DEATH OF CARLO POERIO. I3I

set her in order within, to make her sure pf herself, respected, prospérons and strong.

Another ministerial crisis followed on the opening ’of Parliament. Baron Ricasoli resigned, and Signor Ratazzi was called to form a new ministry.

In the April of this year died, comparatively young, Baron Carlo Poerîo, to the great grief of the king and the nation. Poerio was the Silvio Pellico of Naples ; he had suffered indescribable martyrdom in the prisons, in the galleys, in exile ; but so far from making a merit of this, he shrank with a painful modesty from any mention of his trials. His simple, beautiful character had won the admiration of Victor Emmanuel, who had conceived for him an immense regard, and felt his death as a national misfortune.

On May 30, Victor Emmanuel’s second son, Amadeo, Duke of Aosta, married Maria Vittoria, daughter of Prince Pozzo délia Cisterna, — the head of a rich and very ancient Piedmontese family, devoted to the national cause.

The prince was not much past twenty-one, but his youth was full of promise which his manhood has since fulfilled. As ruler of the most disordered country in Europe, his firmness, courage, and rectitude of purpose were acknowledged even by those who rejected his authority. The bitterest enemies of monarchy find it difficult to pick a hole in the character of Amadeo of Savoy — save only that he has a slight dash of the superstition of his fathers. The bride was in every way

worthy of the noble prince who had chosen her, and the marriage was — for a royal marriage — a wonderfully happy one. The princess being Italian made this matrimony particularly acceptable to the nation, and there were great rejoicings and démonstrations of loyalty on the occasion.