]VIAECHESE GINO CAPPOlSn. 369 



was invited by the Grand Duke to form one of a committee charged 

 to propose a form of representative government suited to the needs of 

 Tuscany. Tiiis Commission instituted a Council of State, in vvliich 

 Capponi, who was elected Senator, was called upon to take a seat ; and 

 when, after the events of 1848, a new ministry was to be constituted, 

 he was charged to form it, and to become its President. During the 

 short time that he retained this otfice, he gave proof of his great ability 

 and judgment. The acts of his government were directed towards the 

 founding of liberal institutions, the furthering of the war of independ- 

 ence, and the confederation of the Italian princes, tliat they might 

 represent Italian nationality as a principle and an accomplished fact. 

 Events impossible to control, jealousies not to be appeased, and the 

 inci'eased strength of tho.-e who would not be content with such a 

 measure of law-abiding liberty as the Capponi ministry favored, 

 brought about its downfall after a few months ; but, if it did not reap 

 the laurels of success, it carried with it in defeat the respect of honest 

 men, who recognized that it had striven to conciliate liberty and order, 

 and to keep down those disorderly elements which now got the upper 

 hand and threatened to shipwreck both. In the provisional govern- 

 ment, which was constituted in F'ebruary, 1848, after the flight of the 

 Grand Duke, Capponi took no i^art, feeling that the wisest course was 

 to bide his time. This came in 1849, when constitutional govenmient 

 was restored by the people and the Priors of the Commune, who, on 

 assuming the reins of government, called Capponi, with other distin- 

 guished citizens, to assist them in their ditHcult task. One month 

 later the Commission resigned its powers into the hands of the Count 

 Luigi Serristori, who had been nominated by the Grand Duke as his 

 commissioner with full powers, and Capponi then retired into private 

 life. He continued however, to use his influence with, the govern- 

 ment to satisfy the legitimate demands of the people ; and, had his 

 advice been listened to, the resolution of April, 1859, which put an 

 end to the rule of the Austro-Lorraine dynasty in Tuscany for ever, 

 might have been averted or delayed. Although Capponi was one of 

 those who had nourished the vain belief that the "overnment of the 

 Grand Duke could be brought into harmony with the aspirations of 

 the country, and therefore may be classed with those who are popu- 

 larly known as " Codini," he frankly accepted the situation ; and, being 

 above all things anxious to bring about that state of affairs most favor- 

 able to the unity of Italy, he took his seat in the Tuscan Assembly, 

 and with his colleagaes voted the perpetual exclusion of the Austro- 

 Lorraine family from power, and that union of Tuscany to the Sub- 

 voL. XI. (n. s. hi.) 24 



