DEATH OF VICTOR EMMANUEL.

Kumara Times, Issue 406, 14 January 1878, Page 4

DEATH OF VICTOR EMMANUEL.

We announced on Saturday, through 'our telegraphic columns the death, at the age of 58, of Victor Emmanuel, H. R. -Galantuomo. The following account *of his career from " Men of the Time " will, at this juncture, be read with interest:— Victor Emmanuel's carreer was an <eventful one. Son of Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, and of Queen Theresa, •daughter of the Grand. Duke of Tuscany, -he was born March 14,1820, and received at his baptism the names Marie Albert Eugene Ferdinand Thomas Victor Emmanuel.*? He was carefully educated in science and military tactics, and married April 12, 1842, the Aich--duchess Adelaide of Austria, who died * January 20, 1855. He took an active part, as Duke of Savoy, in the events of 1848, accompanying his father to the afield, and behaving with great bravery at the battles of Goito, and Novara. On the evening after the latter (March 14, 1849), Charles Albert signed his abdication in the Bellini Palace. Little was then known of his son and successor, who assumed the title of Victor Emmanuel 11., except that he was a •dashing hunter, somewhat haughty, and a reputed opponent of Liberalism. He -succeeded in obtaining from Austria terms iess humiliating than those im.posed 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 finances, Ahe army, and the system of public in;struction, 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 iit, recovered his former rights, and his for the prosperity of his kingdom were generally successful. He had however, one great struggle throughout ibis reign with the court and olergy <of Rome. Guided by Count- Cavour, Jhe confiscated much church property, and took away many clerical privileges. He concluded, in January, 1855, a convention with France and England, took part in the war against Russia, and despatched to the Crimea -an army of 17,000 men, under General De La Marmora, 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. In the King lost his mother, wife, and brother, and was brought to the verge of the grave by fever. After his he visited France and England, where he was received with great and was created a Knight of the Garter .and Grand Cross of the ILegion of Honor. In the early part of 1859, the King, whose relations with -Austria had been for a long thtte the reverse of friendly, announced in the chamber that a storm was pending, and CountGavour detailed the grievances of Sardinia against Austria in a diplomatic •circular. Lord Derby's Government used its best endoavours to- avert a war which seemed imminent, but without effect. Austria summoned Sardinia to disarm, but in vain ; 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 ; and at Solfcrino June 24, the Emperor and the King* being present in person. The Austrians w«re expelled from Lombardy, the princes from Naples, Tuscany, Parma, and Modena; and the Treaty of Villa Fianca, concluded Jnly 11, conSrmed by the Treaty of Zurich, November 10, terminated the war aud established Victor Emmanuel as King of Italy. The Parliament as-semi-led at Turin, March 17, 1861, formally established the title, which was recognised by England March 30, and by France June 23. A treaty i for the transfer of the seat of Government from Turin to Florence, and! the evacuation of Rome by the French in two years, was signed SeptemV>er 15, 1564. The court was transferred to Florence in 1865 and the French army was withdrawn from Rome in 1861 In 1866 the King of Italy, making common cause with Prussia, by a treaty signed May 12, declared w» asjaiust Austria. The Italian anny was defeated.by,the Austrians at Custozza, June 24; and the Italian fleet sustained a reverse off Lissa, July 20 ; but in- consequence of the success of the Prussians, peice was signed at Vienna October 3, by which Venice iand the territory of Venetia were ceded to It*!y,' and- Viqtnr Emmanuel made his public emtry into Venice November 7. Events resulted in the occupation of Roi»e by v ,the troops of Victor Emmanuel ', and thi transfer to v that city of in I8W).