VAIN PROPOSALS OF INTERFERENCE

badly. The diplomatists do not molest us too much. Russia made a fearful hubbub — Prussia less. The Parliament has much sense. I await your letters with impatience.

Cavour.

The diplomatists did not allow him much respite however. Garibaldi’s increasing successes in Sicily alarmed the Bourbon government for Naples ; and spécial envoys were despatched to London and Paris to invoke the aid of those powers to protect the Neapolitan coast against the ‘ filibusters,’ France proposed a truce with Garibaldi for six months ; Victor Emmanuel’s government would only consent to interfère with the volunteer movement on condition of the absolute approval of England — which they knew would not be given. Not only did England positively refuse to intervene, but she protested against France doing so, Count Cavour then wrote a statement of facts to Lord Palmerston and Lord Russell, to further strengthen the national cause ; and also exhorted the Marquis d’Azeglio to use ail his influence in England on behalf of the Sicilians.

The infamous government of Naples, and the horrible sufierings of political prisoners, had become generally known after the escape of Poerio and his companions, and had excited sentiments of indignation and pity in the British Isles, where so many misérable exiles had found refuge in former times, before liberal Piedmont opened an asylum for them. These banished ones

were the flower of the population. In 1853, Charles Dickens, visiting Naples after many years, records the following dialogue in his correspondence : —

‘ I knew a very remarkable gentleman when I was last here,’ I said to a Neapolitan marchese who came to see me the night I arrived : ‘ a very remarkable gentleman, who had never been out of his own country, but was perfectly acquainted with English literature, and had taught himself to speak English in that wonderful manner that no one would hâve known that he was a foreigner. I am very anxious to see him, but I forget his name.’ He named him, and his face fell directly. ‘ Dead ? ' said I. ‘ In exile.’ ‘ Ah, dear me ! ’ I said, ‘ I hâve looked forward to seeing him more than anyone in this country.’ ‘What would you hâve ? ’ said the marquis in a low voice. ‘He was a remarkable man — full of knowledge, full of spirit, full of generosity. Where should he be but in exile ? Where could he be ? ’

That Word exiVe is a mournful Sound in ail countries and ail languages ; but in Italian it is prégnant with a bitter anguish which northerns, however well they love their country, cannot fully understand. An Italian prefers to live at home in poverty rather than enjoy wealth and luxury abroad — and to banish him from his native place is like tearing his heartstrings out by the roots.

In historical questions the evidence of a romancist is not admissible ; but a good novel will be read by