Life of Henry Reeve, vol 2

Life of Henry Reeve, vol 2

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Correspondence
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Title: Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Henry Reeve, C.B.,
D.C.L. In Two Volumes. VOL. II.
Author: John Knox Laughton
Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9803] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on October 19,
2003]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY
REEVE, C.B., D.C.L
BY
JOHN KNOX LAUGHTON, M.A.
HONORARY FELLOW OF GONVILLE AND CAIUS COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY IN KING'S
COLLEGE, LONDON
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOL. II.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME

PORTRAIT OF HENRY REEVE AET. 68.
From a Photograph taken by RUPERT POTTER, Esq.
XIII. THE WAR IN ITALY (1859-60)
XIV. LITERATURE AND POLITICS (1860-3)
XV. LAW AND LITERATURE (1863-7)
XVI. CHURCH POLITICS (1868-9)
XVII. THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR (1869-71)

XVIII. THE GREVILLE MEMOIRS (1871-4)
XIX. FOXHOLES (1874-9)
XX. OUTRAGE AND DISLOYALTY (1880-2)
XXI. THE FRENCH ROYALISTS (1883-5)
XXII. RETIREMENT (1886-9)
XXIII. THE ONE MORE CHANGE (1890-5)

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY REEVE

CHAPTER XIII
THE WAR IN ITALY
How far the murderous attempt of Orsini, on January 14th, 1858, was
connected with the political relations of France and Italy it is as yet
impossible to say. It was, and still is, very commonly believed that in
his youth Louis Napoleon had been affiliated to one or other of the
secret societies of Italy, that he was still pledged to this, was bound to
obey its orders, and that Orsini was an agent to remind him that the
attainment of high rank, far from releasing him from the bond, rendered
it more stringent, as giving him greater power and facility for carrying
out the orders he received. The independence of Italy was aimed at; and
it had been intimated to the Emperor that Orsini's was only the first of
similar messages which, if action was not taken, would be followed by
a second, with greater care to ensure its delivery.
All this may or may not have been mere gossip. What is certain is that,
during the latter months of 1858, secret negotiations had been going on
between the Emperor and Victor Emanuel, the King of Sardinia, or
rather his minister, Cavour; and that an agreement had been come to
that Austria was to be attacked and driven out of Italy. Accordingly, on
January 1st, 1859, at his New Year's reception of the foreign ministers,

Louis Napoleon took the opportunity of addressing some remarks to the
Austrian Ambassador which, to France and to all Europe, appeared
threatening.
Similarly, at Turin, it was allowed to appear that war was intended; and
on both sides preparations were hurried on. In France, as in Austria,
these were on a very extensive scale. A large fleet of transports was
collected at Marseilles; troops were massed on the frontier of Savoy;
and, on the part of the Austrians, 200,000 men were assembled in
readiness for action. On April 23rd Francis Joseph, without--it was
said--the knowledge of his responsible ministers, sent an ultimatum to
Turin, requiring an answer within three days: at the expiration of that
time the Austrians would cross the frontier. The allies utilised the delay
to complete their preparations; and before the three days had ended the
advance of the Franco-Sardinian army had begun.
The campaign proved disastrous to the Austrians, whose half-drilled
and badly-fed troops and obsolete artillery were commanded by an
utterly incompetent general. They were defeated at Palestro on May
31st; at Magenta on June 4th; and again at Solferino on June 24th.
Nothing, it appeared to the Italians and the lookers-on, could prevent
the successful and decisive