Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/455

Rh along the path of law-restricted freedom has, in a great measure, annihilated the bandit freedom of the Mazzini party; and the inward and outward power of Piedmont increases daily, from the number of distinguished men who fly hither from the subjected states of Italy, and here find shelter, and a sphere of operation, and are thus able to labor for Italian freedom, whilst they themselves are maturing for it. The rôle of Piedmont at this moment, is that of the hero in the play—a great and hazardous mission; but God defends it, and wills its progress; and therefore he gives it a king, honest and brave, like Victor Emanuel; and a statesman such as M. de Cavour. Both allowed the banner of Italy to shine in un i son with those of the allies, on the field of the Crimea, before the walls of Sebastopol. Piedmont did not raise that banner in vain.

October 21st.—Professor Melegari, one of Piedmont's exiled, but lately recalled and universally honored patriots, and who is an invaluable acquaintance of mine here, introduced me to-day to Count de Cavour, for I was unwilling to leave Turin without seeing the man who has awakened the lively sympathies of myself and many others in Sweden, by what the newspapers have taught us of his words and works.

We, Melegari and I, drove to the ministerial palace in pouring rain—it has poured with rain incessantly ever since I have been here. We passed through several large, handsome apartments furnished with silk, before we came to the cabinet of the minister. A couple of foreign ambassadors had just left as we