The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-20 00:00:00

ITALY.

The following is the speech addressed by Marquis
Ridolfi to the King of Italy, at the opening of the
National Exhibition at Florence :

I " Sire,—ltaly, whom you have delivered from
her old slavery, and summoned to take her place
among the most civilised nations, now, with the
same alacrity as she answered your call, and
rallied round your glorious banner on the field of
honour, comes at your request and lays before
your eyes the produce of her Agriculture, Manu-
factures, and Arts, uniting to the gifts of nature
the invention of the human intellect, the works
of the hand guided by the mind, the inspirations
of genius which imprints on marble canvass,
and bronze, the inexplicable image of beauty.
These exhibitions are very ancient institutions in
Florence, hut they were only solemn municipal
festivals. The present spectacle which this faith-
ful city offers you to-day is new, since it has been
enabled to collect on the banks of the Arno the
works of industry, science, and art sent from every
corner of the Peninsula; a splendid testimony,
chewing that now, from the summits of the Alps to
the extreme point of Sicily, there is a people united
in a single family, throwing into one common fund,
each special power or quality as well as its senti-
ments of love. And, though the great work is
not yet accomplished, you will here, Sire, see the
solemn pledge renewed, because here all Italy
has shown its will to be represented by
the works of the hand and those of the
mind, in order to testify that she was born to be,
and is resolved to be, a single nation. Yes,
a single nation, which, led by wisdom and
strengthened ny valour, will soon rise to that gran-
deur which will ensure for her the admiration and
love of the world. Cast a glance around you, Sire,
and rejoice in the consideration that if Italy,
scarcely revived, has been able to do so much, she
wilt be able to do much more when her commerce
shall have felt all the effects of free trade, and the
heart of her industry shall beat freely under the
sway of liberty. Permit me, Sire, to thank you in
the name of the artists, manufacturers, and agri-
culturists of Italy assembled around you, for the
honour you have done them by opening in person
this national festival, and kindly receive the unani-
mous cry which salutes you, " Long Live the King
of Italy !"

His Majesty replied as follows :
" I thank you, Mr. President and gentlemen of
the commission, for the sentiments you have ex-
pressed. I perceive with joy that the wars bravely
fought for the nation, and the measures wisely
devised to constitute it, have not diminished in the
Italians the love of science and art, of which they
here display the splendid fruit They have at all
times been among the most precious gifts of this
dear country ; they will count in future among the
most precious jewels of my crown. Their fortune
will rise with that of Italy; efficacious instruments
of the glory and prosperity of the nation, they
deserve and shall enjoy all the attention both of
myself and my Government. I meanwhile con-
gratulate you, Mr. President and your colleagues,
for the success of your efforts in organising this first
Italian Industrial Exhibition, and I am happy that
Florence, which has shown so much patriotism, and
so efficaciously aided the national cause, has been
chosen to inaugurate these solemnities, which will
powerfully contribute to increase the greatness of
the nation."