The Congress of Paris left the issue between Austria and Sardinia sharply defined, and made war almost inevitable. Cavour's energies were devoted to preparing for the struggle. Ile increased taxation, but developed the resources of the country to meet the new burdens. In he severed political relations with Rat tazzi, who supported the King in the affair of the C'ountess \lirafiori. (See Vicron EMMANUEL I.) After the unsuccessful attempt of the Ital ian fanatic Orsini upon the life of Napoleon the secret meeting at Plombieres was held between the French Emperor and Cavour (July, I5581. at which the agreement was made which was to bring France to the side of Italy in the contest with Austria. Cavour's masterful diplo macy is well illustrated in Connection with the Austrian War. To the Englishman, Mr. Odo Pols sell, who did not believe Austria world be so un wise as to declare war. Cavour said. in the spring of I559, that he would force her to do so, and named the first week in as the time. A few days before that time Austria had actually committed the desired indiscretion. The royal speech to Parliament, .Tanuary 10, 1859, pre pared by the King. but revised by Cavour and Napoleon III., voiced the spirit of united Italy against the foreign oppressor, Napoleon hesi tated on the verge of wear, and sought to have a congress held, and England proposed that all the 'Italian States should be admitted; but Austria lost its chance of retaining its hold on Italy by refusing to accede to the English proposal, and t he ti neend 1 iena 1 armament of Sardinia. Austria's offensive ulti matum to Sardinia left no alternative for Na poleon but to support his ally. In the campaign of 1559 (see I rm.v) the War :Minister. La Mar MOM (e1.V.) took command of the Sardinian forces, and Ca VOW' assumed the onerous duties of of War. When Napoleon. who had declared that Italy should be free the Alps to the Adriatic." made with Austria the Peace of Villafrauca, without consulting his ally. and thus abandoned the Italian cause at a thin• when the expulsion of Austria from the peninsula seemed certain, Cavour was frantic with rage and grief. IIe resigned his office and went into retire ment at Leri, fooling that this betrayal of Italy had disgraced him: but in reality he had beeome, the idol of an Italy which mew learned to know the depth of his patriotism and the far-sighted ness of his policy. The new _M Mist ry under Rat tazzi proved unequal to the situation; in Eng land, the return of the Whigs to power under 1,0111 Palmerston enlisted that country more ac tively in the Italian interest: and in January. 1800, Cavour returned to his post at the head of the Government. The cession of Savoy and Nice to Frame, in return for the union of mfftli ern Italy, had been agreed upon at and Cavour now look his stand upon the execu tion of the pledge. It was one of the hardest tasks of his life, and the act for which he has been most criticised.
The next, move in the campaign for the union of Italy came from southern Italy, in the form of an insurrection in Sicily against the Bourbon Government. This. and Garibaldi's violation of international comity in conducting an expedition in aid of the Sicilian revolutionists, were not planned or promoted by Cavour: but when they had become facts he characteristically winked at their irregularity and prepared to cheek exeesses and to make the most of any opportunity they might offer. When Garibaldi crossed the Straiti
of Messina and the Neapolitan mainland. Cavour sent a Sardinian army into and the and another great step toward Ital ian unity was taken in the contest for southern Italy and the Papal domains. arbi trary methods made hint Cavour's antagonist at this time. though the two men always respected and appreciated each other. ( See GARivAirn.) On o•tober 1], ISO, true to his lifelong principles. Cavour secured the passage of a hill by the Pied montese Parliament authorizing the Government to incorporate such in elmtral and southern Italy as should express their desire therefor by a plAiseite. At the beginning of IS111 all Italy, except Venetia and Thane, was united. and on February IS the first Italian Parliament met in Turin. Carom• now sought to complete the historic Italy Icy having Monte made the capital, and in May a. vote of Parlia ment to that effect was passed; but Cavour did not live to see this consummation brought about, nor to see the annexation of Venetia. He died in June 11, 18111, worn out by the excessive labors and cares of his publie life.
Count Cavour never married. The one brief romance of his youth brought color and inspira tion into his life through a woman's devoted unselfish love. but not even her name is known, and the attachment was far greater on her part than on his. Tie was beloved by the peasants on his estates, and trusted by the common people generally. His King, whom he served so faith fully, never felt quite comfortalde when his mas terful subject was in power, but lie had implicit confidence in him ainl believed in his success: and it was so with all his associates—his power lay iu the assurance of success. Ile was admired by European statesmen. Napoleon said at Phan bieres: "There are only three men in Europe— e two and then a third whom I will not And the veteran is reported to have remarked: "There is only one diplomatist in En rope: lint unfortunately he is against us—it is N. de Cavour." With all his determination, and his frequent disregard of the nature of the means used to attain his ends, CaVOur held firmly to the principles of civil liberty aml constitutional government. He was equally distrustful of the doetrinaire republicanism of Nazzini, whom he never liked, and of autocracy in any guise. It is a fine testimonial to his patriotism that he enjoyed the confidence of the exiled Venetian patriot and devoted republi•all, Manim in spite of his distrust of Mania's political doctrines. From their first meeting in Paris Manin saw in Cavour the regenerator of Italy. Cavour's writings and speeches on political subjects have been published as uperc imlitico-economiehe del con te ram ill() di Carom- ( C oneo, 1855), and Dig corgi padmventari del conic Camillo di Caroni, published by order of the Chamber of Deputies (Turin, 18113-80).
Consult: Mazade, Le comic de Cu vour (Paris, 1S77 ; Nassa•i, 11 conic di Carour (Turin, 1S;31: Countess Cesareseo. Carour (Ne• York, Tivaroni. .'/Orin (Tiara del rigorgiMento tolia I Tm in, ISti-97 I ; Artom and Plane, real(' di curour ion pa•lanicnto (Florence. lS6S) ; pis° the memoir, and correspondence of Kossuth, D'Azoglio, Ricasoli. La Farina. and others. A very full ldbliography will be found in the little essay by the Countess Cesares•m and in. Still man. The Union of Italy (Cambridge, 1895+1.