 in a country, and amongst a
party, where every species of vice is very efficiently represented. He
was even too notorious to be made use of by the Government of Gregory
XVI., notwithstanding his devotion to the Holy See, his very high rank,
and considerable wealth. It remained for a Kalbermatten—like himself,
too, in bad odour in the previous reign—to pass the last indignity
upon the Anconitans, by placing him at their head. His very first
measure after entering into office was a characteristic one. He sent a
deputation from the municipality of Ancona, to impress on Pius IX. that
recent events were the work of an evil-minded minority, and assuring
him of the Anconitans' unbounded loyalty and contentment. The _Roman
Gazette_, of course, hastened to proclaim this fact, but omitted some
elucidations which rendered the announcement even more mendacious than
the general run of its intelligence.

At that moment no municipal body existed in Ancona. The nobles and
citizens who composed it had either fled the country or were in
concealment, or declared themselves to be ill, or flatly refused to
retain office under their new _gonfaloniere_. The deputation, lyingly
reported to the world as embodying the sentiments of the town-council
and civil authorities of this miserable city, was composed of two of
the Pope's cousins, and an underling of the Neapolitan consulate.

General Kalbermatten, however, determined that the Marchese should
not, on another occasion, be forced thus to extemporize a following.
He imposed a fine of five dollars a day upon the sick or refractory
members of the Municipio, which at last told so heavily upon their
resources, that such as could not escape[20] into the free atmosphere
of Romagna—professional men and merchants, whose families and
avocations chained them to the spot—were compelled to give in. But in a
few months the corporation was again fatally at issue with its chief.

His first essay at addresses had apparently been so gratifying, that in
December the zealous _gonfaloniere_ sent u