The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-28 00:00:00

11ERTFORD LITERARY INSTITUTION

The monthly Conversazione of the members of
the Hertford Literary Institution, was held at the
Town Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a very
numerous attendance. The Mayor (H. Gilbertson,
Esq.), presided.
Robert Dimsdale, Esq., read a paper on " the
Italian Campaigns of Napoleon I." The subject was
introduced as one which, although purely military,
was specially interesting at this moment, owing to
the fact that public attention was prominently
directed to the means by which the country might
be best defended from a foreign enemy. Napoleon
had laid it down as a rule that war could be effec-
tively studied, only by meditating upon the cam-
paigns of great commanders, and it was this ex-
ample Mr. Dimsdale desired to follow in bringing
a military subject under the notice of his auditory.
The paper treated of the Italian campaigns of 1796
and 1797, when Napoleon first assumed an inde-
pendent command, and the war of 1801, with the
passage of the Alps, and the battle of -Marengo •,
and, therefore, embraced only the beginnings of
a remarkable career, but prec:sely that portion
of it which enables us best to comprehend the mili-
tary genius of Napoleon, because showing what he
was able to do with smaller means than were at
his disposal in the subsequent portion of his
career. The paper was an able one, clear, con-
centrative, and forcible. The early successes of
Napoleon as a soldier of the republic were briefly
glanced at ; his first great campaign in which
by his readiness and energy, he defeated the Aus-
trians and Sardinians, and detached the Sardinians
from the coalition, graphically described ; and the
moment when a great ambition first arose in his
mind, after the daring passage of arms at Lodi,
pointed out. The obstacles thrown in the way of
the successful general by the Directory, and the
appeals, argumentative and pecuniary, addressed to
Barras, were next adverted to. The subsequent
exploits of the conqueror, his contests with Italian
insurgency his difficulties in the famous quadrila-
teral which Napoleon 111. never entered, the attack
upon the Papacy, the treaty with the republic of
Venice, the invasion of Tuscany, the artifice by
which Napoleon escaped capture when reposing at
Lonato, the passage of the Bridge of Arcola, the
capitulation of Mantua, the spoliation of the Roman
States, the closing portion of the campaign, and
the negotiations which terminated in the treaty of
Campo Formio, which gave to France all the con-
quests of Bonaparte, and freed from Austrian rule
all Northern Italy, except Venetia, were clearly and
sententiously chronicled. The paper concluded as
follows :
" It is, in fact, upon the laurels gained in these
campaigns that Bonaparte's fame as a general
must mainly repose. In his later wars, when at
the head of a powerful empire, and wielding at
will almost boundless resources, his forces
were, for the most part, so stupendous as to
bear down all opposition ; but has we have seen
him ho struggled alike against superior power
and the incompetency of the Home Government,
which frequently withheld from him the necessary
reinforcements, and constantly thwarted his boldest
aspirations, through a mean-spirited jealousy,
coupled with a short-sighted parsimony.
" And now one word about the beautiful country
which was at once the scene of his labours and the
theatre of his triumphs. From the days of Charle-
magne, when the temporal power of the Pope was
first established, down to the presen moment, when
it appears to be tottering to its fall, Italy has ever
been the prize for which rival potentates have Con-
tended ; never, reliant upon her own energies, has
she succeeded in achieving her national independ-
ence. Blessed by Heaven, she has been cursed by
man—on her fair brow is " sorrow ploughed by
shame ;" but, amidst the deep lowering clouds
which shroud her, of despotism and misrule, faint
streaks of returning sunshine may be traced on her
horison.

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" Yet upon Italia's sky
Stars are scattered pure and high,
Yet her wasted gardens bear
Autumn violets, sweet and rare—
Relics of a spring time clear—
Earnests of a bright new year !"
" To Sardinia all eyes are turned ; upon her and
upon Florence all hopes are centred, while the gal-
lant protest of Central Italy against the Villafrance.
arrangement opens out a brilliant prospect of dawn-
ing liberty.. With confidence we may look forward
to the day in which Italy shall arise from the tomb
in which centuries of oppression have enshrined
her, and claim for herself a place in our European
system, worthy of her heroes and her martyrs, her
country and her name !"
The paper was illustrated by a large coloured
map of Italy, the various places referred to being
pointed out, as the reading proceeded, by Mr.
Pearson, a friend of Mr. Dimsdale. Upon the table
werenumerousinteresting objects, gatherings from
the places through which Napoleon had passed in
the course of his wonderful career, a splendid en-
graved portrait of the conqueror, photographic
views, coloured drawings, &c., and amongst other
things, a quaint looking French tobacca-box picked
up on the field of Waterloo. At the close of the
reading, the company passed some time in inspect-
ing these relics. Tea and coffee were then served,
after which, there was some interesting conversa-
tion, in which Mr. Pearson, who had been .over all
the Napoleonic battle fields, took part.
The thanks of the meeting were unanimously
voted to Mr. Dimsdale, on the motion of the Rev.
H. F. Skrimshire, seconded by Mr. S. Hatchard ;
and a vote of thanks having also been given to the
Mayor, the proceedings terminated.—Hertford
Mercury.

7111 S DAY'S MARKETS.

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SMITIIPIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 15s to £4 8s ; clover,
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