important for the moral pacification of Italy, it should enter into the intentions of the Powers to bring forward others for discussion, it would be necessary that they should be exactly stated beforehand, and, insomuch as they should touch upon the internal régime of other Sovereign States, the undersigned could not dispense with insisting, above all things, that the mode of proceeding in this case should be conformable to the rules formulated by the protocol of Aix-laChapelle, under date of the 15th of November, 1818.

"In conclusion, the undersigned must lay stress on a last consideration. To wish to open peaceful deliberations in presence

"English Propositions.

I.

"Means of assuring the maintenance of peace between Austria and Sardinia.

II.

"Evacuation of the Roman States by the foreign corps of occupation, and a taking into consideration of the reforms in the Italian States.

III.

"An arrangement to be substituted for the special treaties between Austria and the Italian States.

of the clang of arms and of the preparations for war, would be not only materially dangerous, but morally impossible. It is therefore indispensable, according to the opinion of the Imperial Cabinet, which the undersigned does not doubt will be shared by all the Powers, that previously to all conference, Sardinia must disarm."

And a few days afterwards, he communicated a note to Lord A. Loftus, the British Minister at Vienna, in which he said that his Government " accepted in the measure stated in the sheet thereto annexed, the bases of discussion proposed." The paper here alluded to was the following:

"Observations of the Cabinet of Vienna.

"1. The Congress shall examine the means of bringing back Sardinia to the fulfilment of her international duties, and shall consider the measures to be taken to avoid the return of the present complication.

"2. The question of the evacuation of the Pontifical States may be discussed. The Congress will leave the details of its execution to the three Powers directly interested. The question of the administrative reforms may be debated. An understanding may be come to on the advice to be given, but its definitive adoption remains subordinate to the decisions of the States directly interested.

"3. The validity of our treaties cannot be discussed; but if all the Powers represented at the Congress agree among them to

"English Propositions.

IV.

"Territorial arrangements and the treaties of 1815 shall not be touched.

The British Government now made a last proposal, in the faint hope of averting the calamities of war. It addressed to the Four Powers the following propositions:

"1. That, as a preliminary step, a general and simultaneous disarmament should be effected.

"2. That the said disarmament should be regulated by a military or civil commission, independent of the Congress.

"3. That, as soon as that commission should have met and commenced its task, the Congress should assemble in its turn, and proceed to the discussion of the political questions.

"Observations of the Cabinet of Vienna.

produce their political treaties with the Italian States, Austria, on her part, will do the same. She will come to an understanding with the Governments co-interested, in order to be able to present their common treaties to the Congress, and to examine in what measure their revision might be recognized as useful.

"4. Perfectly agreed that neither existing territorial engagements nor the treaties of 1815, nor those concluded in execution of those acts, shall be touched.

"5. An understanding for a simultaneous disarming of the Great Powers."*

These proposals appeared in the Moniteur on the 21st of April, accompanied with an official declaration, that France, Russia, and Prussia had agreed to the propositions of her Britannic Majesty's Government.

But all further attempts at negotiation were superseded by the precipitate and foolish conduct of Austria, who, at this critical moment, took a step which, under the circumstances, was tantamount to a declaration of war, and made her, in a great measure, responsible for all the disasters which that war brought upon herself.

The attitude of Prussia at this juncture will be best explained by reference to the communications made by the Government

* This fifth proposal was added by Count Buol himself, who said that it "would be, doubtless, received by all

intentions of Austria."

to the Chambers, the session of which opened in January. On the 28th of April Baron de Schleinitz, the minister for foreign affairs, addressed the Deputies, and said:

"At the moment when the Prus. sian Parliament is about to meet after a short respite, events of the most serious nature are taking place far from us. The differences between Austria on the one hand, and Sardinia and France on the other, have now reached a point which leads to the fear that war is inevitable. England has made a last attempt to preserve peace, and all hope is not yet lost. But the Government must own that such hope is very slight. Although, under such circumstances, in the obscurity of the state of things, the Government is not in a position to make a more circumstantial statement to the representatives of the nation, it nevertheless feels it a duty to say what measures it has thought necessary to take.

"Seeing armaments being made everywhere, the Government has for some time been occupied with the measures which ought to be adopted. The hope of the maintenance of peace which lately prevailed, had hitherto prevented it from carrying those measures into execution. Actuated by the sentiment that the welfare of Germany, as well as its own, was at stake, it did not confine itself, independently of other precautionary measures, to placing the corps d'armée on a war footing, but it proposed to the German Diet to call out the Federal contingents, and that proposal has been immediately adopted. The Prussian Government is resolved to maintain the

known bases, and it has not deviated from them in the proposition made to the Diet, which bears an essentially defensive character, which responds to the character of the Confederation. The policy of the Government is based more upon the general interests of Germany than upon the interests of Prussia."

And when the session of the Chambers was closed on the 14th of May by the Regent in person, he thus alluded to the position that Prussia would maintain in the conflict that had then commenced:—

66

The war, which my Government in vain used its most strenuous endeavours to prevent, has broken out in Italy. The serious position of affairs demanded the placing of the army on a war footing, which measure it was also found necessary to extend to the marine service. The attitude and spirit of the army are such as to inspire us with full confidence, whatever the future may produce. It will not, when our country calls, fall short of the deeds and fame in arms of our fathers.

refused the propositions made by a great Power, and deemed just and reasonable by the others, and who now substitute a threatening summons in their stead."

The next day the King, Victor Emmanuel, issued a proclamation to his troops.

"Soldiers !-Austria, who is increasing her armies on our frontier, and threatens to invade our territory because here liberty reigns with order,-because not might, but concord and affection between the people and the Sovereign, here govern the State, -because the groans of oppressed Italy here find an echo, -Austria dares to ask us, who are only armed in self-defence, to lay down our arms and submit to her clemency.

"That insulting demand received the reply it deserved. I rejected it with contempt. Soldiers, I tell it to you, convinced that you will take an insult to your King and to your nation as an insult to yourselves. The announcement I make to you is the announcement of war! Soldiers, to arms!

"You will have to face an enemy not new to you. But if brave and disciplined you need not fear the comparison with them, and you may quote with pride the battles of Goïto, Pastrenga, Santa Lucia, SommaCompagna, and even Custozza, where four brigades alone struggled for three days against five corps d'armée.

"I will lead you. We have made each other's acquaintance before this, on more than one occasion, in the heat of battle, when, fighting by the side of my magnanimous father, I had opportunity to admire your couarge.