the Archduke Maximilian came to Milan full of genuine love for the Emperor’s Italian subjects and of determination to right their wrongs.  “I much admire M. de Cavour,” he said to a Prussian diplomatist, “but when it is a question of a policy of progress, I am not going to let him outdo me.”  On his side Cavour remarked, “That Archduke is persevering, and will not be discouraged, but I am persevering too, and will not let myself be discouraged.”  Nevertheless, if there was one thing that Cavour had always feared, it was Austrian conciliation.  The gift of a milder rule would change the aspect of the whole question before Europe, and only those ignorant of human nature could suppose that it would entirely fail in its effect with a population which was beginning to be hopeless.  Cavour viewed the experiment not without anxiety, but he guessed that the good intentions of Maximilian would be frustrated by the Viennese Government.  The forecast was verified, but meanwhile the simple fact that an Austrian archduke had set his heart on winning the affections of the Lombards and Venetians was taken everywhere as a sign favourable to peace.

Then happened the unforeseen event which marks with almost unfailing regularity the turning points in history.  On January 14, 1858, Felice Orsini tried to assassinate Napoleon III and failed.  His failure was strange.  The bomb thrown under the carriage which conveyed the Emperor and Empress to the opera did not explode.  An accomplice was arrested with another in his hand, which he had not time to throw.  Many of the passers-by received fatal or serious injuries.  Of the previous attempts on Napoleon’s life none was prepared with such seeming certainty of success.  If others were planned with equal deliberation, could the result be doubted?  Napoleon was probably putting this question to himself when he appeared in his box, with an impassible face, while the conspirators on the stage sang the chorus of the oaths in Guillaume Tell.  Not a cheer greeted the sovereigns, though what had occurred in the street was immediately known.  When the first report reached Turin, Cavour exclaimed, “If only this is not the work of Italians!” On receiving the particulars with the name of Orsini, he remembered that this Romagnol revolutionist had written to him nine months before, offering his services to whatever Italian Government, “not the Papacy,” would place its army at the disposal of the national independence, and urging the Sardinian ministers to take a daring course, in which they would have all Italy with them.  Cavour did not answer the letter, “because it was noble and energetic, and he thought it unbecoming in him to pay Orsini compliments.”  If he had summoned Orsini to Piedmont, the attempt in the Rue le Peletier would never have taken place.