THE LATE KING OF ITALY.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 184, 18 January 1878, Page 7

THE LATE KING OF ITALY.

Victor Emmanuel, King of Ttaly, son nf Charles Albert, King of Sardina, and of Queen Theresa, daughter of Grand Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany, was' born on March 14tb, 1820, and received at his baptism the names Marie- Eugene-Ferdinand-Thomas-Victor-Em-manuel. He was carefully educated in science and military tactics, and married April 12th, 1842, the Archduchess Adelaide of Austria, v/ho died January 20th, 1855. He took an active part as Duke of Savoy, in the events of 1848, accompanying his father to the field, und behaving with great bravery in the battles of Goiro and Novara. On the evening after the latter (March 24th, 1849) Charles Albert signed his abdication in rhe Bollini Palace. Little was then known of his son and successor, who assumed the title Victor Emmanuel IT., except that ')e was a dashinghunter, somewhat haughty, and a reputed opponent to Liberalism. He succeded in obtaining from Austria terms less humiliating than those imposed on his father, but the treaty of peace was not signed till August, 1849. On mounting the throne of Sardinia he endeavoured to reorganise the finance?, the array, and the system of public instruction, concluded with England several treaties of commerce, established railways, and promoted free trade. He indignantly refused the offer made by Austria for the cession of Parma, provided he would abolish the constitution Genoa having revolted, and expelled his garrison, he sent an army against it, recovered his former rights, and bis efforts for the prosperity of his kingdom were generally successful. He had, however, one great struggle throughout his reign with the court and clergy of Rome. Guided by Count Cavour, he confiscated much church property, and took away many clerical privileges. He concluded, in January, 1855, a convention with France and England, to take part in the war

.against Russia, find despatched to the Crimea an army of 17.000 men, under General De La Marmora (whose deafh was announced a few days ago), which distinguished itself by a victory on the. banks of the Tchernaya. Sardinia took part in the Conference of Paris, where her ambassador laid before the representatives an able paper on the state of Italy.- fn 1855 the King lost his mother, wife, and brother, and was brought to the verge of the grave by fever. After his recovery he visited Prance and England, where he was rncelved with great enthusiasm, and was created a Knight of the Garter and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. In the early part of 1859, the' King, whose relations with Austria had been for a long time the reverse of friendly, announced in the Chamber that a storm was impending, and Count Cavour detailed the grievances of Sardinia against Austria in a diplomatic circular. Lord< Derby'-s Government used its best endeavours to avert a war which seemed imminent, but without effect. . Austria summoned Sardinia to disarm, but in va'.n ; and the Austrian army crossed the Ticino. The Emperor of the French despatched a powerful army to Italy, and having assumed the command, joined the Sardinian forces, and defeated the Austrians at Montebello, May 20; at Palestro, May 30 and 31 ; at Magenta, June 4 ; Solferino, June 24, the Emperor and the King being present in person. The Austrian" were expelled from Lombardy, the princes from Naples, Tuscany, Parma, and Modena ; and the Treaty of Villa Franca, concluded July 11th, confirmed by the Treaty of Zurich, Novombjer 10, terminated the war and established Victor Emmanuel as King of ftaly. The Parliament, assembled at Turin, March 17th, 1861, formally established the title, which was recognised by England March 30th, and by, France June 24th. A treaty for the transfer of the seat of Government from Turin to Florence, and the evacuation of Romp by the French in two years, was signed September 15th, 1874. The court was transferred to Florence in 1805, and the Fi'ench army was withdrawn from Rome in 1867. In 1860, the King of [taly making common cause with Prussia, by a treaty signed May 12th, declared war against Austria. The Italian army was defeated by the Austrions at Oustozza, June 24th, . and the Italian fleet sustained a reverse off Lissn, July 20th ; but in consequence of the succpss of the Prussians, peace was signed at Vienna, October 3rd, by which Venice and the territory of Venetia were ceded to Italy, and Victor Emmanuel made his public entry into Venice November 7th. In September 1873, King Victor Emmanuel visited the Emperor of Austria at Vienna, and the Emperor of Germany at Berlin. His family consists of the Princess Clothilde Marie Therese Louis, born March 2nd, 1843, and married Janurry 30th, 1859, to Prince Napoleon ; Prince Humbert Renier Charles Emmanuel Jean Marie Ferdinand Engine, heir apparent, and Prince of Piedmont, born March 14th, 1844 : Prince Amadeus Ferdinand Marie, Duke of Aosta (formerly King of Spain), born May 30th, 1844; and Princess Maria Pia" born October 16th, 1047, and married October 6th, 1862, to Louis 1., King of Portugal.