Policy of Cavour -- His Diplomatic Circular -- Russell's Four Points -- Nice
and Savoy -- Struggle for Tuscany -- The Plebiscite and Annexation --
Napoleon demands Nice and Savoy -- England's Anger -- The Secret
Treaty -- Its publication -- General Election -- Tuscany and Emilia -- New
Parliament -- Garibaldi and Nice -- Difficulties with France -- The
Debate on Nice and Savoy.

THE return of Cavour to power was greeted with a
chorus of approval. 'You cannot believe,' wrote Farini,
'how much the return of Cavour has raised the spirits
throughout Emilia.' From Paris, Vimercati, the King's
private channel of information, wrote that the nomina-
tion of Cavour had 'met with approval on all sides,' and
equal satisfaction was shown in London. Confidence
in the future of Italy returned once more, and every
one felt that the period of hesitation and inaction was
over. ¹

To Cavour himself the line to be followed was clear.
'You know our system,' he wrote to Massimo d'Azeglio
the same day that he took office, 'liberal conservatives
at home: italianissimi to the extreme limits of possibility
abroad.' The task that lay immediately in front of him
was the annexation of Central Italy to Piedmont and its
corollary, the cession of Savoy and Nice to France. On
the first of these two questions his resolution was
taken. He believed it necessary, and was prepared to
take the requisite measures, which included a definite
and legal sanction by Parliament as soon as it assembled.
If France and England wished it, he was also prepared
for a popular vote. ² Certain of English support, the
attitude of Napoleon was the unknown factor.

As to the Emperor of France [he said to Giorgini, sent to him

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