, 1861-08-16
Cavour--B1s Opinions of the Emperor
NAnn1ann-

Cavour..H1E Opfn1eD& of the Emperor
Napoleon.
The British National Reyteta for July con
tains an interesting article On the late Count
Caycur, the great stateem2n Of Italy, written
by one Of his intimate friends.
NAPoLBoN's UNCERTAIN POLICY,
The record Of Cavour's private opinion of
the French Emperor is worth quoting at
length:
OF the character and policy Of Louis Ma.
pcleon be WIS accustomed to speak With
much freedom. No one had better opportu-
mites than CaTour Of sounding their depths.
He was tie ONLY living man who had ven
tured to grapp1e with him face to face, and
who had used hin for his purpose. The estt-
high one but he fully admitted his fertility
Of rel ources, his phyalci and moral courage,
snd his knowledge Of the people he governs
s'tHe has no definite policy" he remarked to
an Ell gliah friend. <.He has number Of
political ideas in his mind, none Of them ms
founded upon Instinct BE will not steadily
pursue apy single idea II serious obstacle
presents itself, but. will give way, and take
up another: This i8 the mot de psng11s, TO
biz policy. It is by steadily keeping this in
riew that have succeeded in thwarting his de-
The only principle, if principle it can be called,
Which connects together these various ideas
is the establishment Of his dynasty and the
conviction that the best way to secure 1t Is
by fee ding the rational yazlity Of the French
people. He found France alter the ian OF the
ing but second place amongst the great pow
e1s :; he Las 1aised her to the very fTs.- Look
it Lis vars, look at his foreign policy; he has
Ecver gone one step beyond what was ab5o.
lutly necessary to attain this object. The
principle SYSTEMATICALLY put forward in the
first instance h:s been forgotten or discarded
Is sooE as h,e Immediate end has been ac-
conp1shed. It was SO in the WIZ with Rms
tia; 1t has been go with the war in Austria.
In the Crimea be was satisfied with the sue
cess Of his army in tte capture Of Sebastopol,
which tcok from the English troops the glory
ard courage, and to which they would have
3dded led TIE war continued. In the struggle
with Austria he was astounded BY the great
! nesB Of the victories Of Magenta and Solferi
! 10. Tie military glory Of France had been
| eatlat< g, and he thought no more Of the Iber
| which he was to have called into e1iatercs
from the Alps to the Adriatic.
"1L Is this uncertain policy, gnlded by dy
naEtic and seIfah consid ideraions, which make!
him 70 6a1 gerous to you, ard which render
IT neces= s1y that you should ever be on you
guard. Not tha: be is hostile to England, o
thst he haa any definite designs against her
On the contrary, be has much affection TO
your country. He is a man OF generous i'm
pulses, and has strong feelings Of gratitud
towards those who have s11ved and befriend
ed him. At the bottom Of his heart he I
greatly attached to Italy. His earliest recol
iectiona are bound mp with her. He
to this day *cabona7o' in his desir
for Ita]isn freedom and hatred of Austria
He has net forgotten the kindness and hosp
tal!ty shown to him when aa exile in England
He admsres sour Institutions and the charae
ter Of the English people. But all this IL q
nothing when compared With the maintenapc
of his dynasty, the establishment of which b
looks rpca most in the light Of religion
obligation. If the moment came wheo b
Thought sacrifice necessary to sust.in II
however great that sacrifice might be, howe'
er psisfnl or repngoant to his feelings, b
would makeit.
No cne has had better opportunities (
knowing him than have. Tic has talked t
. me with the grtatest orenness Of his fnsus
: plans. But be hzs invariably assured me
Tie ssme time, that bis first object was
maintain peace aud good understandin
, with Ergland. I belieye,"- he solenn]y adds'
"tbat flom policy, as well as from affection
snch are bis views ; md that only In mome1
Of tie utmost emergency, when he was co,
Tinced that his influence in France depe1ds
upon 1t. would be depart from them. b
that moment may cone. and you would
nadnen If n}ouwe1e not prepared for it."