Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

England, Piedmont, and the Cagliari affair 161
the Cagliari legai but its condemnation illegal, prompted Malmesbury, by telegraph (20 Aprii), to offer Piedmont the moral support of the English govemment at Naples for the restitution of the ship and crew. Malmesbury, however, was at pains to point out that this did not mean an alliance with Piedmont against Naples. Does she [Piedmont] expect us to support her in stronger measures if she adopts them? We cannot do so, Malmesbury informed Hudson. According to Malmesbury, The king of Naples was right to seize the ship and the king of Sardinia right not to allow liim to keep it, therefore: The king [of Naples] could not be asked to say he was wrong [...] I can't commit England in a doubtful cause. Malmesbury also revealed that, because the condemnation of the Cagliari had now been de-clared illegal, he had sent a demand of compensation to Naples (15 Aprii) for the imprisonment and sufferings to which Watt and Park (both of whom were now at liberty) had been so unjusdy exposed . Malmesbury made clear, though, that any Piedmontese claim for indemnity against Naples would have to be made independendy. As he privately told Hudson: if Cavour will have compensation he must haggle for it with the old miser [the king of Naples] himself.47)
Malmesbury expected an immediate response from Piedmont to his offer of moral support Cavour, though, was reluctant to give one. On Ca-vour's instructions, Hudson telegraphed to Malmesbury (22 Aprii) to clarify how far English moral support would extend in the demand for the release of the Cagliari. Hudson asked, If the king of Naples pays no attention to it, what will you do then for Sardinia? . To Hudson's first query, Malmes­bury replied that England would use its direct and indirect influence at Naples (whatever that was) until we see that it is useless . To Hudson's second query, Malmesbury stated that England would recommend Pied­mont to act in the spirit of Protocol 23 of the 1856 Treaty of Paris, and have recourse to the good offices of a friendly power before appealing to arms.48)
Malmesbury's comments provoked an angry reaction from Cavour. Why should Piedmont hurry to accept the English offer of moral support when Malmesbury foresaw that such support would be useless? Moreover, Cavour observed (with a certain ingenuousness), Piedmont could not be
47> Malmesbury to Hudson, 20 Aprii 1858, GlARRlZZO, Re/adotti cit, VI, p. 212; Mal­mesbury to Hudson, 22 Aprii 1858, ivi, p. 214; Malmesbury to Cowley, 17 Aprii 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/53; Malmesbury to Hudson, 15 Aprii 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/54; Mal­mesbury to Lyons, 15 Aprii 1858, Comspondenet nsptcting the Cagliari p. 25; Malmesbury to Catara, 15 Aprii 1858, ivi, pp. 25-27; Malmesbury to Hudson, 24 Aprii 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/54.
48) Hudson to Malmesbury, 22 Aprii 1858; Malmesbury to Hudson, 22 Aprii 1858, GlARRlZZO, Relazioni cit, VI, p. 214.