BALBO, bal'bO, Cesare, COUNT, Italian •statesman and author: b. Turin, 21 Nov. 1789; d. 3 June 1853. Through the favor of the Emperor he served in various capacities under the Napoleonic empire. After the downfall of Napoleon became secretary of the Sardinian Ambassador in London until the outbreak of the Sardinian revolution in 1821, when he returned to his native town in order to de vote himself to literary pursuits. His reputa tion was not firmly established, however, until the year 1821, when his 'Speranze d'Italia) made its appearance. His appeal in favor of national independence found a powerful echo in the popular heart, and paved the way for the revolution in which he was destined to play a prominent part as a champion of the Mod erate party. His next work, 'History of Ita from the Beginning to 1814> (Bastia 1849), was not only inspired by the same patriotic spirit, but also distinguished by historical merit.
But although in 1848 and 1849 he had strenu ously opposed the Democratic party and un waveringly adhered to a more conservative policy, he threw the entire weight of his politi cal influence into the scale of patriotism as soon as the war against Austria began. He supported the different cabinets which gov erned Sardinia after the promulgation of the Constitution of 4 March 1848, and, though for a very short time, was president of the first.
He was ardently anached to the house of Savoy; but the resurrected Italy for which he yearned was a lcind of theocracy under the papal supremacy. His select works, edited by F. Nicolini, began issuing at Bari in 1913. Consult the 'Lives) by Ricotti (1856) and Vismara (1882).