Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/439

Rh Felice, at that time King of Piedmont, and to his despotic system of government.

When, in 1831, he ascended the throne of Piedmont, he first showed a trace, as it were, of his former sympathies, in some small reforms, but he soon stood forth as the most determined opponent of freedom, and united himself to the most reactionary party of the Jesuits, and the aristocracy. He persecuted the friends of reform,—imprisoned or banished them; even the noble Gioberti was compelled to become an exile. After this gloomy tendency had culminated in Carlo Alberto, in the year 1833, another phase of character presents itself, resembling that of his earlier youthful years, but now more matured, and from this he never again wholly swerved, although his inner life seemed to have remained a continual struggle between the Jesuits and the friends of freedom, or between Jesuitism and conscience.

Whether it were a reaction of his conscience, of his better self, or whether it were the pressure of the ever-increasing liberalism of the public spirit of Piedmont, united to his inborn vanity, which made him wish to be the first in any movement, certain it is, that Carlo Alberto, after the dark events of 1833, began to enter upon the path of these liberal reformers. He amended the laws, regulated the administration, encouraged arts and sciences, gave to his people various desired enfranchisements, and surrounded himself with a ministry of liberal-minded and distinguished men; amongst whom were the brothers D'Azeglio.

A dispute about imposts, insignificant in itself, brought Piedmont at this time into opposition with its