TWO CONTRADICTORY PICTURES. IO

in conversation do they ever let slip a single kind or générons action, of ail the many that Victor Emmanuel did in public and private ; but they dwell with gusto on his faults, and exaggerate them. These faults the Libérais on the other hand regard as spots on the sun, not worthy of notice, and accordingly as a general rule do not notice them. The whitest swan and the blackest crow could not be more diverse than the two pictures we are called upon to contemplate under the heading, ‘ Victor Emmanuel.’ Let us take, for example, a few sentences at random from the first publications at our hand.

Clérical: — He left behind him a bad name, an impoverished nation, and an example which the world must condemn. In public affairs he was an utterly unscrupulous man ; in private he was bold, haughty, full of passion, and wholly given over to licentiousness, etc.

Liberal : — What a great monarch was Victor Emmanuel ! What a fine noble life was his ! How full of sublime teaching for kings and for peoples ! Ail agréé, in death as in life, to honour the name of the first King of Italy — the greatest, best, and most glorious king she may ever see — the model patriot, etc., etc.

When the story of Victor Emmanuel has grown dim through time, the future historian will be puzzled to choose between the conflicting records of the extrême parties. But we hâve no hésitation in saying

even the most extravagant partisans of the king are more honest and truthful than his detractors ; and there are always some just-minded, moderate men who do not allow their feelings to bias their judgment, and who frankly acknowledge that their hero was not perfect, though he had a hundred daims on their affection and gratitude.

Just at this time Victor Emnaanuel was pleased to receive a courteous letter from the Holy Father asking him to send some confidential person to Rome to consult about the nomination to certain vacant bishoprics ; but the king’s envoy and the Pope did not corne to an understanding, and the negotiations were broken oflf.

In this year Spain, the only European power which had not yet acknowledged the kingdom of Italy, sent an ambassador to the court of Victor Emmanuel. Queen Isabella was always the implacable foe of liberty, and had hitherto given great encouragement to the Ultramontane party, so that it was a triumph to see this last enemy succumb under the pressure of popular opinion.

Before opening the new Parliament in Florence the king paid a visît to Naples, then suffering terribly from the ravages of choiera, to give relief to the afflicted people, and comfort and encourage them by his présence, as his custom was on such occasions.

On November i8, 1865, the first Parliament was opened in Florence.