At length, in 1833, Mazzini ventured to put his principles into practice, and meditated the invasion of Savoy, to produce an insurrection at Genoa and Alessandra.  With amazing perseverance under difficulties, he succeeded in collecting money and men, and, without military education or genius, made his attempt.  Defeated by the royal troops, the expedition failed, as might have been expected.  Such a man should have fought with the pen and not the sword.  The enterprise was a failure from the start.  Mazzini was sentenced to death; but again he escaped, and fled to Berne, whence he continued to issue his publications.  Thus two or three years were passed, when, through the efforts of sundry Italian governments, the authorities of Berne resolved to disperse the Association of Young Italy.

Mazzini again became a fugitive, and in 1837 found his way to England, without money, without friends, without influence,—­a forlorn exile fraternizing with doubt, sorrow, and privation; struggling for more than a year in silence; so poor at one time as to be compelled to pawn his coat and boots to keep himself from absolute starvation, for he was too proud to beg.  Thus did he preserve his dignity, and uncomplainingly endure his trials.  At last he found means to support himself modestly by literature, and gradually made friends,—­among them Thomas Carlyle.  He gained social position as a man of genius, of unsullied moral character and of elevated patriotism, although his political opinions found but few admirers.  Around his humble quarters the Italian exiles gathered, and received kind words of encouragement and hope; some of them he was able to assist in their struggles with bitter poverty.

Finally, in 1848, Mazzini returned to Italy, no longer molested, to take part in the revolution which was to free his country.  He found power in the hands of the moderate progressive party.

The leader of this party was the Marquis Massimo d’Azeglio, belonging to an ancient and aristocratic Piedmontese family.  He was a man of great weight of character and intellectual expansion.  In 1846 he was ordered to leave Tuscany, for having printed a book of liberal views, which gave offence to the government.  He was opposed to the republican opinions of Mazzini, and was a firm advocate of a constitutional monarchy.  He desired reforms to be carried on moderately and wisely.  Probably he was the most enlightened man in Italy at this time, and of incorruptible integrity.  He was well acquainted with the condition of the cities of Italy, having visited most of them, and had great influence with Charles Albert, who was doubtless patriotic in his intentions, but disposed to move cautiously.