“... All the diplomacy in the world will not bring back either those d—d Dukes or the Pope, and the provinces whence they have been expelled. If Napoleon sticks to the point of not allowing any _armed_ intervention in their favour, the legitimate Sovereigns are dished. But, it is said, he has some interested motive if he act so. I suppose he has; so much the better if his interests coincide with the interests and wishes of Italy. It is a pity no one else has the same interest; but, if no one will do the trick, even he is welcome. I see that after all he is the only one who does something for that country. If the Pope and Austrian influence are done for, what is to come after it is of less importance. If the European powers will aid and abet Austria in keeping Venice, and in preventing a united kingdom of North Italy being formed under Victor Emmanuel, I am sorry for it, but they cannot complain if Plonplon is preferred by the Italians to the Austrian and priestly tyranny. Better Austria than the Pope, but better Plonplon than either. That is the scale.” “B. M., April 21st, 1860. “... How could you suppose that I ever could have said that Elizabeth and Cromwell interfered to support _Catholicism_? My answer was, and is, this: “Europe is now in about the same state with respect to politics as it was in Elizabeth’s and Cromwell’s times as to religion. These two personages did not follow the policy which is now so much praised of taking no side with either party, but showing the greatest indifference to right or wrong. England, I think, has not reached the lofty station it now occupies, by adopting this policy; nor will she keep that position by such means. “In the same manner that Elizabeth and Cromwell took the side of liberalism in religion (Protestantism) England ought now to take the side of liberty in politics, and she would thus rise still higher. “In 1848 England allowed liberty to be crushed everywhere; she even allowed Russia to lend an army to Austria to crush an old and constitutional kingdom. See how the Protestants are now treated all over the Austrian Empire; how the Jesuitical party is rampant in Germany and in Ireland; how Europe is crouching to Napoleon. Is this to the advantage of free Protestant England? “Now, suppose, instead of proclaiming her determination to keep aloof (which neither Elizabeth nor Cromwell would have approved) the Government of Queen Victoria has told Russia and Austria that if Despots were to join to crush liberty, free governments would support those who tried to recover their freedom, do you think England would now be worse off?