Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

168
Nick Carter
The Cagliari affair thus ended with both English and Piedmontese demands satisfìed. However, the whole operation had undoubtedly damaged relations between the two countries. Cavour graciously admitted that the restitution of the Cagliari, and the release of its crew, was ultimately due to English diplomatic activity. He also apologised for his recent harsh words regarding English policy (which had earned Azeglio anomer salvo from Malmesbury). But he made clear his support for Azeglio's conduct during the affair, which had so inruriated Malmesbury:
Personne ne pourrait apprécier mieux que moi les difficultés des négocia-tions que vous avez dù poursuivre pendant si long temps, et au milieu de phases si diverses. Nul aussi n'est mieux dispose à reconnaitre que votre conduite dans tout les cours de certe pénible affaire, l'activité, l'adresse et le tact que vous avez dé-ployés, sont au-dessus de tout éloge.
Je n'hésite pas à le dire Mr. le Marquis, vous avez bien mérité de votre Pays.68)
Azeglio himself, while expressing regret for his problematic relations with Malmesbury, made no attempt to apologise for his behaviour. Je crois toujours avoir agi dans les meilleures intentions, he told Malmesbury in a note of 13 June.69)
For Cavour and Azeglio, the fact that the English government had eventually championed albeit reluctantly the Piedmontese cause at Naples, provided ampie justification for their abrasive style of diplomacy and thek aggressive lobbying of English public and parliamentary opinion. Vous avez su concilier adrnirablement le zèle et la prudence , Cavour told Azeglio at the beginning of June, ce qui il était nécessaire de faire pour tenir en éveil l'opinion publique, avec les égards dùs aux hommes actuelle-ment au pouvoir.70) Cavour concluded that the English government was a slave to public opinion.71) During 1858-9, Cavour became increasingly cavalier in his dealings with England, confident that the weight of English public opinion in favour of the Italian cause would force the English government to remain, at the very least, neutral in the event of a war be­tween Piedmont and Austria. In this he was proved right
For Malmesbury, it was to be only too easy after the Cagliari affair to believe the worst of Cavour, Azeglio, and Piedmont. Malmesbury had long claimed to have a special predilection for Piedmont, but at the same time
0 Cavour to E. d'Azeglio, 13 June 1858, Cavour e l'Inghilterra cit, II (ì), a. 1, p. 226.
W E. d'Azeglio to Malmesbury, 13 June 1858, /w, p. 228.
"" Cavour to E. d' Azeglio, 2 June 1858, ivi, p. 223.
7n D, BEALES, The BJsorgmetito and the uniftcation ofltaly, London, 1981, p. 157. The phrase is taken from Cavour's report to Victor Emanuel of his meeting with Napoleon HI at Plombières in July 1858.