The turn of affairs in Northern Italy is such that,
if we had any sufficient insight into the motives of the Government at Paris, we might expect a revision and improvement of the policy in Rome. Austria has disregarded French diplomacy, in sending to the Piedmontese Government a harsh ultimatum, with the pe- remptory demand that acceptance should be signified within four days, under threat of recalling the Austrian Envoy—of resuming a hostile position. M. de Tocqueville has thought it necessary to snake a formal protest against this step ; and has thus committed France to a position at variance with Austria in the Italian penin- sula. If we were considering the ordinary elements of political action, it might be supposed that France would now think it ne- cessary to become popular in Italy : but French policy is extra- ordinary. Possibly the advisers of President Bonaparte may figure to themselves another dictation in Italy, both to the Italian and the Austrian—may expect at the bands of General Oudinot another Marengo, at the hands of M. Bonaparte new Napoleonic insolences to a prostrate people. But the instruments are different.
Previous page
