do, simply because they love
intrigue and revolution, whilst in reality they do not know what they
want; a hot-headed people like the Italians require a firm and just
government to guide and take care of them, and Italy might have
continued tranquil and contented, had not the ambition of Sardinia led
her to revolutionise the whole country. The Grand Duke of Tuscany,
for instance, is an excellent and just man, and nevertheless, at the
instigation of Piedmont, he was turned out of the country, and for no
earthly purpose. I suppose you have read Monsieur About's book about
Rome[63]? well, all he says is untrue, pure calumny, and it would be
easy for me to have it all refuted; but he is really not worthy of
such an honour. His book, I see, has been translated into English,
and I have no doubt it will be much read and believed in England. Such
books and our refugees mislead your countrymen, and I often wonder at
the language your statesmen hold about us in the Houses of Parliament.
I always read their speeches. Lord Palmerston, Lord John Russell,
and Mr Gladstone do not know us; but when I think how kindly and
hospitably Lord Granville was received at Rome last winter, and then
read the extraordinary speech he made last February about us, I think
the gout he suffered from here must have gone to his head when he
reached England, and I wonder how Her Majesty the Queen could send
for him to form a Government! Then again, Mr Gladstone, who allowed
himself to be deceived about the Neapolitan prisoners--he does not
know us and Italy--and Mr Cobden,--I knew him in 1847--he is always in
favour of peace, and he must be very fond of animals, for when he came
here from Spain he wanted me to write to that country and put a stop
to bull-fights--a very good man, but I do not know his views about
Italy. And Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, do you think he will be
employed again? he seemed so anxious to get a place. Mr Disraeli was
my friend; I regret him. But tell me, _caro mio Russell_, if you are a
prophet, how all this war and fuss is to end?"

I replied, "Your Holiness has better claims to being a prophet than
I have, and I sincerely hope all this may end well for Italy; but
as regards the present and the past, I must again say that I deeply
regret to see your Holiness misconceive the honest views and sincere
sympathies of the statesmen you have named, for the welfare of Italy;
they would like to see Italy independent, prosperous, progress