RECALL OF FOREIGN AMBASSADORS. 5I

so bitterly, against the ecclesiastical govemment. But irritated and indignant as he was, he was careful to prevent hîs soldiers avenging the insults that had been . heaped upon him and the national cause. He gave the strictest orders to the commanding officers — and, after the fall of the papal power, to his représentatives in those provinces — to be moderate and patient with the Clericalt, and to treat the prisoners with the same considération as the royal troops.

The govemors of the newly-acquired provinces were men of distinguished ability and high character. The Marquis Pepoli was sent to Umbria, Signor Valerio to the Marches, and the Marquis Gualterio to Perugia. The présent Pope, Léo XIII., was then Bishop of Perugia, and his good sense and modération formed a contrast to the conduct of the other bishops. He not only did not embarréiss the govemment by useless opposition, but he assisted in maintaining order in his diocese, though he had not, nor has he now, any sympathy with liberalism.

Cavour had tried in vain to persuade " the great powers that the sudden descent on the Papal States was a necessity to save society from anarchy; ail except England, who gave her open approval, expressed themselves greatly shocked by the audacious proceeding ; Prussia, Russia, Austria, and even France, recalled their ambassadors. The Eldest Son of the Church could not openly approve of the spoliation of the Holy Father, though he had said ‘ strike quickly ’ when consulted on

the subject, and his représentative, M. Talleyrand, took

a cordial leave of the great ‘ spoliator,’ heartily wishing him success in ail his undertakings.

It was casier to disapprove of what was donc than to find a remedy for the ills of the distracted Peninsula. No foreign intervention nor European congress had ever yet hit upon a means of establishing order, peace, or anything approaching contentment in the population. Now ail Victor Emmanuel asked, ail the Italians asked of Europe, was to let them alone — leave them to work out their own rédemption as best they might. The king had tried ail peaceful means to reconcile ecclesiastical pretensions with the liberties and rights of his subjects and the spirit of nationality. His moderate counsels had been rejected, his propositions of compromise treated with scorn. While he had been trying to corne to terms with the papal govemment, they had been secretly conspiring against him and flooding the country with foreign soldiery. It was time to put an end to this dangerous State of things, even in the interest of the Pope, who would hâve fared much worse^ at the hands of the threatened republic than under the gentle and tolérant rule of the Savoy prince. Cavour and the king were agreed to strike boldly, and they conquered.

‘We are misunderstood by the other nations,’ said the minister, ‘but the time will corne when they will judge us with more equity.’

‘ Courage ! ’ replied the king, who assumed the part of comforter when Cavour was depressed, ‘ let us do our duty and go forward.’