NAPOLÉON I (1769-1821). Autograph copy by Géraud-Christophe-Michel DUROC (1772-1813) of a letter from General BONAPARTE, H.Q. of Milan 12 nivôse V (1st January 1797), to Battaglia, Provéditeur of the Republic of Venice in Brescia 3 pages folio, vignette [Boppe & Bonnet, n° 117] and Bonaparte headed General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy. "The French troops have occupied Bergamo to prevent the enemy intending to occupy this essential post. I will frankly admit to you that I was very happy to seize this circumstance to drive out of this city the great quantity of emigrants who had taken refuge there, and to punish a little the libellists who are in great number in this city, and who since the beginning of the campaign have not ceased to preach assassination against the troops of the Republic, and [...] it is constant that the Bergamasques have assassinated more Frenchmen than the rest of Italy put together". The conduct of the provender of Bergamo had "always been very biased in favour of the Austrians"; he had not concealed his hatred for the French army. He asked Battaglia to urge the proveder of Bergamo "to be a little more modest, more reserved and a little less boastful when the French troops are away from him", and "a little less pusillanimous"... He had ordered the evacuation of some of the troops that were in the town of Bergamo, and he gave the order to "return the castle to the Venetian garrison and to do service together. As for the tranquillity of Bergamo, your intentions, those of the Venetian government and the goodness of these people are a sure guarantee of that". He denounced the ill-intentioned who, "for six months now, have not stopped preaching the crusade against the French. Woe betide them if they depart from the sentiments of moderation and friendship that unite the two governments"... He praised the bishop of Bergamo and his clergy for their zeal in maintaining public tranquillity. "I am convinced every day of a truth that is well demonstrated in my eyes, and that is that if the clergy of France had been as wise, as moderate, as attached to the principles of the Gospel, the Roman religion would not have undergone any change in France. But the corruption of the monarchy had infected even the class of ministers of religion"... Published: Correspondence of Napoleon I published by order of Emperor Napoleon III, no. 1347, from the War Office. - Correspondance générale, t. I, n°1232.