viceroy, and shall be with you again; at least before to-morrow morning; but if you do not see me then, you may set fire to the palace." His followers promising they would do it, he concluded his judicious language with amplifying upon "the advantages that would accrue to the King of Spain, by the abolishment of the gabels; which being prejudicial only to the partisans, those insatiable leeches that had sucked the purest of their blood, his majesty should, for the time to come, enjoy his revenues entire, which hitherto used to be almost wholly absorbed by his ministers."

At the conclusion of this speech, he requested the archbishop to give the people his blessing; after which, commanding them not to follow him any further, upon pain of disobedience, he entered the palace with the archbishop, Genovino, Arpaja, and his brother. The viceroy was waiting at the head of the stairs to receive him. As soon as Masaniello saw him, he on his knees thanked his Excellency for his gracious approbation of the treaty, and added, "I am come to receive whatever sentence your Excellency may think fit to pass on me." The viceroy raised him up, embraced, and assured him, that far from thinking him criminal, he should give him daily proofs of his esteem and favour. Masaniello replied, "God is my witness, that the only object of my design was the service of the King, and of your Excellency." They then retired to a private apartment to consult on the situation of affairs.

During this conference, the people in the palace-yard not seeing Masaniello appear, were extremely clamorous. To appease them, the viceroy attended Masaniello to a balcony, where he assured them he was safe, and under no restraint. Masaniello, to prove to his Excellency the obedience of the Neapolitans, put his finger on his mouth, and a profound silence ensued; he then ordered them to disperse, upon pain of rebellion, and in a few minutes not a man was seen in the yard.

Masaniello, the viceroy, and the archbishop, then retired, and renewed their conference. It was agreed to print the treaty, and to have it again read publicly in the cathedral church on the following Saturday. The viceroy again assured Masaniello of his regard; told him "he highly approved of his conduct hitherto, and therefore now left the direction of affairs wholly to his care and management," and presenting him with a gold chainwhich he for some time refused to take created him Duke of St. George. Late in the evening Masaniello retired to his own house, in the archbishop's coach, attended by a numerous crowd of people, who demonstrated their gratitude by loud and repeated acclamations of joy, while the bells were ringing, and bonfires blazing in almost every street.

On the following day, the 12th of July, Masaniello issued a proclamation, declaring, "That the office of Captain-General, to which the people had promoted him, had been confirmed by the viceroy.' He now acted as supreme governor. Receiving petitions, hearing complaints, punishing crimes, and bestowing rewards; he issued a number of new orders relative to the police and civil government; and revived various others to the same purpose. All these orders were affixed to the posts and public buildings, signed "Tomaso Aniello, Captain-General of the most faithful people of Naples ;" and the least infringement of his commands was severely punished. In the proceedings of this day, however, he evinced a confidence of power, by no means consonant to his professions of humility.

The next day, Saturday, was that on which the people of Naples expected

to see the public tranquillity fully restored, and firmly established by the solemn sanction of the capitulation in the cathedral church. Masaniello spent the morning in hearing causes, redressing grievances, and making several regulations, both civil and military. After dinner, he received from the viceroy a pair of fine horses, richly comparisoned, for him and his brother to attend the cavalcade.

Masaniello and his brother, dressed in cloth of silver tissue, proceeded slowly to the castle; the former with a drawn sword, and the latter with the articles of capitulation in his hand. They were followed by Genovino, Arpaja, and an incredible multitude. On arriving at the palace, Masaniello was very graciously received by the viceroy, and soon afterwards, they, with the different councils, principal officers, and magistrates in the kingdom, proceeded to the cathedral; the archbishop, at the head of his chapter, was waiting at the door to receive them. On entering, each was seated according to his rank and precedence, and the capitulations were read aloud by the secretary of the kingdom. When they were finished, the viceroy, the different councils, and the judges of the civil and criminal courts, swore, upon the holy evangelists, to observe them inviolably for ever, and to procure, without delay, the ratification of them from his Catholic Majesty.

While the articles were reading, Masaniello stood up, with his sword drawn in his hand, explaining soine, and enlarging upon others, to the people. After the oath was administered, and Te Deum sung, he harangued the people and the viceroy in a very incoherent style. When he had concluded, he began to tear his dress in pieces, and desired the archbishop and viceroy to help him off with it, saying, "I only put it on in honour of the ceremony; that being ended, it is now useless. On my part I have done all I had to do, and shall now return to my hook and line." Being informed it would be indecent to strip in the church, and before so many persons, he desisted, and attended the viceroy, the nobility, and gentry, to the castle, where he was saluted by several peals of ordnance, and from thence returned to his house in the market-place, amidst the acclamations and blessings of the people. Thus ended this happy day, which restored the liberties of a populous nation.

The next day, Masaniello received the congratulations of the nobility and gentry, of the ministers of state, and of almost all the ecclesiastics, and religious orders of the city.

On the following day this extraordinary and intrepid patriot suddenly manifested symptoms of mental derangement; probably the consequence of the great and continual fatigue he underwent, from the 7th of July,—the first day of the insurrection, to the 14th, when the treaty was solemnly sanctioned in the cathedral; as during those eight days he scarcely allowed himself the refreshment of food or sleep. Every hour gave fresh and stronger proofs of his melancholy state; he committed various outrages, and many acts of cruelty on different persons. He was, however, unmolested, until, having caned Genovino, and struck Arpaja in the face, they convened a number of citizens, and advised them to quit Masaniello's interest. This was agreed to, and Genovino, with Arpaja, waited on the viceroy, and informed him that the citizens, "provided they could be well assured of never being molested in the enjoyment of the immunities and privileges restored, would no longer follow Masaniello, but instantly return to their former obeisance and duty to his excellency."

The viceroy, happy to perceive this disposition or the people, instantly issued a proclamation, again confirming the treaty. Immediately on the appearance of this, a considerable number of the citizens assembled in the market-place, and unanimously agreed, "That the head, and CaptainGeneral of the people should be confined in a strong hold for the remainder of hi days." But no one was heard to propose his being put to death. The advantages he had obtained for them was still acknowledged with the warmest gratitude.

Not so with the viceroy; his dastard jealousy still viewed the humbled Masaniello as an object of terror, and the proposal of a base assassin to murder him, was acceded to with a promise of ten thousand crowns reward.

During these proceedings, the wretched Masaniello, among a number of other frantic tricks, ran in among a crowd of people with his drawn sword, when, to prevent further mischief, he was seized, conveyed to his own house, and left with a strong guard. He, however, eluded them, and went to the church of the Lady of Carmine, whose festival was to be celebrated on this day. An infinite number of people were waiting for ths archbishop's coming to sing mass. On his entering, Masaniello told him he plainly perceived the people had abandoned him, and now wished to take away his life; that, since he must die, he desired the viceroy, and all the tribunals of Naples. would first make a solemn procession to the most Holy Mother of Carmine, his patroness, and afterwards, death would be welcome to him; at the same time, presenting a letter for the viceroy, desiring it might be sent to him immediately. The archbishop embracing him, and commending his religious zeal, instantly sent off the letter by one of his gentlemen; then, while preparing to begin service, Masaniello rushed into the pulpit, with a crucifix in his hand, and addressing the people, entreated them not to forsake him, but to remember the toils he had undergone, and the inestimable benefits he had procured them. The vehemence with which he spoke seemed to produce an accession of madness, and suddenly he condemned his past condnet. The archbishop perceiving his situation, ordered him to be removed from the pulpit. He then threw himself at the archbishop's feet, intreating him to despatch his chaplain to the viceroy, to assure him he was ready to resign his office and authority. The archbishop promised he would do it, and observing him to be in a profuse perspiration, directed some of the religious to take him to their dormitory, to have him dried, and to let him refresh himself by sleeping there.

Soon after this order was executed, and the archbishop had quitted the church, the assassins entered it, crying, "Long live the King of Spain, and let none henceforth obey Masaniello, under pain of death!" No one attempted to oppose those murderers; they searched through the convent for Masaniello, loudly pronouncing his name. The unhappy man, hearing himself called, came out to meet them, saying, "Is it me you seek, my people? Behold, I am here." At this instant four muskets were fired at him; he fell, and exclaiming ungrateful traitors!" breathed his last. One of these wretches instantly severed his head from his body, and fixing it on a spear, he, with his accomplices, carried it to the viceroy, vociferating through the streets, "Masaniello is dead! Masaniello is dead! Long live the King of Spain, and let no one hereafter presume to name Masaniello!" His head was afterwards thrown in a ditch, and his body, after being dragged through the kennel, shared the same fate.