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CHAPTER VIII.

ADVICE GIVEN BY ENGLAND.-LORD PALMERSTON.-NO PROMISE OF AID FOR THE

REPUBLIC.-LETTER

FROM THE ROMAN ENVOY MARIONI.-MAZZINI KEEPS IT SECRET.-LORD NAPIER AT ROME.NEGOTIATIONS OF RUSCONI. HIS NOTE TO LORD PALMERSTON.LANGUAGE OF LORD PALMERSTON.-REMARKS BY RUSCONI.-DEFINITIVE ANSWER OF LORD PALMERSTON.-ARRANGEMENTS BY THE TRIUMVIRS.-PROCEEDINGS OF THE ZINIANS.ASSASSINATIONS COMMITTED BY ZAMBIANCHI.-OBSERVATIONS. SIEGE AND TAKING OF ANCONA.-ATTITUDE ASSUMED BY THE AUSTRIANS.-L'ALFI.—PRINCE SIMONETTI.

MADE

DREGS OF THE MAZ

HAVING narrated the projects of Austria, France, Spain, and Naples, and the fruitless result of the negotiations attempted by Piedmont, it is fitting we should touch upon the views entertained by England, the most sagacious of modern nations, who, being disinclined to mix in these affairs at the risk of the peace of Europe, and of her own honour, incurred the reproaches of the Republicans, and the calumnies, not yet ended, of the illiberal of every country and of every class.

Lord Palmerston had given a courteous reception to Canuti, who had gone to London as an Envoy from Mamiani after the 16th of November, regarding him as charged with the office of bringing about a reconciliation with the exiled Pontiff, whom England thought destined to be reinstated in some way or other. "It is

necessary," Lord Palmerston had said at the commencement of the insurrection, "it is necessary quickly to come to an understanding with the Pope, and with him to restore liberal institutions; otherwise you will have the Pope of a certainty, but public liberties not." Things having afterwards come to the pass which we have described, Manzoni, Carpi, and Marioni, the Roman Envoys who were in England, either on particular missions, or for the purpose of sounding public opinion, or engaged in diplomatic affairs, never received any promise whatever of aid for the Republican enterprise; on the contrary, they heard many adverse opinions and unfavourable auguries expressed. But after the 30th of April, and during the mission of Lesseps, it seemed as if a smile of fortune were dawning upon the Republic, and its rulers imagined it would be saved, if England would but say a word in its favour; accordingly Marioni went to Lord Palmerston, begging that he would recognise and protect it; and on the 23rd of May he wrote to Rome, giving an account of the steps he had taken, as follows:-

He

He, Lord Palmerston, entered into a long conversation with me. He agreed that our position, as a Government, was much better than it was when we first conferred together. acknowledged that the accusation was unjust, which asserted that a Terrorist faction prevented the general expression of the wishes of the people, that would otherwise be manifested by a reaction in favour of the Pontiff, to retain whom as temporal Prince, he also confessed, to be contrary to the national will. He also expressed himself in flattering terms on the bravery of our people and our soldiers in repelling the attacks of the French and Neapolitans, and on the constancy with which

Bologna had suffered and fought, though with adverse fortune. In conclusion he said: -Yet you had better counsel those who govern the Republic to treat at least with France, and that immediately, with frankness and on such conditions as can be accepted. England will lend a willing hand so far, and will give you every support, for the interests not only of Rome, but of Italy. Do not let slip the present moment, in which you have the power, if not to impose and exact, at least to obtain, most favourable conditions. Accept the Pope with a Constitution extended and real, with the freedom of the press, and with all the guarantees for liberty and future progress; with the express condition of the entire and perpetual separation of the two principles of the two powers, ecclesiastical and secular. Make also the secularisation of the Government a condition, a sine quâ non. It is my opinion that the French Government, whatever may be the future Ministry, will mediate on these conditions, and will cause them to be accepted by the Pope and his party, even though they should not please him. Profit by this favourable moment'—and this expression he repeated to me over and over again if you let it slip, it will be your own fault-your own loss. Profit by the present state of public opinion in France; for it is not eternal, and by the mistakes committed by General Oudinot, which have given quite another colouring to the affair. Hope in the future, pregnant with so many events which human foresight cannot calculate upon or direct, but treat, treat immediately. Perhaps, during the negotiations, circumstances may develope themselves which may enable you to exact still better terms. For the present, content yourselves with what is practicable; if you refuse, it will be worse for you, much worse. The chances against you being very many, you may, by your obstinacy, render them still greater and insurmountable.' And what his Lordship never did until to-day, he added, 'I give you this advice in my private capacity, or, if you prefer it, as the Minister of the Queen, and of the British nation.' As usual, I renewed my protest against any treaty for the restoration of the Pope, in

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sisting that the recognition should be at least secondary, and conditional, until France should have recognised us. To this he answered, that 'happen what may in France, we shall never be permanently recognised as a Republic; that the Pope would be imposed upon us afresh, under some title or other, under some name or colour, even if the Red Republic should be established in France, which is certainly unlikely enough."

Mazzini, who, after the departure of Rusconi, had acted as Minister for Foreign Affairs, suppressed Marioni's letter, giving, instead, a colour of authenticity to some private letters, according to which England, about to recognise the Roman Republic, advised a desperate resistance; by which act the Triumvir not only failed in his duty towards the Assembly, but gravely erred against the laws of honour. Nor was it by Marioni alone that the English Government sent prudent counsels; they also came by other channels. Lord Napier arrived at Rome in May, ostensibly to visit its public monuments as a lover of the arts, but really to convince the Government of the necessity of having recourse to prudent measures. But they would not hold any intercourse with him, and Borgatti alone, a wise and honourable young man, who had remained in office for the sake of doing good, had several interviews with him, listened to him, and appreciated his advice; but he attempted in vain to render it acceptable to the Triumvirs.

The negotiations which Rusconi afterwards undertook in London had principally for their object to procure the mediation of the English Government

on behalf of the Republic. He requested this from Lord Palmerston at his first interview, and begged him to send an Envoy to Cività Vecchia, to prevent sanguinary conflicts; to which request the English Minister replied courteously, asking for a written Note, which he might submit to the consideration of the Ministry. Rusconi, on the 3rd of June, wrote to him. accordingly, as follows:

"My Lord,

"The events which are now taking place in the States of Rome are such as must attract the notice of every civilised nation; and it is respecting them that, through the medium of your Lordship, I would invoke the attention of England, that great country which, for more than three centuries, has been marching in the foremost ranks of liberty and progress.

"Three millions of men, my Lord, the entire population of the State which extends from Velletri to Ferrara, have declared, by all kinds of manifestations, that government by the Pope is impossible. The Municipalities, the Clubs, the Assembly of that country, have put forth such a declaration repeatedly. The last time they put it forth was when the French, the Germans, the Spaniards, and the Neapolitans were invading their native land, that is to say, when the last hour of the Republic, which succeeded the Papal Government, seemed to have arrived. This declaration, the resistance shown to the invasion by all our cities, and the fact that the French army has not witnessed a single act of any city which showed that it was gladly welcomed, ought to have destroyed the idea that a faction was ruling in Rome; that the whole country was not unanimous in repudiating clerical government; and I should be insulting the good sense of your Lordship if I were to dilate further on a subject of which you, my Lord, are as much convinced as I am. The dissolution of the temporal power of the Pope is desired by the entire population of the States of Rome; to wish to restore that power is to sin against

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