Le Gouvernement du Roi a pleine confiance dans la généreuse initiative et dans la justice de l'Europe. Le principe invoqué par les populations de l'Italie Centrale est consacré par des antécédents diplomatiques; il a été reconnu en des circonstances moins favorables, en Grèce, en Belgique, et plus récemment encore dans les Principautés Danubiennes; c'est le principe qui a modifié la Constitution de l'Angleterre et de la France. Non-seulement il ne trouble pas, dans le cas actuel, la balance des pouvoirs, mais il détruit les germes latents de discordes futures. Il rend en même temps le repos à l'Italie, à ce noble pays auquel l'Europe a été deux fois redevable des bienfaits, des lumières, et de la civilisation. Violer ce droit, qui est déjà pénétré dans les rapports internationaux, ce serait commettre un attentât contre l'opinion, disons mieux, contre la conscience publique. Aujourd'hui les Gouvernements autant que les individus savent qu'il faut compter avec cette Puissance, lorsqu'elle proteste au nom des principes éternels de la justice. Je vous prie, M. le Comte, de donner lecture de cette dépêche à M. le Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, et je saisis, &c. Le Comte Corti. DABORMIDA. No. 146.-Mr. Corbett to Lord J. Russell.-(Received October 5.) Mr LORD, Florence, October 1, 1859. I INFORMED your Lordship yesterday, by telegraph, that for the future the Government of Tuscany would be carried on in the name of King Victor Emmanuel, and I have now the honour to inclose to your Lordship a copy, together with a translation, of a Proclamation, signed by all the Members of the Council of Ministers, by which this intention on their part is made known to the Tuscan people. In this document it is stated that the part taken by the Tuscans in the late war has authorized them to form part of a new Kingdom of Italy, which the other Governments of Europe may recognize, but cannot render more legitimate; that, as far as they are concerned, the fact is completed and irrevocable; for them the strong Kingdom is an accomplished fact, the chosen King is their King, and that, until His Majesty has taken the reins of Government into his own hands the present Ministry will continue to rule in his name. I have also the honour to inclose copy, and translation, of another Decree, also published yesterday, by which it is enacted, that the name of King Victor Emmanuel shall appear in all public Acts; that oaths of fidelity shall be taken to His Majesty; and that the arms of the House of Savoy shall be substituted for those of Hapsburg-Lorraine. The arms and flag of Piedmont were hoisted on the Palazzo Vecchio yesterday, at mid-day, under a salute of 101 cannons from the fortress. The day was purposely chosen as being market-day, when large numbers of peasants would be collected in the square before the Palace, and the ceremony was enthusiastically cheered by the vast crowds who witnessed it. Signor Ridolfi informed me that this demonstration had been highly satisfactory to the Government, as some anxiety had been felt by them as to the manner in which these signs of a direct union with Piedmont would be received, owing to the fact that the majority of persons present were composed of the inferior class of peasants who had not the right to vote at the late elections, but who would have enjoyed the privilege had universal suffrage been employed to ascertain the wishes of the country, and it was thought possible that they might have been disposed to resent their exclusion. It is also in this class that the late dynasty was supposed to number its warmest adherents. Other questions connected with the union are being examined. A scheme for a Customs Union is surrounded by some difficulties, as the tariff and commercial policy of Tuscany are so much more liberal than the Protectionist system which prevails in Piedmont, and is still more so than the Prohibitive system of the Roman States. It is proposed to take an average of the Customs' receipts of Tuscany during the last 3 years, and an arrangement will be made by which Piedmont will agree to make up the deficiency to this country which may be expected to arise on the removal of the line of Customs between the two States. Lord J. Russell. TUSCANS! I have, &c. EDWIN CORBETT. (Inclosure 1.)-Proclamation. (Translation.) Florence, September 29, 1859. THE Assembly of your legitimate Representatives has declared it to be the firm desire of Tuscany to make part of a strong Constitutional Kingdom under the sceptre of King Victor Emmanuel of the House of Savoy. The Assemblies of Modena, Parma, and the Romagna have unanimously expressed similar declarations. These solemn votes have been accepted. The King Elect has accepted the free act of subjection of the people of Tuscany, Modena, Parma, and the Romagna; and has declared that the first act of his sovereignty should be to give validity to the rights which had been conferred on him by those peoples. These acts of the electing peoples and of the King Elect have constituted the strongest and most legitimate bond that can unite the Ruler and the subject. Such bond has been formed by justice; for it is not by force that thrones are established, but by the just national will; and the peoples who were abandoned by the bad Governments of foreigners, or of those friendly to foreigners, have therefore felt the necessity and the right of providing for themselves by providing for the independence of the nation. The war undertaken by Napoleon and Victor Emmanuel was a solemn recognition of that right, since it was undertaken to liberate Italy from Austrian dominion, and to constitute Italian nationality. All Italians were called on to profit by the great occasion, and the people of Central Italy flew to arms. The Tuscans had the double honour of warring under the glorious Italian banner, and under the invincible eagles of the French Empire. This co-operation in a war, not of conquest, but of national emancipation, authorized the formation of a new Kingdom of Italy, which the other European States may recognize, but to which they cannot give legitimacy. The latter is the result of the spontaneous consent of the peoples electing and of the King Elect. For them the compact is complete and irrevocable; as regards them, the strong kingdom is a thing established; the King Elect is their King. But if, until the King Elect takes upon himself to govern the Tuscans personally, the present Government is to govern for His Majesty, it should also glory in and strengthen itself under his august name. By thus acting, the new settlement of the Italian nation will proceed with security, every obstacle will gradually disappear, and Europe will be indebted for its tranquillity and its true equilibrium to the union and firmness of the Italians. Tuscans! your Government proclaims that it will for the future exercise its power in the name of His Majesty Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, the King Elect. Given at Florence, the 29th September, in the year 1859. CELESTINO BIANCHI, Secretary General of the Government of Tuscany. B. RICASOLI. C. RIDOLFI. E. POGGI. R. BUSACCA. V. SALVAGNOLI. P. DE CAVERO. (Translation.) (Inclosure 2.)-Decree. Florence, September 29, 1859. His Majesty Victor Emmanuel reigning, the Government of Tuscany decrees: ART. I. The sentences and decrees of the tribunals, and the acts of notaries public, shall, from the day of the publication of the present Decree, be inscribed with the following formula: "His Majesty Victor Emmanuel reigning." II. Such persons as by the tenor of the laws are under the obligation of taking the oath, shall take it with the following formula: "I swear to be faithful to His Majesty Victor Emmanuel, the King Elect." III. The arms of the House of Savoy shall be introduced in the flags of the army, and of the military and mercantile navy, IV. A white lion shall be provisionally added in the flags of the navy, and of the Tuscan Consulates, at the upper angle of the green stripe next the staff. V. The same arms shall be placed over the palaces and public offices. VI. The Ministers of the Interior, of Justice and Grace, of Foreign Affairs, of Finance, and of War, shall see to the execution of the present Decree. Given at Florence, the 29th September, 1859. B. RICASOI. C. RIDOLFI, E. POGGI. R. BUSACCA, No. 147.-Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell.—(Received October 8.) (Extract.) Biarritz, October 5, 1859. I HAVE inquired of Count Walewski how matters are represented by the Duc de Grammont to be going on at Rome. His Excellency replied, that the Pope was ready to accept the reforms advocated by France, provided that His Holiness was assured that by granting them the States belonging to the Church would be preserved to her; but that as any assurance of the kind given by France would involve a kind of guarantee which the Emperor could not undertake, the negotiations with Rome had been suspended. Lord J. Russell. COWLEY. No. 148.-Lord A. Loftus to Lord J. Russell.-(Rec. October 10.) I WAITED on Count Rechberg on Monday last, and informed his Excellency that your Lordship had authorized me, conformably with the request which his Excellency had addressed to me, not to furnish him with a copy of your Lordship's despatch to Mr. Fane of the 14th September, respecting the affairs of Italy, with the contents of which his Excellency was fully acquainted. Count Rechberg expressed his thanks and appreciation for the courteous attention thus paid to his request. I have, &c. Lord J. Russell. AUGUSTUS LOFTUS. No. 149.-Lord A. Loftus to Lord J. Russell.-(Rec. October 10.) MY LORD, Vienna, October 6, 1859. In reply to my inquiry of Count Rechberg, yesterday, as to the period when the Conferences at Zurich would be brought to a close, his Excellency gave me to understand that a Treaty would be signed in the course of a few days. I inquired whether this Treaty would be final or partial; or, in other words, whether it would be a Treaty which would include the three belligerent Powers, or only a Treaty between Austria and France. Count Rechberg replied, that the Treaty would be signed between Austria and France, and that it would include the financial arrangement consequent on the cession of Lombardy. He added, that as regarded the financial questions and the cession of Lombardy, Austria had merely to treat with France, and not with Sardinia. I inquired of his Excellency what would then happen as regarded Sardinia? Would an armistice be concluded? He replied somewhat vaguely, that the status quo would be maintained: that it could not be supposed that Sardinia would attack them, but that if she did, Austria, he hoped, was sufficiently able to defend herself. In referring to the financial question, his Excellency told me that the exact amount of the indemnity for Lombardy had not been yet fixed, but that the matter was in process of arrangement with France, and he seemed to entertain no doubts as to an amicable arrangement being come to with the Emperor Napoleon on this subject. In reference to the idea of a Congress, to which the European press is constantly reverting, Count Rechberg said that he was not opposed to the principle, on condition that those who had signed the Treaties of 1815 should participate in it, and that an understanding could be come to as to the subjects which should be brought under its consideration. I have, &c. Lord J. Russell. AUGUSTUS LOFTUS. No. 150.-Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell.-(Received October 13.) (Extract.) Paris, October 12, 1859. IN apprizing Count Walewski of the exact words of your Lordship's declaration, I expressed my hope that there was nothing in it to which the Imperial Government would not give their willing assent. His Excellency at once said that as far as France was concerned, he had nothing to object. Lord J. Russell. COWLEY. |