of the Sovereign's flight, the whole city stood aghast; the Ministers held council, first alone in the palace, then with the agitators in the Clubs: these last were resolved to subvert the Constitution, as were Guerrazzi and Montanelli themselves to govern, but in the name of the people. Both the one and the other had now for some time been rivalled in ambition, and overtopped in aims, by those who could not rest till the experiment of a Republic should have been tried. There are written assertions that Mordini, Vice-president of the Club of the People, had for some time been sending to other Clubs the information that attempts would shortly be made; and one Niccolini, or Nocciolini, whichever it were (for his name was doubtful, though his ill name was not), as well as one Montazio, a base-born* scribbler of wickedness that deserved the pillory, with others more obscure, and not less degraded, made so much noise, that Guerrazzi could not face them. At this time the departure of the Sovereign, the revolutions of the Clubs, the approval or connivance of those in power, and a couple of score crowns from the Treasury, drew every man of them into the streets. They planted their stage beneath the Orgagna balcony, shouted for a Provisional Government, and then marched to the Legislative Assembly, where the scoundrel Niccolini dictated the law in the name of cultivated Tuscany. Guerrazzi and Montanelli, with Mazzoni, who had before been Minister of Grace and Justice, were appointed triumvirs. The agitators wanted a Republic,

* Progenie di birri. — TR.

which was shouted for here and there, but repudiated In the meantime, trees of

by the Government. liberty were planted everywhere, for there can be no liberty in Italy, if we believe these men, unless all the tom-fooleries of France are imported among us. But it is no business of mine to give a detailed account of the Tuscan disorders. My narrative, however, requires me to follow the Grand Duke, who had betaken himself to Santo Stefano, a petty fishing village in the Maremma, situated on a small peninsula which communicates with the mainland, on the side of Orbetello, by a double isthmus.

As soon as the Italian and foreign Ministers learned that the Sovereign had not quitted Tuscany, the Marquis of Villamarina, Sardinian Envoy, who had received assurances from Gioberti that Piedmont would not suffer constitutional Monarchy to perish in Italy, with orders to follow the Grand Duke if still in Tuscany, and to offer him a refuge, proposed to his colleagues that they should at once repair to Santo Stefano. To this they all readily agreed, except Champy, the French Envoy, who disapproved of the suggestion, and reluctantly followed the example. They set out, however, and reached S. Stefano on the 17th, where they found the Thetis, an English frigate, and the Bulldog, a steamer, on guard. At the Grand Duke's desire they waited on him forthwith. He received them with much courtesy and regard, related the particulars of his journey, gave the reasons of his determination, and went on to say that King Charles Albert had offered him assistance

to replace him on his constitutional Throne, and that he had accepted this generous proposal by an immediate reply in the affirmative. The Envoy of Sardinia then, according to his instructions, tendered him a shelter in the Piedmontese territory. The Grand Duke replied it was his fixed conviction that he ought not to leave S. Stefano, except under the last necessity, but that, should things come to the worst, he would go nowhere but to Gaeta, or to La Spezia. And since all the foreign ministers were of opinion that he ought not to quit Tuscany so long as he could be safe in any portion of it, he stated further, that should he be compelled to leave S. Stefano, he thought of repairing either to Viareggio or to Massa, that he might be in the midst of Tuscan, and in the vicinity of Piedmontese, troops.

The Tuscan Triumvirs had dissolved the Parliament, and had summoned a general Assembly, chosen by direct and universal suffrage, for the 14th of March. Their government was very speedily molested by something of danger, and more of dread; for no sooner were the Tuscan population aware of the reasons of the Sovereign's departure from Siena, than, both at Siena itself, and in the smaller cities and places, as well as in the rural districts about Florence, there were demonstrations of resentment, and some efforts to reinstate the royal authority. Thereupon the alarm bells rang in Florence, and forces were dispatched to put down the movement of the country folks, who were huzzaing for Leopold II., under the

idea he had returned, of which there was a rumour. Some persons were then arrested; among them Stuart an Englishman, and Ricciardi a Neapolitan, who were deemed to be instigators or accomplices in those demonstrations. At the same time, Guerrazzi sent orders to the Isle of Elba to repel the Grand Duke if he should put in there; and the steamer Giglio, manned at Leghorn, made sail thence to chase him. He had, however, from S. Stefano, ordered General Laugier, commandant of the Tuscan forces, who continued in his allegiance to the Throne, to use force, and had apprised him that he had sent for Piedmontese The General marched from the Sardinian and Modenese frontier, where he was encamped, and, giving out that those succours were at hand, he moved on Pietra Santa and on Viareggio towards Lucca, whence he entered into correspondence and arrangements with the Constitutionalists, about attempting a restoration.

succours.

On the news of the march and the announcements of Laugier, and of the Piedmontese intervention, the agitators in the various Tuscan cities broke all bounds; and Guerrazzi, gathering as many people as he could, started, in the double capacity of Commissioner and General, towards Lucca, inflaming the public mind for civil war. At Lucca was the Deputy Berghini, whom I have already had occasion to mention. Guerrazzi sent for him, complained of the hostile designs of Piedmont, justified the proceedings of the Tuscan Government, and begged him to write to Turin, and strive by some means to avert the danger and mis

chief of a bloody struggle between Italians. He left with him the subjoined written declaration : —

"Berghini,

"You are my friend, and yet more the friend of your country: I therefore tell you the following truths:

"That the Constituent for Italy was freely approved by the Grand Duke, under the advice of the British Minister. "That he left Florence with constant promises of a prompt

return.

"That as he put off returning, and we thereupon sent him our resignations, he answered we were to keep our offices, and he would come back at the earliest moment.

"That, after a sham illness, he absconded without naming the place where he meant to hide.

"That the Ministry, taking into view on the one hand the breach of the constitutional compact, on the other the impossibility of carrying on the Government, resigned, as in duty bound, its powers to the Assembly.

"That the Assembly and the People appointed the Provisional Government with a view to securing the public peace and order. The allegation of certain Deputies, that they voted under coercion, is a falsehood.

"1. Because necessity drove them to elect a Provisional Government.

"2. Because they had determined on this step in the Hall of conferences, before the public sitting began, and before the people broke into the semicircle of the Hall.

"3. Because though a portion of the Deputies withdrew, yet on my eager remonstrance, when the people had been put out they returned, under constraint from no one, together with the President, and after discussion they voted unanimously.

"As it was impossible for the Government to proceed with Chambers chosen under an elective law admitted to be faulty, on this account they have summoned new ones on the basis of universal suffrage. The new Chambers are convoked