as little to do with our criminal trials as does the question of heredity. Let us, then, have a law to this effect, that insanity shall be no barrier to a conviction, and that it shall not modify the sentence of the convicted. Let us, since insane convicts will require a different treatment from the sane, establish a prison for the insane, to which insane criminals may be sentenced as others are to our State prison at San Quentin. And if an oversensitive community shrinks from depriving an insane murderer of a wretched and profitless life, let it satisfy its hesitation by reducing the penalty of such criminals to imprisonment for life. But in all cases, let no one have authority to discharge an insane convict before the expiration of his term because he seems to be cured; nor let the Governor have, in such cases, a power of pardoning. What would result from such a change in our law, is clear. The plea of insanity, since it could bring no mitigation of the penalty, would never be resorted to as a sham defense to a crime; while, against really insane criminals, society would at last be having an adequate protection. One great abuse would disappear from the courts; one great danger would be removed from society. Harold Wheeler. A MISUNDERSTOOD HERO. "LEAVE me the glory of dying poor," exclaimed Luigi Carlo Farini, when his countrymen wished to reward his services with a substantial token of gratitude; and this Cincinnatus-like reply of the modern dictator was quite in keeping with the conduct of the other distinguished men who were his associates in working out the national independence of Italy. They were all cast in the antique mold, and gave a hundred such proofs of the purity of their motives and the heroic spirit which animated them. "Nations," said d'Azeglio, when called upon by Austria to surrender the Lombard rebels-"Nations, like individuals, should perish rather than dishonor themselves; we will not abandon our Lombard brothersnot to save Piedmont from annihilation." "If you wish a war to the death, be it so," said Victor Emmanuel to Marshal Radetsky; "sooner than submit to such conditions, I would lose a hundred crowns." And Cavour, when speaking of the cession of Nice and Savoy, said, "I am ambitious only of serving Italy, and for this end I willingly put in jeopardy my fame and popularity." These were not the idle vaunts of inexperienced youth: they were the utterances of men who had passed through fiery trials, and who, none doubted, were ready to translate their bold words into equally bold deeds. Among that assemblage of rare men whom we call the makers of Italy, and who have all, with one or two exceptions, been laid in their graves, there was none more noble, loyal-hearted, and self-sacrificing than the gallant soldier who is the subject of this brief chapter; and when the record of these eventful years comes to be written by the impartial historian-if such a thing there be-one of the brightest pages of his story will be that on which is inscribed the name of Alfonso La Marmora. Owing to various causes, he has not been sufficiently appreciated outside his country, and has sometimes been misunderstood and maligned even there. The calumnious attacks of which he was the object late in life were not without effect on the public mind. As generally happens in such cases, people give more heed to the accusations than the defense; and to foreigners who were not interested in following the case to the end, there remains a vague impression that there was some spot upon the fame of a man who, as a soldier and a statesman, carried his chivalrous loyalty to the point of imprudence. "I have always believed," said he, "that truth and sincerity are the best securities for a good and sound policy. Neither will I be told that the deceptions and equivocations of others give one the right to deceive and equivocate." To those who were really interested in the question to whom La Marmora's name was dear-abundant evidences of his integrity have been presented within the last six years; and there constantly comes to light some fresh bit of intelligence which places him always higher in the esteem of his countrymen. Yet within the last six months "An Old Diplomatist" in Prussia revived exploded animadversions and insinuations; and I have heard travelers in Italy say, when the name of La Marmora came up, "By the bye, was there not something unpleasant about dispatches?" I have no intention of here entering on the dispute between General La Marmora and his powerful and malignant enemy who embittered the last few years of a laborious and self-sacrificing life, dedicated from beginning to end to the service of his country. The story has been told at length by the General himself, in his books, "A Little More Light" and "Secrets of State." Our space only permits us to take a brief glance at the contents of two new books which treat of his life.1 On the first anniversary of La Marmora's death, last year, his friend Captain Chiala published the "Commemorazione," which contained the most interesting and important part of his correspondence-a most attractive little volume, which many readers would prefer to the more pretentious Life just now issued by the famous biographer Massari, who has a high reputation in the literary world, and dedicates his talents to lives of great men. This last is an important work, and however familiar the reader may be with the historical events of the last thirty years, he will still find a considerable quantity of untrodden ground opened up to him in the secret councils and private correspondence of Cavour and La Marmora. Signor Massari, as in the case of his other biographies, ignores his hero's private life: he is most careful to relate every particular bearing on his life as a citizen, soldier, and statesman, but he is silent on the subject of the family relations. This reserve is the more unaccountable, because the reasons which controlled the biographer's pen in the case of his late king did not exist in La Marmora. His severe and lofty character hardly presented any perceptible indipped vulnerable part over which a loving friend would wish to throw a mantle. treating of contemporary men, Signor Massari's excessive delicacy prevents him alluding to matters of a private nature, and even public questions might have been handled with a freer and bolder touch without offense to the laws of good taste and gentlemanly bearing towards opponents. But this, after all, is a good fault, seeing that political writers are too apt to err in an opposite direction; and the absence of personalities and display of party animus strike the reader favorably. What is wanting in this book is supplied by the soldier-like frankness of Captain Chiala, intent only on showing all sides of his noble friend's character, careless of who might get hurt in the process. When one wants to glorify one's hero very much, contemporary heroes must be squeezed against the wall somewhat. But Signor Massari's polytheism forbids such a course; his deities are all equally sacred to him, and, unlike Captain Chiala, he does not depress one to exalt another. Alfonso Ferrero, fourth son of the Marquis della Marmora and Prince Masserano, was born in 1804. In those days there was but one profession for a high-born gentleman whose property did not furnish him with sufficient occupation even: when it was no matter of necessity to make a profession of arms, every Piedmontese noble thought it right to give his son the education of a soldier, and Camillo Cavour, as well as the future general, had to pass some years in the military academy. Alfonso was the fourth brother of the La Marmora family who entered the army, and though they were all distinguished for ability as well as courage, he was the most illustrious. He modestly held Alessandro-famous as the founder of the Bersaglieri-to be his superior, but Alessandro himself was proud to serve under his younger brother. Of all the numerous friendships made by La Marmora at the military school, and carried through life, the most tender and intimate was that of Dabormida, a soldier like himself, and like him also intensely patriotic and devoted to the house of Savoy. Both Dabormida and La Marmora were employed at different times to instruct the princes Victor Emmanuel and Ferdinand, and this strengthened the tie which already bound them to the throne of Sardinia. When not near each other, they corresponded constantly, and their letters are written with the careless freedom of attached brothers who concealed nothing from each other. While they were both quite young, Dabormida prognosticated that Alfonso was a rare man, and would bring honor to his country. La Marmora gave himself up with a perfect fervor of enthusiasm to the improvement of the Piedmontese army, and in order to study the best military systems he traveled a great deal. In the war of 1848 he behaved gallantly; and in a critical moment, when Charles Albert's life was threatened by the mob of Milan, he broke through them with admirable presence of mind and sang froid, called together a handful of troops, and returning to the palace, carried off the king to a place of safety. When Victor Emmanuel ascended the throne, in 1849, he confided to his former tutor the dangerous and delicate mission of restoring order to Genoa, the republican party having made that city the seat of their operations. La Marmora, fearing that the fifty thousand bayonets which Austria had so kindly placed at the disposal of King Victor, and which he had politely declined, might be put in motion, even without the VOL. I.-12. permission of the king, hastened to take the city by storm, and seize Garibaldi and the other republican leaders. Under his wise and firm rule, obedience to the laws was enforced without harshness. He carried it with such a high hand that the Austrian bayonets had not the shadow of a pretext for intervening, and the King of Naples expressed his admiration of the General to the Sardinian ambassador. Azeglio, then prime minister, trying to guide the almost shattered ship of state from the rocks and quicksands of military despotism and red-republicanism, was much amused that the old enemy of Piedmontese liberty should see anything to admire in one of its defenders. "Dearest cousin," he writes in his playful manner, "I am filled with envy that the King of Naples should admire you and not me; as it was the bombardment that pleased him, I fear I have no chance of winning his esteem." In another letter he says: "You have done the work of a brave man, and I congratulate you. You have fought for Genoa, and not against Genoa; it would be an injustice to that city to confound it with the canaille who had taken possession of it." During La Marmora's residence in Genoa, as royal commissioner, he met a rich English lady, Miss Bertie Mathews, whose acquaintance he had already made in Turin. Why Miss Mathews should have preferred to be bombarded and held under martial law among the revolutionists of Genoa, instead of remaining in the pleasant and peaceful capital, does not appear. But there she was; and when the smoke of battle had cleared off and the amenities of life were renewed, this young lady became an important element in it as far as the General was concerned. He was too modest a man to suspect that he had made so easy a conquest, but he was not insensible to her attractions; and he surrendered himself all the more willingly to his inclination because his sister had praised her warmly, and represented her as endowed with so many excellent qualities that she would be a treasure of a wife. When order was restored in Genoa, Miss Mathews returned to Turin, and there the General found her, when summoned by order of the king to take his place in the Cabinet as Minister of War. Difficulties had arisen before he had made her an offer of his hand. Miss Mathews was a recent convert to Romanism, and, like all converts, very devout. La Marmora had heard that she was fanatically devoted to the Jesuitsa serious objection in the wife of a minister of Victor Emmanuel-and as domestic happiness was much disturbed at this time by the interference of the priests, he was troubled not a little; but he finally got over the difficulty, and married her. For a time the wife's allegiance was divided, and much unhappiness was the consequence; but ultimately La Marmora reigned without a rival on his throne. They never learned to agree on ecclesiastical questions, but this notwithstanding, they were bound together by a mutual affection warm as it was constant. La Marmora and d'Azeglio were cousins, and kindred in soul as in blood; they worked together amicably in the ministry, and when d'Azeglio desired to bring strength to the party by inviting Cavour to take a seat in the Cabinet, and the king objected, La Marmora gave his Majesty no peace till he had consented to the appointment. To Victor's objection that Cavour would rule everybody, and drive his colleagues out of office if they stood in the way of his projects, the General replied: "Sire, that may happen; but it is of no consequence to us whether we continue to be ministers: it is of vital importance that we should now bring fresh strength to the government." La Marmora and Victor Emmanuel, as pupil and teacher, had often had disagreements, and these did not cease when as sovereign and subject they were brought into close contact. Notwithstanding, Victor had early learned to prize the uncompromising truth and sincere devotion of the subject who scorned to flatter. Apropos, here is an anecdote which shows that kings are not always the dupes that courtiers suppose them. The French ambassador at the court of Turin, in conversation with Victor Em manuel, related to him the following: A Spanish ambassador once asked Henry IV. of France to tell him something of the character of his ministers. The king thereupon summoned them one by one into his pres ence. The first who entered was the Chancellor Silbery, and to him the king observed: "I am very uneasy to see the state of this ceiling over my head, which threatens to cave in." "Sire," replied the minister, "we must consult an architect, and let him consider the matter; but there is no occasion to hurry." To Villeroy, the second minister; the king addressed the same remark, and he, without even looking up, answered at once: "Sire, you are right; it is enough to frighten one." Thirdly came the President Jeanin, and when he was applied to about the ceiling, he answered: "I do not know what your Majesty means; the ceiling is very good." "What," cried the king, "do you not see those cracks, or do I labor under a hallucination?" "Be tranquil; the ceiling will last longer than we," was the blunt reply. When he was gone, Henry said to the Spaniard: "Now, you know my ministers. The Chancellor never does what one wants, Villeroy always says I am right, and Jeanin says what he thinks, and he thinks well; as you see, he does not flatter me." Victor Emmanuel, smiling at the story, said he would try the experiment on his ministers, but hastened to add, "I have my Jeanins in d'Azeglio and La Marmora, who never conceal the truth from me." La Marmora and Cavour were great friends, and when the latter became head of the government, La Marmora gave him his warm support. When the Crimean alliance with England and France was proposed, he disapproved of it strongly, and threatened to resign. But Cavour's powerful and impassioned arguments carried away all obstacles; there was no resisting the impetus of an enthusiasm which was fired by the inspiration of genius. La Marmora was not a "nail-his- of the elder brother towards the younger, colors-to-the-mast" style of hero; he loved his superior in rank and his commander." his country a hundred times better than his This part was so painful to Alfonso's modown opinion, and he accepted the command esty and delicate regard for others, that he of the expedition to the Crimea, resisting kept his promotion a secret all the time he firmly, however, the proposition that the was in Genoa. Piedmontese should be hired auxiliaries of the English. His brave little army should know that they fought for the honor of their king and country, not for foreign pay. La Marmora relates all the particulars of this expedition in his book, "A Little More Light." He complains that his government would not give him precise instructions as to how he was to bear himself towards the allies, and that he found himself in a very delicate and difficult position on his arrival at the seat of war. "As I was stepping on board at Genoa," he writes, "I said to Cavour, 'In fine, will you give me those blessed instructions?' 'Exercise your wits,' he replied, embracing me." Cavour, in fact, had his own good reasons for being vague. He was by nature frank, confiding, impetuous; but, contrary to his nature, he practiced diplomacy when it was necessary to his great ends. He knew his friend's character well enough to be aware that he would not undertake the command on the condition that he was to be in any way dependent on or subservient to the foreign commanders; and not till La Marmora had reached Constantinople did the premier inform him that he was to give the preference to the English army when required to aid the allies. It was then too late to withdraw from the position; and La Marmora, while maintaining his own dignity, behaved with admirable courtesy and tact towards the other commanders, with whom he formed cordial relations. His troops suffered terribly by the ravages of cholera, by which fell disease he lost his favorite brother, General Alessandro La Marmora. "There was nothing more touching," says the French General Chazal"nothing that so well attested the honor, military spirit, and elevation of sentiment of this illustrious family-than the devotion "I owe my elevation over my brother to the chances of war," he said sadly, as if it were a misfortune; "my brother's merit is greater than mine." When he lost this dear brother by an inglorious death, his grief was intense, but silent as that of a Spartan. Two hours after he had closed Alessandro's eyes, he was going the round of the hospitals, and the same evening he took part in an attack upon the enemy. The soldiers never saw their leader but with a calm and resolute front. field," utter. "He deserved to die on the battlewas all the regret they heard him To one friend only he poured out the sorrows of his heart, in his letters to Turin. Dabormida was perhaps the only one of all the many who loved and esteemed La Marmora, who always understood him, with whom no difference ever, arose. He was hurt by Cavour's not having written him a private letter of sympathy. "You only," he says to Dabormida, "have understood how sorely I stand in need of sympathy under this tremendous blow which has struck me, and the woful conditions in which we now find ourselves. If I had urged this expedition, I should die of remorse; but not having any self-reproach, thank God, I have courage to go on, and if he gives me life, to come out honorably from the painful position in which we are placed." Then he describes the sufferings of his troops, and adds, with a soldier's pride, "We can support our hardships with more spirit because we owe nothing to the allies.” The victory of the Tchernaya covered with glory the Piedmontese army and their general, and Cavour's patriotic joy was intensified by his friendship. When he announced the victory to La Marmora's wife, he wrote: "Your husband has acquired a new title to the gratitude and affection of his countrymen. You ought to be proud to be his wife, as I am proud to be his friend." |