t this time, placed themselves under the crook of
the Supreme Pastor.

(M84) Shortly before the death of Count de Cavour, the Emperor Napoleon
was pleased to define the new limits of the papal domain. In doing so, he
left the recently alienated provinces to Piedmont, and and confined the
Pontiff to a comparatively small territory around the city of Rome. He
could not have sanctioned more decidedly or more publicly the
unjustifiable spoliation of the Sardinian king. Such a proceeding cannot
but appear inconsistent to such as are aware only of his apparent quarrel
with this monarch, and the withdrawal of his ambassador from Turin. To
those, on the contrary, who have knowledge of, and consider his secret
conference with, the Piedmontese Envoys at Chambery, and the violent
attack on the Papal States, which, notwithstanding the public and official
protest of the French government through their consul at Ancona,
immediately followed, it will appear that Louis Napoleon Bonaparte,
Emperor of the French, was only acting up to his policy and character.
Soon after this new distribution of territory, the "Kingdom of Italy" was
officially recognized by the government of the French Emperor; and this
recognition paved the way for that of the other Powers, by most of whom,
after some time, it was reluctantly given.

(M85) Cavour was dead. But Sardinian ambition died not with him. Baron
Ricasoli, who succeeded him as Prime Minister, encouraged by the support
of France, which was no longer disguised, actually wrote, in the name of
his king, both to the Pope and Cardinal Antonelli, urging them to give up
the sovereignty of Rome. This was done, not, of course, from any ambitious
motive, but with a view to carrying out their great designs, such as the
regeneration of society, and, above all, their conception of a "free
church in a free state." The minister concludes magniloquently: "It is in
your power, Holy Father, to renew, once more, the face of the earth. You
can raise the Apostolic See to a height unknown for ages. If you wish to
be greater than earthly sovereigns, cast away from you the wretched
kingship which brings you down to their level. Italy will bestow upon you
a firm seat, entire liberty, and new greatness. She reveres in you the
Pontiff; but she will not stop in her progress for the Prince. She intends
to remain Catholic; but she purposes to be a free and independent nation.
If you will only hearken to the prayers of that dau