Holiness. Whether he is or is not, the laws on the Church and on education which the Pope's Vicar would sanction, would be directly opposed to the policy of the Pope, and perhaps to the canon law. Then, if any discontent should arise at any time, the Pope might take upon himself to annul the delegation of his Vicar, and absolve his subjects from their obedience to his usurped authority.

Then, again, with regard to Tuscany. The indication of a Prince of the House of Savoy inserted in the original project, is omitted, and every resource of intrigue will be set at work to obtain for Tuscany the powerful protection of a Prince of the House of Austria, or of the Imperial family of France.

France

With respect to universal suffrage, every nation ought to judge for itself whether that franchise is suitable for itself or not. has judged for herself that it is suitable to the state of France, and no one thinks of questioning that decision. But Tuscany has lived under other laws whose utility has been generally recognized. As it appears, however, that Tuscany has now accepted universal suffrage, it is not necessary to carry this discussion any further.

Our object has been that so well stated by M. de Thouvenel in his despatch to M. Moustier in these words:-"L'Italie pendant des siècles a été un champ ouvert à une lutte d'influence entre la France et l'Autriche. C'est ce champ qu'il faut à jamais fermer. Si l'une des deux Puissances anciennement rivales faisait un sacrifice qui doit profiter directement à l'autre, si la domination de l'Italie, changeant seulement de mains, devait encore nous appartenir pour un temps, la question se présenterait sous un aspect qui rendrait toute discussion oiseuse et stérile. Ce n'est pas ainsi que le débat est posé. La France ne cherche pas à se substituer à l'Autriche en Italie; c'est l'Italie elle-même qu'il s'agit de constituer comme un intermédiaire, comme une sorte de terrain désormais impénétrable à l'action tour à tour prédominante et toujours précaire de l'une ou l'autre des deux Puissances."

With regard to the proposition for the annexation of Savoy, I have already given in other despatches the opinion of Her Majesty's Government.

Earl Cowley.

J. RUSSELL.

No. 87.-Sir J. Hudson to Lord J. Russell.-(Received March 5.) MY LORD, Turin, March 2, 1860.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 27th ultimo, inclosing copies of communications from the Ambassador of France at the Court of Her Majesty, containing the propositions of his Government for the settlement of the Italian question, and a copy of a despatch which you have [1859-60. L.]

2 Q

addressed to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris upon the subject of those propositions.

Baron de Talleyrand presented these propositions to Count Cavour on the 28th ultimo, and I now have the honour to inclose herewith a copy of the answer which that Minister has returned to hem. I have, &c. Lord J. Russell.

JAMES HUDSON.

(Inclosure.)-Count Cavour to M. Nigra.-Curiale, le 29 Février, 1860. [See Page 350.]

No. 88.-Lord Bloomfield to Lord J. Russell.-(Received March 5.) (Extract.) Berlin, March 3, 1860.

I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that Baron Schleinitz has told me that he availed himself of a visit which he received this morning from Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne to allude to the subject of the proposed annexation of Savoy and Nice to France.

His Excellency appears to have stated to the French Minister that in Germany there was but one opinion of determined opposition to the project; that Prussia had hitherto relied on the assurances contained in the Manifesto issued by the Emperor Napoleon at Milan on the conclusion of the war, that he sought no territorial aggrandizement for France: but that as the question had been mentioned in His Imperial Majesty's Speech to the Legislative Assembly he could no longer be silent, and that he trusted no step would be taken connected with the subject until it had been discussed by the Great Powers.

Baron Schleinitz seems to have also observed to the French Minister, that the present Government of Prussia had been the means of restraining the violent feeling which had been excited in Germany by the war in Italy, and to have made themselves unpopular by so doing, and that on the question of Savoy it must not be considered, because they have remained silent up to the present moment, that this meant indifference; for they should view this absorption with the greatest distrust.

His Excellency then remarked that it was a matter of some surprise to him that no allusion to the question of Savoy had beer yet made by the French Legation at this Court; that it was an European question, and had already assumed serious dimensions, without any communication being made to Prussia on the subject.

Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne replied that the French Government were well aware of the feeling that existed in Germany, and he believed that it was for this reason that much difficulty had been

felt in approaching it, and that the French Government had therefore avoided a discussion of the subject.

Before leaving Baron Schleinitz, his Excellency said to me that the policy of Prussia was decidedly opposed to the annexation, and that he thought France might be called upon, at all events, to take no further step in the matter until a Conference were held. Lord J. Russell.

MY LORD,

BLOOMFIELD.

No. 89.-Lord J. Russell to Earl Cowley.

Foreign Office, March 6, 1860. M. DE PERSIGNY called upon me to-day, and read to me a despatch of M. Thouvenel, on the subject of Savoy, in answer to my despatch to your Lordship of the 13th ultimo.

M. Thouvenel directed M. de Persigny to leave me a copy of this despatch, if I desired it; but as there was nothing new in the arguments, although very ably put, and as I did not wish to continue a barren controversy, I did not ask for a copy.

I wish your Lordship, however, to ascertain from M. Thouvenel in what manner the promise of the Emperor that the Great Powers shall be consulted is to be carried into effect. Is there to be a previous vote in Savoy and in Nice? If that vote is unfavourable to separation, will the project fall to the ground? If it is favourable, will the proposed cession by the King of Sardinia, of Savoy and Nice be submitted for consideration to the Great Powers?

To what do the terms "réclamer" and "revendiquer," in the Emperor's Speech, allude? Are they intended to apply to the term between 1814 and 1815, or to the period between 1792 and 1814 ? I am, &c.

Earl Cowley.

(Extract.)

J. RUSSELL.

No. 90.-Lord J. Russell to Earl Cowley.

Foreign Office, March 6, 1860. I HAVE received and laid before the Queen your Excellency's despatch of the 1st instant.

Her Majesty's Government approve the language which you held to M. Thouvenel respecting the Emperor's speech.

Earl Cowley.

J. RUSSELL.

No. 91.-Mr. Corbett to Lord J. Russell.-(Received March 8.) MY LORD, Florence, March 2, 1860.

I INFORMED your Lordship by telegraph yesterday that the population of Tuscany has been invited to declare, by universal suffrage, whether they desire the union of Tuscany to Piedmont or the formation of a separate Kingdom; and I have now the honour

to inclose a copy and translation of the Decree on this subject, signed by all the Ministers.

Every male Tuscan subject above the age of 21 years, and in the enjoyment of civil rights, is called upon to vote for one or the other of the above-mentioned propositions. The balloting, by means of written or printed voting-tickets, is to take place on the 11th and 12th instant. The army will vote separately. On the 15th instant, the Court of Cassation will examine, at a public sitting, the various reports as to the votes taken, which will be forwarded to that Court by the Government subaltern authorities of the different Departments, and will transmit the result immediately to the Minister of Justice.

It is understood that the same propositions will be submitted separately to the States of Parma, Modena, and Romagna, and that the same mode of voting will be adopted in each of them.

The first proposal submitted-as to union with Piedmont-is clear enough; but the alternative of a separate Kingdom is so vaguely expressed, that those who might be in favour of preserving the autonomy of Tuscany will probably be prevented from voting in favour of it, from a fear that its adoption might result in the return of the Grand Duke; and rather than do anything which would tend to such a result, they would vote for the former proposition, although it would sanction an union of which they disapprove.

I have, &c.

Lord J. Russell.

(Translation.)

EDWIN CORBETT.

(Inclosure.)-Decree.

Florence, March 1, 1860.

In the reign of His Majesty Victor Emmanuel.

The Royal Government of Tuscany,

In view of the Decrees of the 20th of January, promulgating in Tuscany the Constitutional Statute and the Electoral Law of the Kingdom of Sardinia;

In view of the Decree of His Majesty the King Victor Emmanuel, calling together the Electoral Colleges for the 25th of March instant, to elect the Deputies to the national Parliament;

Considering the necessity that Tuscany should be definitively in a settled position before the meeting of the national Parliament; Considering that the Tuscan Assembly, on the 20th of August, 1859, unanimously resolved on union with the Constitutional Monarchy of the House of Savoy;

Considering that, with a view to rendering available the votes of the Assembly, it is expedient to consult the Tuscan people directly, with full legal forms, and also in view of another proposition discussed

in Europe, having the assurance that whatever the popular vote may be, it will be respected, and the respect will be enforced;

Considering that in this way all doubt will be dissipated in Europe, relative to the complete freedom of the former votes, and to the sincerity and firmness of the national will;

In virtue of the powers conferred on the Assembly for carrying its wishes into effect,

Decrees:

ART. I. The Tuscan people is solemnly called together in Assemblies [Comitia] on the 11th and 12th days of March, 1860, to declare their wishes on the two propositions following: "Union with the Constitutional Monarchy of King Victor Emmanuel," or, "Separate Kingdom."

II. All Tuscans of the full age of 21 years, and in the possession of civil rights, are called upon to give their votes.

III. The Mayors (" Gonfalonieri") and Aldermen ("Collegi dei Priori") shall, previously to the 11th day of March, make out a list of all persons who have been for 6 months resident in the commune, and have completed their 21st year.

For this purpose they shall send trustworthy persons to the parishes included in their respective communes, to make abstracts from the parish registers ("libri dello stato di anime") of each parish.

Non-Catholics who are citizens of Tuscany shall go in person to register themselves at the Communal office of the place where they reside.

In regard to Jews, the Chanceries of the Universities shall transmit registers of the persons who are entitled to vote as required to the Mayors of the communes where they reside.

IV. Persons not entered on the list, who shall prove that they fulfil the conditions required by Article II, shall be admitted to

vote.

V. The vote shall be given by ticket, with secret voting.

VI. The ballot shall be taken at the chief town of every commune in the two days above mentioned, namely, the 11th and 12th days of March, from o'clock in the morning till 5 o'clock in the

afternoon.

The Mayors shall exhort the citizens to give their votes by notices posted up in every parish.

VII. The Mayors are at liberty to divide the community ("collegio") into any number of sections they may consider expedient.

VIII. The Mayors shall require 5 Common Councillors, or in default thereof, 5 respectable citizens, to preside over each of the sections. Two of them, at least, shall always be present at the