CONSPIRACY AGAINST MURAT.—-LENITY. 381

and indulgence were shewn to the accused. They werecondemned to death. But the philanthropic, generousMurat declared that not a drop of blood should be shed forany political crime. He commuted the sentence into oneyear’s imprisonment in a madhouse! All intestine troubleceased. The works of improvement advanced with rapidstrides. New roads—new streets—new schools and insti-tutions—a new army—several new ships, amongst whichtwo of the line, were fast constructing. The manufactory ofarms was enlarged and improved by the introduction ofnew machinery. An annual exhibition of the works ofart and industry was instituted to take place on every 15thof August, (the name day of Napoleon ) and the fifteensucceeding days, for which capacious temporary buildingswere erected in the Villa Reale, and served as a delightfullounge for the people of every class. During the despotictimid and consequently cruel, government of the Bourbons,the Barons and rich landed proprietors had been inducedby every possible expedient of enticement and intimida-tion to leave their provincial establishments and castles,and live at Naples under the suspicious eye of the court.King Joachim plainly saw the social evils of this speciesof absenteeism, and endeavoured to correct it. To effectthis he would invite himself to pass a few days at thecountry mansion of one nobleman, a few at another, andso round to many. Those honoured by the visit werecompelled to go home and “ set their house in order ”for his reception. All this was delicately managed, withoutany shew of coercion, and had its due intended effect.The people began to be acquainted with their landlords, andthe benefits accruing from such a change were too numerousand obvious to require particularising.

In the raising of his army, King Joachim certainlycommitted the error of paying more regard to the number