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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

All the Turpins and Abershaws, were they fifty thousand,would not furnish so many extraordinary incidents as Icould recount of these royal bands, who were, however,speedily annihilated, more by the force of public opinionthan by any other means.

Many of the chiefs of the brigands introduced into thecountry by the English , as I have related, were rich pro-prietors, who had followed King Ferdinand into Sicily . Avery fair and beneficial measure was now adopted; thelanded and all other property of these ruffians was defini-tively confiscated, and the proceeds given to alleviate thesesufferings and indemnify those who had been plundered bythe myrmidons of the Bourbons. Such became the urgencyfor repressive laws and violent measures, that had it notbeen for the indomitable benignity of the king, the countrywould, in a few short months, have fallen into the dreadfulstate of reactive vengeance, in which I have already pour-trayed it in 1799-1800. The brigandage, re-established bythe English expedition of 1809, was more overcome bypardons than by executions; but, nevertheless, it enduredmore or less until the close of the year 1810, when it wasput down by measui’es become indispensable, and which Ishall describe by and by.

On the 15th of August, the festive day dedicated toNapoleon, and to the opening of the annual exposition ofthe works of national arts and industry. The inhabitantsof Naples were favoured with one of the most splendid andbeautiful spectacles that ever mortal eye could possibly behold.The lovely bay of Naples, land, and streets, and housesrising in a perfect amphitheatre over the magnificent scene;thronged with holiday keeping folks; the weather beautifuland serene ; the atmosphere so clear that the doors and win-dows of the houses in Capri, distant twenty-two miles, wereclearly visible. In the midst of all this jubilee, the feast