joseph, with the exception of the philosopherMiot, who followed Joseph to Madrid , and Roederer, whomhe sent as his locum tenens to the Grand Duchy of Bergand Cleves. The portfolio of the interior, vacated by Miot,was given by Joachim, to Monsignor Capecelatro, Arch-Bishop ofTarentum; a choice that did signal honour to theKing, as a more benevolent, enlightened philosopher, orexcellent man, seldom conferred honour upon society,more than “Monsignor di Taranto.” Salicetti , who wasa real statesman and enjoyed the entire confidence of hisfellow couutryman, Napoleon , was continued in his postof Minister of Police, to which King Joachim now addedthe war department. Shortly afterwards, the ministry offinance, was given to Mr. Agar , Count de Mosbourg. Imention such names, because many of my English readerswere personally acquainted with these authorities, when in1814 and 1815 they flocked to Naples in such extraordinary