rulers of Rome themselves to announce, that Spini and Pinto had no sort of official commission in Turin. This was done by Muzzarelli, in the following dispatch addressed to them.

"To Signors Pinto and Spini, special Agents of the Roman Government at Turin. 15th January, 1849.

"Gentlemen,

"It has been stated to me that the Holy Father is not over well inclined to receive in due form the Minister Plenipotentiary Martini, by reason of the suspicion he entertains, that you are recognised at Turin in a diplomatic capacity, and as Envoys of the Government of Rome.

"I beg you, Gentlemen, to be good enough to ascertain, with all that skilful circumspection which belongs to your talents and capabilities, whether this be actually the case, and whether the present Government of Sardinia has been actually exposed to any diplomatic remonstrance. In such case, as it is our very first object to avoid embarrassing Piedmont, on which now repose the entire hopes of Italy, I request you not to lose an instant in announcing to Signor Gioberti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that the Government of Rome has never confided to you anything beyond a special charge and business, and that you do not formally represent any one, or bear any diplomatic character at Turin. You will invite Signor Gioberti to make use of this explanation of a matter of fact, for the purpose of preventing any suspension of relations with the Supreme Pontiff.

"Without my further impressing it upon you, you will be sufficiently sensible of the extreme necessity of following out what I have sketched with the utmost discretion and with all possible promptitude. I therefore have only to renew to you the expression of my particular esteem.

"C. E. MUZZARELLI."

But not even this availed to bring about the recep

tion of Martini in his official capacity, or the acceptance of the offer of a Piedmontese corps for the defence of Romagna. To that offer Cardinal Antonelli replied, "that the Holy Father could not, under the idea of promoting the national cause of Italy, compromise the true interests of Holy Church. As she is universal, it was his duty to place his own case upon a comprehensive basis, worthy of her, which he had done by making his appeal to all the Catholic Princes. That Austria, if she should move, would doubtless move in answer to the appeal so lodged; and accordingly it would be dishonourable in the Holy See to be a party to hindering her." Nor was the answer of His Holiness very different, for he said "he could not by any means concur in offering impediments to the march of troops who plainly would be repairing to his assistance." The Holy Father showed emotion at the glowing language in which Martini both urged the cause of Italy, and augured likewise the utmost detriment to the Papacy; but he then concluded, with a sigh, "What would you have me do? It is too late." Thus it was plain, that Spaur and the Neapolitan King had managed their matters so successfully as to persuade the Pontiff, from the very beginning of his exile, that Austria and Naples alone must replace him on his throne. It was plain that Austrian assistance was asked, expected, and desired.

When, however, the French Government got an inkling of these designs, and came to suspect, not without grounds, that the Imperial Court had been invited by that of Rome, with pressing representa

tions, to come promptly to the rescue, it dispatched M. Latour d'Auvergne to Gaeta with instructions to join the Minister the Duc d'Harcourt in seriously expostulating with the Holy Father. They accordingly stated to him what were the misgivings of their Government, and requested him to be good enough to assure them that he neither had asked, nor anticipated, support and aid from Vienna earlier than from Paris; with this inquiry, whether, in case Austria should put her forces in motion apart from any concert with the other Governments, His Holiness had made up his mind to protest against such an intervention, "which assuredly must be designed rather for the advantage of Austrian influence in Italy, than to aid the Holy See." Finally they said, that if Austria stirred, France too would direct her forces towards the Roman States, and would garrison with them some place of import

ance.

Neither the Holy Father, nor Cardinal Antonelli, gave any distinct answer. It is, however, unquestionable, that the remonstrances of France foiled in some degree, at that period, the schemes of Naples and Austria.

On the 17th, Cardinal Giraud, Archbishop of Cambray, arrived at Gaeta, as the Envoy of the French Clergy, with the privity of the Government, to invite the Pontiff anew to repair to France, as he had repeatedly, if not promised, yet indicated his intention, to do. To this he replied that, having engaged to visit France, he would undoubtedly do it, but was unable at the time. Meanwhile, Count Ludolf was

holding this language in the diplomatic circles; that it was impossible the Holy Father could give way "to the importunate solicitations of the French Government." Amidst the other notions which the Courts of Gaeta and Naples were revolving, was that of picking up such soldiers as might betake themselves from Rome across the frontier, enrolling volunteers, and forming a camp on the borders, with the aid of the Swiss, whom King Ferdinand was to lend, as well as of those, too, who were expected from Bologna; and then to aim a blow at Rome, while the Austrians were simultaneously to make demonstrations on the northern confines of the State, should they be prevented from doing more by the complaints of France. Señor Martinez de la Rosa had instructions from his Government to promise assistance, on condition of a concert with the other Governments of Europe; but he himself was so eager to satisfy any wish whatever of the Papal Court, that he entered into all the covert proceedings a good deal more than became his position. Yet the advisers and managers after Cardinal Antonelli's own heart were Spaur and Ludolf. The son of the latter, who was agent for Naples at Turin, and acted there the part of a spy more than of a minister, wrote notes full of cavil and mistrust about the intentions of Piedmont and about the King's ministers; and his letters were regularly placed beneath the eye of His Holiness. The liberal counsels of the Duc d'Harcourt were scouted; and although Pius IX. was kind in his manner to Martini, yet he still declined to recognise him in the capacity of minister; because, besides the

grounds and pretexts already enumerated, Spaur and Ludolf hinted that he was a Lombard, and therefore an Austrian subject.

Accordingly, as the Piedmontese Government did not choose any longer to put up with such an insult, Gioberti on the 16th of January addressed a dispatch to Martini, in which, after placing on record the proofs of their sincerity, he went on to say,

"That his own conduct and that of his predecessor were according to all the principles of international law unimpeachable; and ought, as it seemed to him, to have been so much the more acceptable to Rome, as the mild and kindly genius of an ecclesiastical Government must beget a predisposition to the idea of accommodation, and a repugnance to the abrupt, violent, and haughty courses, which are unbecoming even to a lay Government."

He went on and concluded as follows:

"Seeing that the offer of mediation is displeasing to the Pope's Government, His Majesty withdraws it. Yet His Majesty and His Ministers do not believe that the Government of Rome is (according to the phrase of Cardinal Antonelli) a Government of assassins; nor that the spirit of disaffection is confined to a few; but they leave the decision of this point to the rare perspicacity of Cardinal Antonelli. In like manner the King readily withdraws the offer of armed assistance, since the Pontiff is not pleased to accept it. But he desires it should be known, that in tendering to the Holy Father the mediation of Piedmont, he was influenced by Italian and Catholic views. His belief was, that a pacific and kindly interposition must be more palatable to the Vicar of Christ than the violent and blood-stained paths of warfare, and that the aid of an Italian Sovereign would be preferred by Pius IX. to German succours. However, in regard to