Chapter 2

THE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS—THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN COMMITTEE—MAZZINI—LEDRU-ROLLIN—KOSSUTH

In London I made haste to see Mazzini, not only because he had taken the warmest and most active interest in the misfortunes which had befallen my family, but also because I was charged with a special commission to him from his friends. Medici, Pisacane, Mezzacapo, Cosenz, Bertani and the rest were dissatisfied with the direction of affairs given from London; they said that Mazzini did not understand the new position, and they complained of the revolutionary sycophants who, to curry favour, supported his idea that everything was ready for a rising and only waiting for a signal. They wanted internal changes in the party, they thought it essential to introduce a far more military element and to have strategists at the head of the movement, instead of lawyers and journalists. With this object they wished Mazzini to associate himself more closely with generals of genius, such as Ulloa,[32] who with old Pepe[33] stood in dissatisfied aloofness.

They commissioned me to tell all this to Mazzini, partly because they knew he had confidence in me, and partly because my position outside the Italian parties freed my hands.

Mazzini received me as an old friend. At last the conversation turned on the message given me by his friends. At first he listened to me very attentively, though he did not disguise the fact that he was not quite pleased at opposition; but when from general propositions I came down to details and personal questions, then he suddenly cut me short.

‘That is not so at all, there is not a word of sense in it!’

‘It is not six weeks, though,’ I observed, ‘since I left Genoa, and I have spent the last two years in Italy and can myself confirm a great deal of what I have said, speaking in the name of your friends.’

‘It is just because you have been in Genoa that you say that. What is Genoa? What could you hear there? The opinion of one group of the exiles! I know that they think that, but I know too that they are mistaken. Genoa is a very important centre, but it is only one point and I know the whole of Italy; I know the needs of every little spot from Abruzzi to Vorarlberg. Our friends in Genoa are out of touch with the whole peninsula, they cannot judge what it wants, they cannot judge the state of mind of the public.’

I made two or three more attempts, but by now he was _en garde_, beginning to get angry and answering impatiently. I ceased speaking, with a feeling of sadness; I had not noticed such intolerance in him in old days.

‘I am very grateful to you,’ he said, after a moment’s thought. ‘I ought to know our friends’ opinion; I am ready to weigh everything, to consider everything, but whether I agree or not is a different matter; a great responsibility lies upon me, not only before God and my conscience, but before the Italian people.’

My mediation was a failure.

Mazzini was already planning his 3rd of February 1853; the question was settled in his mind, and his friends did not agree with him.

‘Do you know Ledru-Rollin, and Kossuth?’ he asked.

‘No.’

‘Would you like to make their acquaintance?’

‘Very much.’

‘You ought to see them. I will write you a few words to both. Tell them what you have seen, how you have left our friends. Ledru-Rollin,’ he went on, taking up the pen and beginning a note, ‘is the most charming man in the world, but a Frenchman _jusqu’au bout des ongles_. He firmly believes that Europe will never move without a revolution in France. _Le peuple initiateur!..._ But where is French initiative now? Though even in the past the ideas which moved France came from Italy or from England. You will see that Italy will begin the new era of revolution! What do you think?’

‘I must own that I do not think so.’

‘Why,’ he said smiling, ‘will it be the Slav world?’

‘I didn’t say that; I do not know on what Ledru-Rollin bases his convictions, but it is very probable that no revolution will succeed in Europe while France is in the state of prostration in which we see her.’

‘So you are still under the influence of the prestige of France?’

‘The prestige of her geographical position, her formidable army and her natural support by Russia, Austria and Prussia.’[34]

‘France is asleep, we will awaken her.’

There was nothing left for me to say but, ‘God grant that your words may come true!’

Which of us was right at that moment was shown by Garibaldi. In a former