30 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



down by the will of the people could only be raised 

 aloft again over a mountain of corpses and the ruins 

 of our cities. 



" I shall have the honour of submitting some other 

 considerations to you to-morrow or the day after. 

 " Your very devoted 



" JOSEPH MAZZINI." 



Signor Mazzini to M. de Lesseps. 

 " [Private.] 



" ROME, May 17, 1849. 



" The messengers carrying the ordinary correspond- 

 ence, who go out by the Angelica gates, have just 

 been driven back by the French, at the orders of the 

 General. "What does a cessation of hostilities mean if 

 we are still to be hampered and embarrassed in 

 keeping up communications with the provinces and in 

 preparing our means of defence against the Austrians 

 and the Neapolitans ? The only effect it can produce 

 upon our populations is to induce the belief that 

 the truce is, so far as it regards ourselves, a word 

 void of meaning! This state of things cannot last. 

 Remember that our territory is invaded, and that 

 we must defend ourselves. The messengers were 

 stopped at the Acqua Traversa bridge. See if you 

 can set this right. I know the country, and I am 

 certain that all negotiation will be impossible if this 

 state of things lasts. 



" JOSEPH MAZZINI." 



