THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA IN VENICE

people received the emperor, who had been to them the personification of the Straniero so long hated, with loud and hearty applause. Did the Kaiser remember ail the hard names he was called in those days when the king and he exchanged messages of fierce défiance ? If so, the memory was quickly drowned in the uproarious rejoicings with which he was now welcomed as a guest in that city over which he once ruled. The Italian tricolour which floated from the towers and Windows was intertwined with the yellow and black of Austria ; the bands played the national tunes of both countries, and varions emblematical devices expressed a complété wiping out of the old feud, and cordial réconciliation.

In the October of the same year the Emperor William came to visit Italy, and stopped in Milan. With him there were no awkward réminiscences to be thrust in the background. Milan was devoted to King Victor, and was proud of the opportunity of displaying her loyalty by doing honour to his illustrious guest. And the king was proud of ‘ his Milanese, who always did things with spirit.’ When driving from the station he ordered the soldiers not to impede the crowd from approaching the royal carriage, that the emperor and the people might see each other ; and at a review where they were on horseback, the military gave way and allowed the multitude to surround the sovereigns, whom they greeted with enthusiastic cheers, which were very cordially responded to by both.

On November 8, 1 876, after a lingering illness of thrce

LIFE ’OF VICTOR EMMANUEL n.

years, died, at San Remo, Vittoria, Duchess of Aosta, to the inexpressible grief of her husband and the deep regret of ail the royal family.

There had been a general élection, and the new Parliament opened on the 20th, the court bèing in deep mouming on the occasion, and the king delivered his last speech from the throne, from which we take the opening paragraph : —

Gentlemen Senators, — Gentlemen Deputies, — Afflicted by a domestic sorrow, in which I see with gratitude my people warmly share, I corne to-day to seek the best consolation in the fulfilment of my duty. And in truth I never hâve to inaugurate this solemnity without feeling increase in my heart faith in the destinies of Italy, and in the future of the frée institutions to which we are swom.

The spæech, which is very long, concludes with these words ; —

For six years we hâve celebrated in Rome the fête of national unity. Our complété unity has borne fruits of glory and proofs of wisdom. Much has been done, but much remains to do. There remains the work which requires the greatest patience in labour and the greatest harmony of will, that of consolidating, and, where necessary, correcting, the whole the édifice of government. In this we can only succeed by emulating one another in laboriousness and steadiness of purpose. I indicate the way to you, and I feel sure that also in