11 OCTOBER 1930, Page 31

Cavour's statesmanship is often undervalued in comparison with Garibaldi's revolutionary

expeditions and Mazzinfs republican propaganda though without all three men Italy might not have won her freedom and unity. The case for Cavour is well put by Dr. A. J. White in The Politica! Life and -Letters Of Centour; 1848-1881 (Oxford University Press, 17R. 6d.), in which full use is made of the Premier's recently collected

correspondence and of letters from Hudson, the British Envoy at Turin. The- author -brings out -clearly the-difficulties that beset Cavour after the Austrian defeats and the Peace of Villafranca. Cavour dared not restrain Garibaldi from attacking Sicily, and yet knew that the failure of this gambling throw would ruin his Cabinet and put back the movement for liberation. Cavour's handling of the crisis of 1,860 was masterly and the detailed account given by Dr. White is of great interest. • • * '*