[59] A bust of the child, by Monroe.

[60] Miss Hosmer.

[61] The fourth edition, in which several alterations were made.

CHAPTER X

1859-60

At this point in Mrs. Browning’s correspondence we reach the first allusion to the political crisis which had now become acute, and of which the letters that follow are full, almost to excess.  On January 1 Napoleon had astounded Europe by his language to the Austrian ambassador at Paris, in which he spoke of the bad relations unfortunately subsisting between their States.  On the 10th Victor Emmanuel declared that he must listen to the cry of pain which came up to him from all Italy.  After this it was clear that there was nothing to do but to prepare for war.  It was in vain that England pressed for a European Congress, with the view of arranging a general disarmament.  Sardinia professed willingness to accept it, but Austria declined, and on April 23 sent an ultimatum to Victor Emmanuel, demanding unconditional disarmament, which was naturally refused.  On the 29th Austria declared war, and her troops crossed the Ticino—­an act which Napoleon had already announced would be considered as tantamount to a declaration of war with France.

With regard to the tone of Mrs. Browning’s letters during this period of politics and war, there are a few considerations to be borne in mind.  Her two deepest political convictions were here united in one—­her faith in the honesty of Louis Napoleon, and her enthusiasm for Italian freedom and unity.  There were many persons in England, and some in Italy itself, who held the latter of these faiths without the former; but for such she had no tolerance.  Hence not only those who sympathised, as no doubt some Englishmen did sympathise, with Austria, but also those who, while wishing well to Italy, looked with suspicion upon Napoleon’s interference, incurred her uncompromising wrath; and not even the conference of Villafranca, not even the demand for Nice and Savoy, could lead her to question Napoleon’s sincerity, or to look with patience on the English policy and English public opinion of that day.  The instinct of Italians has been truer.  They have recognised the genuine sympathy and support which England extended to them on many occasions during the long struggle for Italian unity, and the friendship between the two countries to-day has its root in the events of forty and fifty years ago.

That Robert Browning did not entirely share his wife’s views will be clear to all readers of ‘Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau;’ but there is not the smallest sign that this caused the least shadow of disagreement between them.  Indeed for the moment the difference was practically annulled, since Robert Browning believed, what was very probably the case, that the Emperor’s friendship for Italy was genuine, so far as it went.  But it may be believed that he was less surprised than she when Napoleon’s zeal for Italian independence stopped short at the frontiers of Venetia, and was transformed into an anxiety to get out of the war without further risk, and with an eye to material compensation in Savoy and Nice.