AMADEO KING OF SPAIN

The king [he said] avoided disagreeable allusions, but he let me know delicately, that he had not forgotten what I had said of him in the tribune. He discussed politics with the most elevated views, and as a man who understands the profession. I thought I should hâve to do with a soldier, but I found an accomplishcd statesman.

Spain, still in an unsettled State, with a provisional govemment, once more thought of applying to Italy for a king. Victor Emmanuel considered the task of rescuing Spain from anarchy, and putting her on the roàd of civilisation and progress, would be one worthy of a prince of Savoy. He had thought of his nephew, the Duke of Genoa, but his extreme youth was an objection, and he finally decided on sending Amadeo. Some Italian statcsmen opposed the idea, urging that the prince would be uselessly sacrificed, that Spain was so hopelessly divided and torn by factions, there were so many pretenders to the throne, that the dangers and difficulties would be insurmountable. But the king replied that he knew one of his family would only yield to impossibilities, and he would like to make the trial.

Amadeo shrank from the undertaking with a répugnance which seemed prophétie of disaster, and it took ail Victor Emmanuel’s influence to persuade his son to accept the profiered crown.

As soon as it was known in Spain that he had consented, a députation from the Cortès, headed by the

president, Seflor Gorrilla, came to Florence to make a formai offer of the throne of Spain, in the name of the nation. The députation was received in state, in the presence of ail the court, the ministers, and foreign ambassadors. In a very complimentary address the king's consent was asked to his son’s acceptance of the office.

Victor Emmannets Reply to the Cortès.

By this your request, gentlemen, you do honour to my dynasty and to Italy, and you ask a sacrifice of my heart. I accord to my beloved son my consent to aceept the glorious throne to which the wish of the Spanish nation calls him. I trust that, with the aid of Divine Providence and the confidence of your noble nation, he shall be able to accomplish his mission for the prosperity and the greatness of Spain.

The president then tumed to the prince, who in a voice tremulous with émotion signified his acceptance of the honour. He had not yet learned the truth of the poet’s words —

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, but his good sense must hâve told him that a king with a conscience has a hard road to travel, particularly in a country degraded by âges of misrule and distracted by recent révolutions. He was not dazzled by the prospect ; but in obedience to his father’s wishes he resolved to make the trial of restoring order to Spain and establishing a settled governmenL