The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-08-19
VOLUME 4, NO 6.
The Meeting of the EmperOrs.

A letter from Va!legio gives few de-
tails of the interview of the Emperors at
Villafranca. When the Sovereigns were
about to enter the house, the Noble Guards
were ranged on the right in the vestibule,
and Cent-Gardes on the left The Empe-
ror Francis Joseph insisted on Napoleon
entering first. Napoleon invited Francis
Joseph to breakfast, but the latter begged
to be excused-he had breakfasted before
setting out. The two Emperors then en-
tered the sitting room alone and sat down
on opposite sides of the table, Napoleon
laid on the table few cigarettes, and offer
ed one to the young sovereign, who decli-
ned it. Although no third person heard
word of what passed at this interview, |
can state that they conversed some time in
Italian, but more frequently in German
Not word was written down
During the conversation Napoleon me-
chanicaly picked to pieces the flowers in
vase before him. On issuing from the
house, Napoleon conversed an instant with
Baron Hess, while Francis Joseph spoke
with Marshal Valiant. They then briefly
inspected their escort. Francis Joseph
was so struck with the uniform and bearing
of the cent gardes and guides that he open
ly expressed his admiration, and also asked
whether they formed part of the Imperial
Guard.
A letter from Vienna says that exactly
at y on the morning of the 18th, Francis
Joseph reached Villa Franco, where he
was received by Louis Napoleon with great
kindness and show of Difference. The two
monarchs breakfasted, and remained toge
ther till 5 Z. NJ, and it would appear, set
| tied the basis of peace before parting. In
military circles it is said Napoleon showed
documents to the Emperor of Austria which
removed any doubt he might have felt
about the necessity of sacrificing Lombar-
dy. One document was a Prusso- Anglo
Russian peace project based on the ces-
sion of Venetia as well as Lombardv; and
the other was dispatch in which Prussia
expresses resolve not to draw the sword
in defense of any part of the Austrian
possessions in Italy.
1t was agreed that the Pope should be
President of the confederation, and Francis
Joseph promised to do all in his power to
persuade the Pope to agree to tie secular
ization of the domains of the Church.
This last piece of information appears
| apocryphal, but was acquired from an ex-
cellent source, and doubtless will prove
true. In 1851 it was known at Rome
that Napoleon had formed plan for the
confederation of the Italian States, and one
or two of its principal features are still in
my memory. Then, as now, the Pope was
to be President of the confederation, but
the executive power was to be in the hands
| of Sardinia.
The idea of the secularization of the
dominions Of the Church, is new to none
of the powers.
Information has been received from Ve-
roma that the officers and men of the Aus
trian army are greatly depressed, as they
had expected soon to balance the account
with the Allies. Had war lasted till au-
tumn, it is probable that the Emperor
would have lost Venetia as we'll as Lom-
hardy; but it is fact that the Austrian
army had almost recovered its original
strength and confidence.
The Paris correspondent of the London
Ne,cs says that when Napoleon announced
to Victor Emanuel the terms of the treaty
he said
elias your Majesty any observation to
makes" The King, understanding at once
the situation, replied by the question, "Has
your Majesty anything to add?" The two
sovereigns bowed and parted.