Produced by Charles Franks, Keren Vergon, Charles Aldarondo and PG Distributed Proofreaders MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY REEVE, C.B., D.C.L BY JOHN KNOX LAUGHTON, M.A. HONORARY FELLOW OF GONVILLE AND CAIUS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY IN KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME PORTRAIT OF HENRY REEVE AET. 68. _From a Photograph taken by_ RUPERT POTTER, Esq. XIII. THE WAR IN ITALY (1859-60) XIV. LITERATURE AND POLITICS (1860-3) XV. LAW AND LITERATURE (1863-7) XVI. CHURCH POLITICS (1868-9) XVII. THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR (1869-71) XVIII. THE GREVILLE MEMOIRS (1871-4) XIX. FOXHOLES (1874-9) XX. OUTRAGE AND DISLOYALTY (1880-2) XXI. THE FRENCH ROYALISTS (1883-5) XXII. RETIREMENT (1886-9) XXIII. THE ONE MORE CHANGE (1890-5) LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF HENRY REEVE CHAPTER XIII THE WAR IN ITALY How far the murderous attempt of Orsini, on January 14th, 1858, was connected with the political relations of France and Italy it is as yet impossible to say. It was, and still is, very commonly believed that in his youth Louis Napoleon had been affiliated to one or other of the secret societies of Italy, that he was still pledged to this, was bound to obey its orders, and that Orsini was an agent to remind him that the attainment of high rank, far from releasing him from the bond, rendered it more stringent, as giving him greater power and facility for carrying out the orders he received. The independence of Italy was aimed at; and it had been intimated to the Emperor that Orsini's was only the first of similar messages which, if action was not taken, would be followed by a second, with greater care to ensure its delivery. All this may or may not have been mere gossip. What is certain is that, during the latter months of 1858, secret negotiations had been going on between the Emperor and Victor Emanuel, the King of Sardinia, or rather his minister, Cavour; and that an agreement had been come to that Austria was to be attacked and driven out of Italy. Accordingly, on January 1st, 1859, at his New Year's reception of the foreign ministers, Louis Napoleon took the opportunity of addressing some remarks to the Austrian Ambassador which, to France and to all Europe, appeared threatening.