Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

The Brìtish Government of 1867 763
It may be wellfor you to repress the expectation, should it be manifested to you, that we shall take a more active part in the business. It is aìways easy, should circumstances render it desirable to take a step in advance: it is not equally easy to withdraw Jrom a posi don assumed in haste.
The French, I think, have the lettor of the September Convention on their side, though they may have used the power it gave them in a someivhat imperious manner. The fact seems to be that both they and the Ratlaszi Cabinet were ta-ken by surprise, not having allowed for the promptìtude and energy of the Gari-baUHan movement.
VH. Lord Stanley to Lord Bloomfield, private, 3 December 1867, Bloomfìeld Papera, F. 0. 356/33.
The singular part oj the affair is, that the Emperor does not seem to care how soon it [the conference] breaks up, or how impossible an agreement may be found, provided it con once be got together. I cannot imagine that this is me-rely vanity; nor yet want of foresight: but the motivo baffl.es me. Con it be the wish to prove to ali Europe, conclusively that they cannot agree on this subject ? The conclusion to be drawn being the consequent necessity of acquiescing in the French occupation.
VjLUt. - Lord Stanley to Lord Bloomfield, private, 10 December 1867, Bloomfield Papera, F. O. 356/33.
We cannot now say that we do not know with what object the conferente is called together; there is no mistake about the matter: the conferente is designed to prop up the temporal power ofthe Pope.