Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II NAPLES, JULY-AUGUST 1860 [Mr. Elliot's journal opens with an entry dated July 6,1860. Events had been shaping themselves quickly. The war declared by Sardinia and France against Austria was terminated by the victories of Magenta and Solferino, but the Preliminary Treaty concluded by the Emperor acting independently and signed at- Villa Franca in July 1859 left Austria in possession of Venetia. Italian patriots were indignant, and when the Sardinians learnt not only that Venetia was sacrificed but that the Emperor's support had been bought at the price of the cession of Nice and Savoy to France their feelings may be better imagined than described. In March 1860 the States of Central Italy had voted their union to the Kingdom of Victor Emmanuel, and almost simultaneously the revolution in Southern Italy had broken out, and Garibaldi sailed from Genoa with a few hundred men to the aid of the Sicilian insurgents. From this time forward the attitude of France became less and less friendly towards the advocates of Liberal policy; the Emperor realised that by the Treaty of Villa Franca and the annexation of Savoy and Nice he had lost all popularity in Italy, where he was now known as il gran traditore; and the pressure exerted by the clerical party in France was daily increasing, in particular the feeling in the French fleet was strongly opposed to Garibaldi and the insurgents.] About two months after the landing of Garibaldi in Sicily, seeing that stirring times were approaching, I began noting down passing events in letters to my brother George, to whom, as Lord John's private secretary, I was free to speak openly, but which were chiefly intended as a sort of journal for myself; and the following extracts from them give a more or...
