Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

Documenti americani sul conflitto italo-austriaco del 1859 31
reccived assurances that the Freacii Emperor will not only respect the Fope's authority, but guarauty bis tempora] possessione. What is to he done with those pcople who protest against this authority, and having already overthrowa it at important places, are now fighting with the Ailies, for Italian Ubcration ? The Pope has lately read before his cardinals an autograph Jetter from the Em-peror, giving the plcdge of guarautec. In the meantime the influencc of the Austrian concordat is manifesting itself. The Pope, it is said, refuses to conse-crate Catholic bishops in Sardinia, in compliance with the wisb of the King. The brutal conduct of his troops, at Perugia, has disgraced the age in which we live and the Christian potentate in whose service these enormirics were committed. *)
But no twithstan di ng the delicacy of the questiona involvcd, aqd the extre-me difficulty of anrieipating their solution, it is not impossible that before the end of the year a European Congress may meet, and peace be restored.
In France, the change of Ministry in England is regarded as a great triumph of the French cause. The attitude of Russia is most favorable in the same direction, while Prussia is not likely to become an active participant in the war, or Germany to act offensively, without the lead of Prussia.
If peace be not made in the course of this year, it is possible that the Orientai question may be revived, and that will change the state of Europe, and probably lead to a general war, with most terrible complications and consequences. In such an event, the French and Englisb aUiancc must fall, before the conflict of intezests.
The eleetion of Couza,2) as Hospodar of the two principalities, has been con-firmed, against the views of Austria and Turkey, and Austria will be in no con-dition to sustain her antiRussian policy in that quarter. The French policy of constructing the Isthmus of Suez Canal, seems to be successful, notwithstand-ing the opposition it meets from England. 8'
A Te Deum was celebrated at the Church of Notre Dame on Simday last in commemoratiou of the victories in Italy. It was, I learn, an imposing affair. The members of the Diploniatic Corps were not invited, and I did not atteud, nor have I heard of any of the corps who did.
The Bourse is in a good condition, money appears to be abundant, and Paris and France, with the prospect of a heavy crop, seem to suffer no distressing pressure from the existence of war. Enthusiastic with the glory achieved by the army, France will, I think, be rejoiced to see the war ended and peace restored.
The Emperor Napoleon has displayed much military talent, and there are many who would deplore the rising influence of a military ambition, which may, in their apprehension, bring back some of the evils of the first Empire.
0 Una delle vittime delle stragi di Perugia fa l'americano Edward Newton Pericins. Sulla reazione americana, si veda, MARBABO, op. cit., pp. 263-265. La corrispondenza diplomatica riguardante 3 caso fu stampata nel New Jork Jones, 3 febbraio 1860.
z) Gaza, Alexandr i Juan. Principe (1820-1873). Nato a Galatz, principe ereditario di Moldavia e di Valacchia. Regnò col nome di Alexandre Giovanni 1 dal 1858 al 1866. Morì in esilio.
*) Il vero autore del progetto fu l'ingegnere Luigi Negrelli (1799-1858), di Primiero, nel Trentino. Egli se n'era occupato sino dal 1840. Nel 1854, un'apposita commissione parigina ne approvò il progetto.. Morto il Negrelli, De Lesseps avrebbe acquistato carte, piani e studi I lavori cominciarono il 22 aprile 1859; l'inaugurazione del canale, il 17 novembre 1869.