Bygones Worth Remembering, Vol. 1 (of 2)Holyoake, George Jacob
Philosophy
Bygones Worth Remembering, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Holyoake, George Jacob
Holyoake, George Jacob, 1817-1906; Social reformers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Working class -- Great Britain -- Biography
A request came to me from Italy for a circumstantial history of the
Legion and such suggestions as experience had furnished. The story made
quite a book, which I sent to Dr. Bertani. When after his death I was in
Milan, I learned from a member of his family that no one knew what had
become of it. And so I briefly tell the story again, as there is no one
else to tell it Bertani was the confidant and favourite physician of
Mazzini and Garibaldi. No one knew so well or so much as he who were the
makers of Italian Unity. What has become of his papers?
Among friends of Italy who appeared at our council in London was Captain
Sarsfield, the son of the Duke of Somerset. Pallid, with an expression
of restrained energy, handsome beyond any face I had seen, it might have
been carved by a Grecian sculptor. His high breeding struck me before
I knew who he was. He took out for me an important letter to Garibaldi,
who had then no postal address. On Sarsfield's return home, he took, as
was his delight, a furious ride in a high wind. Washington did the same,
and it killed him, as it did Captain Sarsfield. Difficulty of breathing
ensued, and it was necessary that Dr. Williams should be called in to
perform an operation--all in vain. The Duchess of Somerset lay all night
on the carpet-floor by the dead body of her son, for whom she grieved
exceedingly. In her distress she said Dr. Williams had been wanting in
promptness or in skill. His great reputation could not be affected by an
accusation made in agony, and his own explanation would vindicate him.
But he took the brutal course of dragging the distressed and distracted
mother into the law courts. In consequence of remarks I published upon
this unfeeling and egotistic outrage, the Duchess sent me a letter of
thanks, and requested me to call at her residence. So much for the two
men who mainly made Italy a nation. What Castelar said to the Italian
patriots in general, he might have addressed to Garibaldi and Mazzini
individually:--
"That which Julius II. could not effect with his cannon, nor Leo X. with
his arts, that which Savonarola could not make a reality by giving
himself to God, nor Machiavelli by giving himself to the Devil, has been
done by you. You have made Italy one, you have made Italy free, you have
made Italy independent."
CHAPTER XXI. JOHN STUART MILL, TEACHER OF THE PEOPLE
[Illustration: Mill]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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