Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/461

Rh kind of man he was. Political advancement sought him; not he, it.

The Marquis d'Azeglio was President of the Council—an office which in Piedmont, unites two portfolios, that of foreign affairs, and finance—when he resolved to resign this post in favor of Cavour, whom he regarded as more suitable than himself for its important duties. He went up to the chamber and himself spoke for Cavour, and when his aim was accomplished and he returned home, he sent his carriage to fetch Cavour to his house for breakfast, in order to be the first who should announce to him his elevation to the post from which Azeglio had retired. This was in the year 1851.

From this time Cavour has continued to be the leader of the Piedmontese Cabinet, and is said to have made himself indispensable to his office. He steadily advances on the path of liberal reform, and it is a peculiarity which deserves to be remarked, that Cavour, from the very commencement of his political career, has remained ever faithful to the same principles. Those political views, both domestic and foreign, which he advocated as a young author, he still pursues and acts up to at the present time as the Prime Minister of Piedmont. When he was insisting that the constitution should be given without any delay to Piedmont, one of his friends said to him:

“You spoke some time ago of giving it in ten years, when Piedmont should have become ready for it.”

“It must be done now,” replied Cavour, “if not the revolution will get beforehand with us.”

The chivalric course which Piedmont commenced