T HE very delirium of the greatstatesman whom Italy has to
Piedmont were not less serious, less harassing, less °bai- lost will be a richer 'legacy to his country and to Europe stately pressed, than the difficulties which are likely to be than the .deliberate thoughts of many of the ablest of his thrown in the way of the incorporation of Rome. By a patient rivals. 2% noble and characteristic words to which the. inflexibility of purpose, an untiring zeal, a wise audacity, and unuxlerings of fever lent a estrange weight and solemnity, the m ost reluctan,tcon oessions 1111der pro test, Ricasoli overcame "1 will have no state of siege ; any one can govern with a them, and, as the common people of Tuscany asserted, would 'pram that political and social order could be established in far more than proportionate even to the grandeur of its holy only by appealing to the free 'convictions of Italians, sacrifices to the Italiae. cause. The whole conduct of Ri- mmed was endangered by suppressing them, had been the great casoli—the reluctance with which he assumed power, the wrorkof his lice. And to quail even temporarily before the firmness with which he used it, the positive eagerness with diffleelties of applying that prineiple to the chaos left by which he gave it up when the end was accomplished and lie Bourbon cruelty and craft was not a thought that could could again be permitted to retire to his Tuscan estate—was enter that proud and fearless mind. Net even for the sake such as to inspire with respect even that miserable set of of Italian unity and independence would he have hazarded republican fanatics who diversify the strange unanimity of one iota of true constitutional liberty. He knew too well Europe with their blame, who allow the eloquent tributes that anarchy, in order to he terminated effectually must lee of Cavour's worst enemies—the homage of Austrian states- terminated by the only power which it fears—the freely ex- men to their great enemy, and the generous appreciation pressed hatred of freemen. Italy would indeed be desolate if even of the ultramoutane Armenia itself—to be contrasted no man of equal faith in the true principles of freedom and with the only words of depreciation that Italian lips have equal inflexibility in carrying them out were left to take the uttered. Even these men may honour the disinterestedness helm in these perilous times,—to guard the young nation of Ricasoli, though they will not see the greatness of Cavour, against the thoughtless recommendations of those who have and lend their support to the administration of the only been partially infected with the despair proper to the sub- man who can now unite Italy. jests of a Bourbon State and against the still more insidious But not only in its head is the new administration pressure of French counsellors, who are ashamed to see in fall of hope. Every member of it will add to its strength. TOPICS OF THE DAY. the helm from Cavour's hand. The event then contemplated as imaginary has occurred with frightful suddenness. But no one who knows the new leader trembles for the result. The "UAL"! WITHOUT CAV.OUR. ,difficulties thrown in the way of the annexation of Tuscany terminated by the only power which it fears—the freely ex- men to their great enemy, and the generous appreciation pressed hatred of freemen. Italy would indeed be desolate if even of the ultramoutane Armenia itself—to be contrasted no man of equal faith in the true principles of freedom and with the only words of depreciation that Italian lips have equal inflexibility in carrying them out were left to take the uttered. Even these men may honour the disinterestedness helm in these perilous times,—to guard the young nation of Ricasoli, though they will not see the greatness of Cavour, against the thoughtless recommendations of those who have and lend their support to the administration of the only been partially infected with the despair proper to the sub- man who can now unite Italy.
Italy a freedom which France dare not even wish for. Minghetti, the Minister of the Interior, a really able states- his power as a statesman in the minds of Italians, for he On the whole, then, we do not believe that Italy need showed them that he could. ot only rule, but-persuade his embitter the grief which she feels for her greatest statesman countrymen, a power without which even the highest admi- by any accession of dread for tbefuture. If even Cavour's great nistrative capacity in a free country can be need only in mind and firm faith in God's great purposes for Italy some- subordinate positions. We have ourselves seen a letter times recognized, even if it did not shrink from, the imminent written by a high authority immediately after that debate, in perils which encompassed him, his less experienced successor which Baron Ricasoli's speech is mentioned as an event of must gird on his armour with trembling as well as trust. national importance, because provin,gthat Italy bad a second But he is one whom Italians have long marked for his great kali" whom she mightimay trust if events should snatch post ; and Europe, if it fails to recognize in him the versatile power and adroitness which has gained for Sardinia a repu- tation of the first order in every European Cabinet, will certainly not fail to discern the nobility, equanimity, inflexi- bility, and fortitude, which are the only necessary charac- teristics of a great statesman, and which have already gained the fairest provinces in Italy for the Italian Crown.
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