Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

Documenti italiani e americani
57
I am amare that in a country xvhh instùudons so liberal as those of the Kingdom of Italy, it is difficult to repress abuses of the liberty of the press, or lo prevent unjust attacks upon the officiai agents of foreign governments by interested or ill-disposed persons, but tonile I hasten to decloro that the Govern­ment of the United States would not for a moment sustain any of its public officers in any hostile acts of in any manifestation of unfriendly sentiments, against the Government of His Majesty. 1 trust the full measure of protection, to which diplomatic and consular agents are everywhere held to be entitled, may oe extended to him, that Mr. Barstow may not be in any toay prejudiced by charges sustained by no proof and alleged upon the authorily of no responsive nome, and that until satisfactory evidence ofmisconduct shall be adduced against him.
Henry H. Barstow a George Perkins Marsh
Palermo, August 12, 1861. *)
Sir: I nave the honour to cali your attention to the passage marked in the enclosed Italian newspaper (La Perseveranza) in the third paragraph of thè sixth column of the first page, in arder hereby solemnly to protest against the some as an infamous calumny the offspring of the ardete published in the Unità Politica.
I have also respectfully to request you to bring the passage above mention-ed to the knowledge of the Italian Government, and should you deem it not im-proper to insist that the Editor of the Perseveranza be mode responsible for the publication afa report so seriously touching our national honour, as well as my reputation; for, if àie report be true, it is a dishonour to the U. S. Government to employ such an officer, and if false then the Italian Government ought to be responsible for permitting such slander to be circulated against the public officer, of a friendly Government resident within the Kingdom.
George Perkins Marsh a Bettino Ricasoli
Turìn, August 17, 1861.
Your Exceltency [Riferisce alla sua precedente circa le accuse contro il
Barstow] I noto beg leave to transmit to Your Excellency heretoith copies
of another lettor from Mr. Barstow on the some subject, and of the paragraph in the Perseveranza to which he aUudes. Repeating the expression of my hope that Mr. Barstow may not be prejudiced in the opinion of the Italian Government by unfounded calumnies, and that he may enjoy such protection in the premises, as according to European usage is extended to foreign diplo­matic and consular agents in li-Ice cases.
]) Archivio Ambasciata americana, Roma.