The Venetian Government had always exhibited an extreme aversion to the French Revolution, which had been violently condemned at Venice.

Hatred of the French had been constantly excited and encouraged, and religious fanaticism had inflamed many persons of consequence in the country.

From the end of 1796 the Venetian Senate secretly continued its armaments, and the whole conduct of that Government announced intentions which have been called perfidious, but the only object of which was to defeat intentions still more perfidious.

The Senate was the irreconcilable enemy of the French Republic.

Excitement was carried to such a point that in many places the people complained that they were not permitted to arm against the French.