Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-04
THE INEERvIEw oF THE ENPERoRs. From Gao


the following items are gathered:
ttWhen the Sovereigns were about to enter
the house the Noble Guards were ranged onl
the right in the vestibule, and the Cent Gardes
on the left. The Emperor Francis Joseph in
sisted on the Emperor Napoleon entering first.
The Emperor invited Francis Joseph to break
fast, but the latter begged to be excused, as he
had breakfasted before setting out. The two
Emperors then entered the stting-room alone.
Their Majesties sat down at opposite sides of
the table. The Emperor Napoleonalaid on the
table few. cigarettes in an envelope, and offer
ed one to the young Sovereign, who declined it.
Although no third person heard word of what
had passed at this interview, l can state that
they conversed sometimes in Italian, but more
frequently in German;s not word was written
down. During the conversation the Emperor
Napoleon, as if mechanically, picked to pieces
some of the flowers placed in vase before him.
On issuing from the house, the Emperor Napo.
leon conyersed an instant with Baron Hess,
while Francis joseph spoke with Marshal Vail.
liant. Their Majesties then briefly inspected
their escorts. The Emperor Of Austria was
so struck with the uniform and bearing of the
Cent Gardes and Guides that he openly expressed
his admiration. He also asked whether these
soldiers formed part of the Imperial Guard"
Another account says:
"Some little private information relative to the
interview of the two Emperors has this morning
been acquired. Exactly at bin the morning of
the 18th the Emperor Francis joseph reached
Villafranca, where he was received by the EN-
peror of the French with great apparent kind
ness, and even q. show of Difference. The two
monarchs took breakfast and remained together
until b in the afternoon, and it would appear
that they settled the bases for the preliminaries
OF peace before they parted. In military circles
it is stated that Louis Napoleon showed certain
documents to the Emperor of Austria witch Ie-
moved any doubt he might have felt about the
| necessity of sacrificing Lonbardy. the one
document said my informant, was Prusso-
Anglo-Russian peace project, which was based
on the cesslon of Fenitia as well as Lombardy,
and the other was despatch, in which Prussia
expressed her resolve not to draw the sword in
defence of the Austrian possessions in Italy,
ut was agreed that the Pope should be the
President of the Confederation, and the Emper-
or Francis Joseph promised to do all in his pow
er to persuade his Holiness to agree to the secu-
laTlzation, Of the domains Of the Church. This
last piece of information may appear apocry-
phal, but it was acquired at an excellent
source, and doubtless will prove to be cor.
rect. In 1851 it was we'll known at Rome
that Louis Napoleon had formed plan for a
confederation of the Italian States, and one or
two OF its principal features are still present to
my memory. Then, as now, the Pope was to
be President of the Italian Confederation, but
the Executive power was to be in the hands of
Sardinia. The idea OF the seculiarization of
the dominionS of the Church is new to none of
the powers. 1t appears to me that Austria has
reason to congratulate herself on being able to
obtain peace on such terms; but the naiion, and
more particularly the military part of it, is ex-
tremely dissatisfied with the results of the Villa
Franco conference. Information has been re-
ceived from Verona that both officers and men
arc greatly depressed, as they had confidently
| expected soon to have an opportunity of bal
ancing accounts with the Allies. Had the war
lasted till the fall of the year, it is possible, and
even probable, that the Emperor would have
lost Venetia. as well as Lombardy but it is an
undcniable fact that the Austrian army had al
most recovered its original strength and conf
dence. During the first few days ate: the
baltic of solferino the troops were much cast
dowL, but they recovered their spirits when
some of their commanders were removed and
powerful reinforcements arrived in the camp.