For the sake of
quiet itself, they wish for change. With respect to the poor, it is very
difficult to judge what their feelings or wishes may be. From what I
have seen, I doubt, whether in any part of Italy, with the exception of
the provinces subject to Austrian oppression, the revolution is, strictly
speaking, a popular one. I suspect that the populace of Rome have no
strong desire for Italian unity or, still less for annexation to
Sardinia, but I am still more convinced that they have no affection or
regard whatever for the existing government; not even the sort of
attachment, valueless though it be, which the lazzaroni of Naples have
for their Bourbon princes. It is incredible, if any such a feeling did
exist, that it should refuse to give any sign of its existence at such a
time as the present.
With respect to the actual pecuniary cost of the Papal government, it is
not easy to arrive at any positive information; I have little faith in
statistics generally, and in Roman statistics in particular; I have,
however, before me the official Government Budget for the year 1858. Like
all Papal documents, it is confused and meagre, but yet some curious
conclusions may be arrived at from it. The year 1858 was as quiet a
year, be it remembered, as there has been in Italy for ten years past. It
was only on new year's day, in 1859, that Napoleon dropped the first hint
of the Italian war.
Pages:
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33