| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen returns some interesting letters, and notes that Sardinia is playing an ambitious and self-interested game. As Sardinia would rather see the pre-war status quo restored as regards central Italy, than see Italy free and independent of Austria and the Pope, if this is not to be done by annexation to itself, this shows that a love of Italy is not its main objective. England must take great care not to be used by Sardinia as a tool. The Queen has no doubt that the supposed intention to place Prince Napoleon on the throne of central Italy is a threat set up by the Sardinian Government and Sir James Hudson to frighten England into a policy which aligns with their designs. The way in which Sardinia gained and keeps possession of the Government of central Italy makes it the sole representative of its people's wishes, and it is difficult for these to be really ascertained. Having signed the Treaty of Villa Franca in which it gained Lombardy and agreed to the restoration of the Duchies, it is not very honest on Sardinia's part to now state that, as long as Austria has Venetia, it must possess the Duchies as a counterbalance. It is ludicrous for Sardinia to also say that if Austria were driven out of Venetia and thus out of the whole of Italy, it would no longer so much fear Austrian influence as to require further aggrandisement in central Italy. The Queen thinks it is likely that the articles in 'The Times' suggesting Lord Palmerston is going to Paris were prompted by the Emperor Napoleon, as he has telegraphed to the Emperor of Russia to ask him to send his Prime Minister to the Congress. |