Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

England, Piedmont, and the Cagliari affair 163
Instead of finding on the part of die Sardinian Govemment a disposition to act with cordiality and frankness [...] Her Majesty's Government have met with nothing but, what appears to them to be, captious difficulties and useless procrasti-nations.51)
Malmesbury's ill-disposition towatd Piedmont was clearly not helped
by the continued intrigues of Azeglio against the Tory govemment. On 24
Aprii, Malmesbury complained of Azeglio's unfair and unfriendly behav-
iour, after Azeglio's expression insinuating that we "abandoned" Sardinia
was passed on to his opposition friends and papers and raised a cry against
the new Government [...] he has acted with men who [...] move in the
matter in a bostile sense.5 Malmesbury subsequendy requested a formai
interview with Azeglio at the end of Aprii to discuss the matter. Although
Malmesbury did not insist upon Azeglio's removal, he made dear to the
Piedmontese representative that as he had so much communication with
our Parliamentary foes I expected him as a man of honour to teli them the
truth as to what we did and not encourage them in the idea that we aban-
doned Sardinia.53) When details of the meeting appeared soon after in the
pro-Whig Daily News, Malmesbury was incensed: this is not the way to
keep friends , he fumed. Nor was his anger directed solely at Azeglio. The
leak of the story to the press, Malmesbury believed, must have come from
Cavour's office. To Malmesbury, the Piedmontese intention was clear I
know nothing would satisfy her but our sending Lord Lyons ships to help
her to eat macaroni at Naples, he told Hudson, in which process I see
neither glory to my own country nor benefit to mankind.54)
When Cavour did officially reply (1 May) to Malmesbury's formai of-fer of moral support, he expressed his regret that England ait séparé sa cause de la nótre, and persisted in asking the English govemment to act in concert with Piedmont on ali points regarding the Cagliari. However, if England refused to lend Piedmont un concours effectif, he would accept the English offer of moral support, even though it was probable that les
5J) Malmesbury to Hudson, 30 Aprii 1858, ivi, pp. 232-233. Malmesbury wrote in a private letter to Hudson, *We really are mlting to help him*, but nothing shall induce me to bombard Naples if I can help it for I would as soon think of striking a woman in the tace. Malmesbury suspected that Cavour was waiting to see if the House of Commons (in which a debate on the Cagliari was imminent) would push the Tory Government to further measures. Malmesbury to Hudson, 30 Aprii 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/54. Cavour actually sent a reply (of sorte) to Azeglio on 29 Aprii, see: Cavour e l'Inghilterra cit, II (i), pp. 213-214.
52) Malmesbury to Hudson, 24 Aprii 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/54.
53) Malmesbury to Hudson, 30 Aprii 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/54. Azeglio did offer Cavour his resignation after this meeting but Cavour refused to accept it See: HEARDER, op. àt., p. 232.
M) Malmesbury to Hudson, 6 May 1858, HRO, MP, 9M73/54.