THE KING’S APPEAL TO THE POPE

more resolute in maintaining the liberty they had just acquired, and more devoted to the dynasty of Savoy than the Tuscans, and naturally so, for the government from which they had violently wrenched themselves was much worse in every respect than that of the Lorraine family. Macaulay says it is not possible to be ‘ a good man and a bad king,’ but if ever that paradox existed it was in the person of Pius IX., whose private character was so excellent, so loveable, and whose government was beyond ail question atrocious. The state of affairs was much aggravated by the presence in the Pontifical States of bands of foreign mercenaries collected from ail Catholic countries, who acted like a blister on the irritated and excited State of the public mind. Victor Emmanuel and his government thought it was time to take the initiative in settling the affairs of Central Italy, before some disturbance should give excuse for a fresh foreign intervention. It was évident that the Pope could not govern by himself without some foreign support, and the Sardic Government was of opinion that this foreign support should be superseded by Italian arms.

Victor Etntnanuel to Pius IX.

Most Blessed Father, — With your venerated autograph of December 3 last year, your holiness enjoins me to sustain before the Congress the rights of the Holy See. I must thank your holiness for the sentiments which counselled you to address yourself to me in these circumstances, and I should not hâve delayed

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doing what you requested had the Congress met. I had expected that the meeting of the plenipotentiaries, then definitely decided, would respond in a more adéquate mannerthan I could on the grave subject treated of in the letter which you did me the honour to address to me.

Your holiness, invoking my aid in recovering the Légations, appears to lay to my charge what has taken place in that part of Italy. Before confirming so severe a censure, I respectfully entreat your holiness to weigh the following facts and considérations.

A devoted son of the Church, descended, as you know, from a most religious race, I hâve always nourished a sense of sincere attachment, of vénération and respect, towards Holy Church and its august head. It never was, and it is not my intention to fail in my duties as a Catholic prince, or to curtail as far as in me lies, those rights and that authority which the Holy See exercises on earth by divine commission from heaven. But I also hâve sacred duties to fulfil, before God and man, towards my country and towards the people whom Divine; Providence has confided to my government. I hâve; always sought to reconcile the duties of a Catholic: prince with those of an independent sovereign of a. free and civilised nation, both in the internai rule ol* my States and in my foreign policy.

Italy has been for many years tom by movements which ail aim at the same object, the recovery of her independence. In those events my magnanimous

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