Mr. Marsh to Mr. Seward.
Sir: His Majesty the King of Italy having determined to make a solemn entry into Venice on the 7th of the present month, attended by his court, the president of the council, the minister of foreign affairs, and the other members of the cabinet, the diplomatic corps residing at Florence were invited to accompany him.
[Page 121]I deemed it my duty to accept this invitation, and proceeded to Venice accordingly, in company with the rest of the corps. The various ceremonies and festivities to which the foreign ministers were invited continue until to-morrow, but the court dinner having taken place on Sunday evening, I felt myself at liberty to return to Florence, and left Venice for this city on Monday morning.
The Italian troops had entered into formal possession of the city several days before, and the first burst of popular excitement was naturally spent on that occasion. There was, however, an abundant manifestation of enthusiasm on the reception of the King, and no spectator could doubt the sincerity of the fervent protestations which bore witness to the public joy at the long-delayed accomplishment of the desire of the Venetian people for incorporation into the kingdom of Italy.
The national tradition and feeling of the Venetians are republican, if not democratic, and the accession of Venetia to the Italian kingdom will, I think, strengthen the hands of the liberal party; but I see no cause to doubt that they accept in good faith the present dynasty and the constitution of 1848, and will prove both patriotic and loyal citizens.
As the period of the promised evacuation of Rome by the French garrison approaches, the excitement on the Roman question, which had been for a time allayed, is renewed, and the object of the extraordinary mission of General Fleury to the King is matter of eager discussion and anxious conjecture. It would be idle to speculate on state secrets which a week will probably reveal, and I shall only add that in my judgment the sovereign possession of Rome by the Italian government and people, whether with or without the assent of France, is a question of time only, though doubts may still be entertained whether that city will become the political capital of the kingdom.
The finances of Italy are in an embarrassed condition, her industry is prostrated, her agricultural interests depressed, but she still has natural resources— diminished, indeed, but not exhausted—and it may be hoped that the final achievement of her complete unity, and, above all, of her independence of foreign interference or dictation, may soon leave her at full liberty to concentrate the wisdom of her publicists and statesmen upon her internal administration, the development of her physical resources, and the moral and intellectual advancement of her people.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.