CHAPTER XXI

BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE WILL OF THE NATION. A.D. l86l.

DurinG the last days of December, Victor Emmanuel was on his homeward journey from the Southern provinces, and he arrived in Turin just two days before the expiration of the eventful year of 1860. As in the central provinces and in Naples, so in Sicily, he had travelled through the country on horseback, and made himself acquainted with that land of brigands as far as it was possible in a hasty tour. It would but weary the reader with vain répétitions to recite ail the ovations that greeted him in every town, ail the graceful démonstrations of loyalty and gratitude which his presence called forth. Enough to say that his journey was like the triumphal march of a hero who had saved his country from destruction and covered her with glory. Dearly as he loved popularity, his soûl must hâve been satiated with plaudits before he found repose and quiet in his palace at Turin, with his own faithful but less démonstrative Subalpines round him.

On the first day of the new year Farini, Viceroy of Naples, resigned office because of a domestic affliction.

and the Prince of Carignano was appointed in his stead. A royal proclamation to the Neapolitans said : —

I do not know how to give you a better proof of my affection than in sending you my beloved cousin Prince Eugenio, to whom I am accustomed in my absence to confide the administration of the monarchy.

Naples, however, was not quite free from the Bourbons. Gaeta still held out, though besieged by Cialdini and Menabrea ; and the fortresses of Messina and Civitella were still in possession of the adhérents of the fallen dynasty. The French fleet hovered about under the pretence of protecting the coast. Negotiations on the subject were carried on briskly between Paris and Turin, and finally the fleet sailed off. Gaeta fell into the hands of the Italians ; the other fortresses soon followed, and the conquest of the Two Sicilies was complété. Then France, still pretending, withdrew her ambassador from the court of Turin, while England loudly proclaimed her approbation of Victor Emmanuel’s proceedings, and was warm in admiration of the good sense and modération with which the Italians had carried out so great a révolution. This moral support, at a moment when diplomacy was looking askance at him from every other side, was a source of much gratification to Victor Emmanuel, and he felt sincerely grateful for it.

The great events of the past year, in which the kingdom of Sardinia had swelled into the kingdom

ThE KING’S SPEECH.

of Italy, rendered another general élection necessary. The new Parliament was opened on February i8 with unusual pomp. The représentatives of the lately annexed provinces, mostly men of distinction, who had taken an active part in the recent everits, were loudly cheered when taking the oath of allegiance. The king’s speech was received with uproarious applause, particularly by the Southern members.

The King's Speech.

Gentlemen Senators, — Gentlemen Deputies, — Almost entirely free and united, by the wonderful aid of Divine Providence, the willing agreement of the peoples, and by the splendid valeur of the army, Italy now confides in your virtue and your wisdom. To you it belongs to give her common and stable institutions. While assigning the largest amount of administrative liberty to those peoples who hâve had different customs and laws, you will take care that the political unity sighed after for so many âges shall not be curtailed. The opinion of civilised people is propitious to us ; the just and liberal princes who présidé in the councils of Europe are propitious to us ; Italy will become for Europe an efficacious instrument of universal civilisation, The Emperor of the French, while holding firm the maxim of non-intervention— to us a great gain — has thought proper to recall his ambassador. If this is a matter of regret, it cannot alter our gratitude to him, • nor our faith VOL. II. F

in his attachment to the Italian cause. France and Italy, who hâve a common origin, traditions, and customs, were united on the fields of Magenta and Solferino by a bond which is indissoluble.

The govemment and people of England — that ancient land of freedom — strongly affirm our right to be the arbiters of our own destinies ; and they hâve been lavish of kind offices, the grateful memory of which shall never perish.

To the loyal and illustrious prince who has lately ascended the throne of Prussia, I sent an envoy, as a mark of honour to him and sympathy for the noble German nation, which I hope will be more and more persuaded that Italy, constituted in its natural unity, does not offend either the rights or the interests of other nations.

Gentlemen Senators — Gentlemen Deputies, — I feel certain that you will hasten to présent to my government the means of completing the armaments by land and sea, so that the kingdom of Italy, placed in a condition not to fear attack, shall repose more easily in the consciousness of her strength on a reasonable prudence. On other occasions my words sounded bold ; but there is a time to dare and a time to wait. Devoted to Italy, I hâve never hesitated to place in jeopardy my life and my crown when her interests required it ; but no one has a right to risk the life and the destinies of a nation.

After many signal victories the Italian army, always increasing in famé, obtained a new title to glory.