The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-03 00:00:00

COUNT CAVOUR AND TILE CONGRESS,

(Front the Correspondent of the Daily News.)
TURIN, Dec. 29.—Count Cavour, should nothing
requiring special haste occur, will remain here until
the 12th of January. It is confirmed, that not
England alone but Prussia and Russiahave expressed
a wish to see him at the Congress, a circumstance
that augurs well for Italy. Moreover, and con-
trary to the pre-conceived opinion of many,
Napoleon himself has intimated to the Sardinian
Government, that the choice of Count Cavour to
represent it worthily was only natural enough.
So that the perplexity exhibited for two whole
months by the ministry has never been owing to
any direct and important cause in its foreign rela-
tions, but to a few party manoeuvres and to court
intrigue. All is changed now, and no one dares
offer any further opposition to Cavour, whilst on
the other hand favours and demonstrations of hon-
our are being lavished upon him. Among these I may
single out as remarkable the presidency that has
been all but unanimously conferred on him by the
Whist Club. Cavour has accepted it, and inaugu-
rated it yesterday with a dinner, at which many
members of the diplomatic body were present.
This club contains the flower of the Turin aris-
tocracy, as regards birth and fortune. Hitherto its
members, being unable to compete in talents, learn-
ing, and abilities with the democrats, have re•
mained apart, venting their impotent ire by satiris-
ing the Constitution, Italianism, and the habits—
not very refined, it must be admitted—of the plebeian
but liberal citizens. When the Duke of Gram-
mont was ambassador at Turin he confessed that, on
making inquiries respecting the Piedmontese states-
men, particularly Cavour, one of the most influen-
tial members of this very club described him with
epithets of too foul a nature for even the coarsest
and most vulgar to repeat. What a magician suc-
cess is, that it should change opinions better than
all the logic and moral arguments in the world
Count Cavour has powerfully contributed to the
aggrandisement of Piedmont, to the reform of Italy's
destinies, and above all to renderinie' any return of
the old system impossible. Therefore has he been
named honorary president of this club, where mar-
quises and chaniberlains, and royal equerries, as
they lounge through the gilded saloones are now fain
to declare, that really Italy will soon be indepen-
dent, and that in every case they must indeed be
ready to sacrifice both money and blood.. There is
another reason why
.such an extraordinary number
of antechamber admirers has sprung up, and that is
the conduct of the Rattazzi ministry, which pays to
the noble and ancient houses far less attention and
regard than Count Cavour used to do, for the latter
can never quite forget that after all he is one of
their number.
Well he is gradually becoming more assured ; he
does not conceal from himself the immense responsi-
bility he is incurring, but believes he can predict
that the Congress mill do the Italian cause no great
good and no great harm. "Time is working for its
advantage," he said no later than yesterday to a
friend of his; " two things have become impossible
already—the restoration of the Dukes and the reco-
very of the Romagnas by the Pope. If Central Italy
remains firm and tranquil in its proposition of an-
nexation it will be impossible in other quarters to
prevent it for any length of time." " But what
proposals will be made to. the Congress ?" asked his
friend with very natural curiosity ; and the couat,
with that subtle but good-humoured smile which
lightens up his countenance, replied—" You ask me
what nobody yet knows, neither the governments
nor their plenipotentiaries ; never will a congress
have met with elements so various and conflicting,
or with such an absence of preliminary concert. It
is only we Italians who know, in fact, what it is we
really do want. And, therefore, amidst all the diffi-
culties of my task, I esteem myself at all events for-
tunate in this, that my proposal will be most simple
and immutable. Let the wish of the peoples be
gratified. Should thereupon the Congress require
a fresh demonstration by the inhabitants of Central
Italy of their firm and general will, I neither can
nor ought to oppose it. Besides, I have the com-
plete conviction that they would respond to such
an invitation by renewing the vote they have
already given more than once. Any other proposal
will bo contested by me." " Some one," observed
the friend, " may propose the sale of Venetia ; what
would be your conduct then I" " Ah, then," replied
the illustrious statesman, "my resolution would
have to be modified. If the Austrians quit Italy,
her destiny will be arranged in a more pleasant
way by diplomacy ; but I hold any cession of the
sort illusory, nor can I believe that Austria will
ever listen to good sense, or be induced to give up
Venetia by any arguments save those of cannon. Be
that as it may, one proposal will assuredly. be laid
before the Congress, and that is, el le creation of a
central kingdom detached from Piedmont, to consist
of Tuscany, Modena, and the Romagnas. France
will be the chief mooter and supporter of this pro-
ject, and I believe England will not oppose it. It
may so happen that I shall be left alone in my op-
position to it, but then I shall be backed by the
Italian peoples, whose desire for the annexation will
be firm. Before such a proposal can be carried;they
will have at last to break through the principle of
non-intervention." The conversation was continued
much loner, and other particulars were touched
upon. I have made no scruple in relating a part of
it, because Cavour rightly says, his diplomacy lives
in a crystal palace, where all may see what he does.
And, truly, the thoughts I have been retailing are
those of all Italy. I have mentioned the Count's
opinion that England will not oppose the project
of forming a central kingdom detached from Pied-
mont, but I myself think, on pretty good authority,
that the English Cabinet has been obliged to make
some concessions relative to this proposition, and
hut for which the Congress would either not meet
at all, or Great Britain would take no part in it.
In the meantime Cavour is receiving depmations
from almost every Italian province. To the Vene-
tians he gives the advice that they must wait, for
that lie cannot plead their cause in particular before
the Congress, where he has one thing alone to de-
mand—one thing alone to follow
I p a
th ssiduously—
the annexation of Central Italy. n, e same way
he answers and advises those subjscts of the Pope
who are not Romagnols.
General Garibladi arrived here last night. At
Milan, when it was known that he had arrived in
that city, although it was dark and snowing hard, a
great crowd of people assembled with torches to
greet him. It is a singular thing how he still main-
tains the prestige of his name, notwithstanding a
few acts that were not duly weighed beforehand.
That which renders him, however, still so dear to
the whole nation is the knowledge of the people,
derived from a thousand proofs, that he is an honest
man, ever disinterested and noble at heart in all
that he undertakes.