her diplomacy and influence
were not so successful as in reference to the other terms of the treaty.
The great powers played a part that was not great, after the peace.

GENERAL CONDITION OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

_Sardinia_.--The gallant little kingdom of Sardinia had rendered
important aid in the war, and at its conclusion urged upon the
representatives of the great powers assembled in conference in Paris the
importance of preventing an outbreak in Italy, by compelling Austria and
the other despots of Italy to govern with justice and observe treaties.
On March the 27th, 1856, the plenipotentiaries of Sardinia addressed a
_note verbale_ to the Earl of Clarendon, her majesty's foreign minister,
urging upon England the consideration of the dangerous state of Italy,
and the complications to which it would give rise. Sardinia especially
protested against the occupation of the Roman states by foreign
troops--those of Austria and France--thus suppressing all free
expression of action and opinion by the people of these states.

On April the 16th the plenipotentiaries of the Sardinian king, then
resident at Paris, addressed a voluminous memorandum to Lord Clarendon,
entering at large into the affairs of Italy, portraying the danger to
Sardinia from Austrian aggression, and showing that it was the duty
and interest of England to insist upon the termination of the state of
things which existed.

On the 26th of May the Earl of Clarendon addressed a despatch to Sir
James Hudson, the English minister at the court of Turin. This despatch
was brief, and contained nevertheless a very full exposition of the
righteous and sympathising policy of England towards the people of
Italy. This despatch obtained much significance from the events which
followed. Lord Clarendon's prediction was but too truly verified,--a
few years witnessed the complications foretold,--the peace of Europe was
disturbed, and the foreign occupation of Italy was at once the cause of
the war and the theatre of its devastations.

The brevity of Lord Clarendon's despatch to Sir James Hudson allows of
its insertion:--

"_Foreign Office, May 26_, 1856.

"Sir,--I herewith inclose the copy of a note which was addressed to me
when at Paris by the plenipotentiaries of Sardinia.

"The verbal communications which I frequently had the pleasure of
holding with Count Cavour, both before and subsequently to the receipt
of this note, can have le