s wife—Application of the stick—Republican
     excesses—Proneness to assassination—_Infernal Association_ in
     1849.


Except passingly I have not yet touched upon the political condition of
Ancona. This town, ever since June, 1849, had been occupied by a large
Austrian force, holding it in the Pope's name, and ostensibly for the
maintenance of his authority.

Never was a garrison more overbearing, or less popular. Even the most
uncompromising among the _Codini_,—attached by their own interests as
well as hereditary sympathies to the absolute party,—even they were
sometimes startled by the measures pursued, and could not conceal
their disapprobation. Although aware that they stood indebted to the
Austrians for the maintenance of things in their accustomed train,
they seemed, notwithstanding, to fret under their yoke; and held back
from any intercourse beyond what absolute necessity demanded. As for
the population in general, they kept determinedly aloof; its long
continuance had evidently not reconciled them to military rule, and
the line of separation continued unbroken. The caffè the officers
frequented was still deserted by the natives, and any house, even
of foreign residents, where Austrians were received, was sedulously
avoided.

Thus repulsed alike by friend and foe, the feelings of the Austrians
were naturally not of the most amicable description; but they were
particularly bitter against the supporters of the Government, who,
owing all to them, were so backward in displaying their adherence;
and whenever brought into contact with the municipality, or other
authorities, the General lost no opportunity of manifesting his
profound disgust.

In all their dealings with this stern old potentate, the papal agents
reminded me of Frankenstein and his monster; they cowered before the
presence it had been their desire and effort to call forth, and the
consciousness of the servile timidity with which he was regarded,
served to render him doubly imperious and exacting. One day, having
encountered som