36
eTurin Sunday October 6th h ^Nov 6t ^ h1859
His majesty Victor Emanuel was pleased
to say that he would receive me this morning. I re-
paired at ten oclock with my courier for a ser-
vant to the Royal Palace. At the door I was
shown up stairs, passed through two rooms
occupied by guards into the outer antechamber
where I was received by the Secretary of State
and presented to the Minister of Finance and
to an aid de camp of his majesty who was
in attendance to be my interpreter. I suppose
you would not excuse an omission concerning
dress. So I must say that here as at Rome
and Venice I was dressed in an evening
dress but without sword or chapeau. It was
a day of general audiences. Several members
from Foreign Courts were in attendance in the
ante chamber two women, one a lady
of fashion, the other a poor woman with some
touching suit I doubt not, and one or two
persons who I thought had come to submit
some piece of art or some invention.
After one of the ministers and the Lady
had had their audiences I was called in

37
simply by my name of Mous. Seward.
The King was standing and alone. It may have
been ^a^ fancy of mine, but I thought his countenance
showed something of wonder & curiosity as to
what his An American minister might be
like. I confess that he seemed to me to
look as I think I look when I am embar-
rassed by a visitor who is not of the accus-
tomed sort, I thought his manner indicated previous
study of his address on receiving me, which was
I am very glad to writ receive you and
welcome You to Turin. Where do you come
from, “From the United States, but recently
from Milan and Venice – ” “You have been some
time in Italy? Yes – at Rome and Naples.”
How long in Europe? Six months but I have
visited also Egypt & Jerusalem. Then you have
had a long voyage, Yes. The Ita “Well as you
are one of the principal men in your country I
hope that you will judge favorably of the Italian
cause – ” The late campaign has all been
begun and ended since I left home. I am
sure that it has excited deep interest in my
country and I have therefore studied it as
[ care ] fully as I could from all different

38
stand points. “It was very nice in you to do so, and
I beg You to be assured that I appreciate very
sincerely high your interest in our causes. I hope you
will be able to give it your approval.” I replied
the cause of Italy is the cause of Progress, of
Constitutional government, and that is our cause in
America. Italy is always sure of the sympathy
of the American people when we ^ can any escape ^ feel that it is
can feel any confidence that the cause of Italy will
be sustained by the People of Italy themselves. But
there have been so many reactions to European
progress as to shake the confidence of its friends
in America – and make them distrust the earnestness
of the best movements”. “Well since you have been
here and seen Italy what do you think of
the earnestness of the people? Oh, my visit to Sar-
dinia and Lombardy has informed me with
full confidence” “Then you like the People
of Sardinia – ” Yes I think Sardinia the Scotland
of Italy,” Well, I shall always remember
your kindness to Italy. and to me and in
coming to see us, and I hope you will now
have occasion to speak otherwise of us than
you have done.” I ought to tell your majesty
that I know Mr Bertinatti your minister in

39
in the United States and that he is always
faithful to his principles and to the cause
of Italy there.” “I am very glad indeed to
hear so good an account of Mr. Bertinatti
and I hope he will continue to be accep-
table to you in America. Here after a
question or two about my route, and an
expression of regret for my early departure
and an explanation of the reason of it by
myself, the King gave me both his hands
and dismissed me with wishes for my
safe return home to the United States.
The Chamberlain called the next in waiting
and I retired. The Palace is very elegant
and very elegantly furnished. The King is
about forty, in good health, large erect
frank, and manly in appearance. He was
dressed in black, his clothes full and large
and he seemed like any country gentleman
in his estate.
To night I leave for Paris over
Mount Cenis, and I hope to be there on Wednesday
Next. You will hear from me there without delay
as I am going to hear from you.
Your own Henry