The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-27
stories of Victor Emmanuel.

ILOnuOn Daiiy NeWs.I
The following anecdotes are related 10y
some Italian papers, and were gathered
from the lips of the late SgnOr Sella him
SELF In 1870 Sella was one Of the minority
who voted against sending 100000 Italian
soldiers TO assist Napoleon ILL.,, and cOnse-
quently resigned his post. He was about
TO leave Florence, when Victor Emmanuel
sent for him, and after saying that it would
be vile TO desert France in her need warm
iy begged him TO keep his post. Sella re-
piled that believing, as he did, that on
alliance with France would imperIl
Italy, he could not undertake to
share such a serious responsibility. But
the King insisted. You will see," he
said, that all will go well, and that we shall
derive great advantage from an alliance
with France. Pray remain" alt is i'm
possible" said Sella. The King was veXed,
and exclaimed, SIN fact, YOU want the
house OF Savoy, like the Bourbons OF Ma
Piles. 10 take no part in European affairs.
Remember, that that inactivity was just
what caused the fall of the Bourbons." AT
that time" replied Sella, "a King was fight
ing against King, now II is a war be-
tween nation and nation. Italy might in
one day destroy the unity which il has lost
so many sacrifices and so much blood to OBJ
tain. Think of what YOU do, your Males
ty." Some hard words escaped the irri-
tated king; but, correcting himself, he
ended by saying: AT all events, remain
at your post until definite resolution has
been Iaken." Sella remained, and. fortIl-
nately for Italy, the 100, 600 men were never
sent. After the defeat of the French and the
fall OF Napoleon, a commission went from
Rome TO Florence to present the King with
the result OF the plebiscite. Sella SAID to
the King, els your Majesty content 7 :"
"More than content!" Victor Emmanuel
exclaimed; g there Is nothing for me to do
now but shoot myself What remains for
me to dor Myself King in Campidoglio,
and my son King in Spain, my wishes are
more than fulfilled. But his consent
TO remain neutral had cost the King
dear. One day when news arrived
OF the first defeats of the French. he
called LAMA. and told him that now
was the moment 10 assist Napoleon. But
LAMA, who had changed his mind, replied
that for his part he could not consent, and
would rather resign. 81 did not think"
said the King, that had sucha- (uSing
an ugly world Ministry" ~ am very sor-
ry," proudly replied, LAMA, "tbat your
Majesty should use such an expression.
The more that | cannot retOrt." Victor
Emmanuel felt that he had been wrong,
and Immediately apologized.
After Sedan the King wrote to the Prin-
cess Clotilde begging her to return 10 italy
at once, but the Princess replied that she
could not abandon her second country in
the hour OF MS misfortune, and that she
would only leave 1t when the republic had
been proclaimed. The next time che King
saw Sella he read this letter aloud, and
Sella was so much touched by Il that
he begged for il as gift. But
Victor Emmanuel pocketed the let. |
ter, saying, eli you will make IL |
possible for me 10 90 10 Rome, then you |
shall have the letter." After the taking Of |
Porta Pia, Sella reclaimed the letter, but |
the King forgot to send IL 10 him, and Ill
timately died without performing bis
promise. When King Humbert visited
Piedmont, after ascending the throne,
be met Sella at Bella. and i'm
presented the latter with