If England should succeed in warding off the Austro-French proposals, let her reproduce those which she originally brought forward: and if these do not prevail, let her propose the immediate union of Parma and Carrara with Piedmont, and the establishment of a Government, provisional but strongly constituted, to rule over Florence, Modena, and Bologna.
These are my views: take them for what they are worth. Far away from the turmoil of affairs, and having but slight relations with the Ministers, I am probably unaware of many things which might modify my opinion. Still, judging the question of Central Italy from the data which history in some way impresses upon our minds, I am strongly of opinion that if England were to follow the part which I have traced, she would succeed in the object of assuring the destinies of Central Italy to our advantage and her own glory. Farewell, my dear friend. Continue the advocacy of our cause before the noble English nation, and your efforts will not be fruitless. I say again now what I said to the Chamber and to Italy in February—the statesmen who have ennobled their career by accomplishing the emancipation of the negroes will not bear the condemnation of Italy to eternal slavery.[[G]]
Most truly yours,
C. Cavour.”
[G]. These memorable words were uttered in the sitting of the 9th of February, 1859, during the discussion on the loan contracted to prepare for war against Austria.
The next letter to Mr. Ellice (to whom, as there was no one whom Panizzi so much loved and respected, he never lost an opportunity of communicating both the intelligence he received and his own comments and opinions thereon[thereon]) is lively and amusing, and contains much matter within a small compass. The observations on the Rattazzi Government probably in no wise exaggerate its defects:—
“B. M., October 29th, 1859.
... I can tell you for certain there will be a Congress about Italy in which England will take part. The Emperor of the French feels he is in a scrape, and urges England to help him out of it, and our Government are inclined to help him under certain conditions, England wanting him in return on some other account. He has accepted as explicitly as possible England’s terms, and hitherto he has kept his word to her; if he does not break it, the Government are quite satisfied that all will go well for Italy. Indeed, if England and France act together, there is no doubt their policy must prevail.”
“As to the Italians themselves, there is too much softness in Piedmont on the part of the Government; the King is the only man who dares; his Ministers are miserable little bureaucrats. We must have a change there, and Cavour must come back; and this is what our Ministers wish. The people of central Italy, who have given themselves up so heartily to Piedmont, are tired of the prudence of the King’s Government, which does nothing for them, and there is great fear that they may break loose, and, taking the matter in their hands, rush on the Pope’s soldiers or the Rubicon, whom they will rout to a certainty. The whole of the Umbria and the Marches will rise at once; they have been quite ready to do so for two months past, and it is with difficulty they are kept quiet. If they rise, and the soldiers of central Italy (Garibaldi is to lead them) rush in, you may be certain that the kingdom of Naples will be in a flame. Garibaldi with ten thousand men, Romagnuoli, will conquer the whole kingdom down to Reggio. The proclamations of Garibaldi, which you will have seen two days ago in the papers, are ominous. In Italy I did my best to keep him quiet, and so did other friends; but I now see he is taking the mord aux dents, and no wonder. The King of Sardinia has sent for him, but as he is no longer in his service it is thought he may, under some pretext or other, respectfully decline the summons. A revolution at Naples, or its invasion by Garibaldi, would just now be very disagreeable to the English Government, as the question of change of government, both in the kingdom of Naples proper and in Sicily, might be brought on the tapis, and then you easily foresee a great imbroglio—greater than any that has hitherto taken place, as far as English interests are concerned.”