[War. Austria against Prussia and Italy.]

and the same idea, in one and the same hope, those of defending the Rights of Austria.

At the sight of my valiant Armies, so ready for the fight, which form the bulwark, the rampart against which the forces of the enemy will dash themselves to pieces, I feel my courage and my confidence redoubled, and I can but feel a good hope when I meet the gaze of my faithful Peoples, united and determined, and their ready devotion for every sacrifice.

The pure flame of patriotic enthusiasm strives with the same intensity throughout my Empire. At the first call, the soldiers on furlough immediately joined their standards; volunteers enrol themselves in special Regiments; the whole population able to bear Arms in the threatened Provinces fly to arms, and with the noblest self-denial they all strive to lessen the evils of War, and to provide for the wants of the Army.

But one feeling animates the Inhabitants of my Kingdoms and Provinces: they feel the ties which unite them, the strength which comes from Union.

At this serious, but at the same time such an edifying moment, I doubly regret that the understanding on the constitutional questions are not sufficiently advanced to admit of my assembling the Representatives of all my Kingdoms around my Throne; actually deprived of that prop, my duty as a Sovereign is only the clearer, and my resolution to secure for ever the Constitutional Rights of my Empire can but be strengthened.

We shall not be alone in the struggle which is about to take place. The Princes and Peoples of Germany know that their Liberty and Independence are menaced by a Power which listens but to the dictates of egotism and is under the influence of an ungovernable craving after aggrandizement; and they also know that in Austria they have an upholder of the Freedom, Power, and Integrity of the whole of the German Fatherland. We and our German brethren have taken up Arms in defence of the most precious Rights of Nations. We have been forced so to do, and we neither can nor will disarm until the internal development of my Empire and of the German States which are allied with it has been secured, and also their power and influence in Europe.

My hopes are not based on unity of purpose or power alone. I confide in an Almighty and just God, whom my House from its

[War. Austria against Prussia and Italy.]

very foundation has faithfully served, a God who never forsakes those who righteously put their trust in Him. To Him I pray for assistance and success, and I call on my Peoples to join me in that prayer.

Given at my Residence of Vienna, the Capital of my Empire, 17th June, 1866.

[Great Britain proclaimed its Neutrality in this War on the 27th June, 1866.]

[War. Prussia and Austria.]

No. 380.-PRUSSIAN MANIFESTO of War with Austria. Berlin, 18th June, 1866.

To my People.

(Translation.)

At the moment of the departure of the Prussian Army for a decisive struggle, I feel called upon to speak to my People, to the Sons and Grandsons of the brave Fathers to whom, a century ago, my Father, who rests in God, addressed these memorable words:

"The Country is in danger!"

Only a few years since, of my free will, and ignoring all previous injuries, I gave the Emperor of Austria a friendly hand, when there was an intention of delivering up a German Country to Foreign Dominion.

From blood shed in common, I was in hopes that an Alliance based upon mutual esteem and furthering the prosperity and power of Germany would issue from the Austrian and Prussian brotherhood in arms. I have been deceived. Austria will not forget that her Princes formerly reigned over Germany; and will not consider Prussia as her natural ally, but as a hostile rival.

In her opinion, Prussia must be opposed in all its tendencies, because that which is beneficial to Prussia is objectionable to Austria.

The old and fatal jealousy has been revived: Prussia must be weakened, destroyed, dishonoured; Treaties have no longer any value. Not only are the Princes of the Germanic Confederation called upon, but they are drawn into a breach of the Confederation. Wherever we cast our eyes in Germany, we are surrounded by enemies whose War cry is the humiliation of Prussia. But the spirit of 1813 lives in the Prussian People.

Who shall wrest from us an inch of Prussian Territory if we are firmly resolved to keep the Conquests of our Fathers-if the King and the People, united more firmly than ever by the dangers of the Country, consider as their first and most sacred duty to give their possessions and their blood to preserve her honour?

In the foresight, full of solicitude of what has just happened, I was obliged for years past, as the first duty of my Royal func

[War. Prussia and Austria.]

tions, to prepare the civil portion of the Prussian People for a great development of power.

Like myself, every Prussian will confidently cast his eyes upon the armed force which defends our Frontiers.

With their King at their head, the Prussian Nation will truly feel itself a People in Arms.

Our opponents deceive themselves if they imagine Prussia to be paralysed by dissensions at home. Before the enemy these disappear, and all hitherto opposed to one another stand henceforth united in triumph or misfortune.

I have done everything to save Prussia from the expenses and sacrifices of a War; my People know it; God also knows it, He who searches our hearts.

Up to the last moment I have striven, in conjunction with France, Great Britain, and Russia, to come to an amicable arrangement (No. 377).

Austria refused, and other German States have openly sided with her.

Let it then be so!

It is not my fault if my People are forced to maintain a difficult struggle, and perhaps to bear hard trials; but no other choice was left.

We are compelled to fight for existence. We must go forth to battle for life or death against those who wish to humiliate the Prussia of the great Elector, of the great Frederic, of the Prussia such as she has come out of the War of Independence, from the position to which the spirit of her Princes, the bravery, devotedness, and morality of her People have raised her.

Let us implore the Almighty, He who rules the destinies of Peoples and Battles, that He may bless our Arms.

If God give us the victory, we shall be strong enough to reunite more firmly and more prosperously those loosened ties of Germany which they who fear the right and the power of the national spirit have torn asunder.

Berlin, 18th June, 1866.

WILLIAM.

[War. Italy and Austria.]

No. 381.-ITALIAN MANIFESTO of War with Austria. 19th June, 1866.

(Translation.)

SEVEN years have already passed since Austria attacked my States (No. 293) because I had supported the common cause of the Country in the Councils of Europe, and had not been insensible to the cries of anguish which arose from every part of oppressed Italy.

I took up the sword to defend my Throne, the liberty of my People, the honour of the Italian name, and to fight for the right of the Nation. Victory was in favour of good right. The valour of the Army, the aid of the Volunteers, the concord and wisdom of the People, and the assistance of a magnanimous Ally, gained the almost complete Independence and Liberty of Italy. Supreme reasons which we were obliged to respect prevented us from at that time accomplishing that just and glorious enterprise. One of the noblest Provinces of the Peninsula remained in the hands of Austria, notwithstanding its heroic resistance and continual protest against Foreign Dominion rendered them especially dear and sacred to us. Though sorrowful at heart, I abstained from troubling Europe, which desired Peace, and sympathised in the foundation and the increase of my Kingdom.

My Government occupied itself with improving the work of interior organisation, with opening sources of public prosperity, and with fortifying the Country by land and by sea, in order that Italy, placed in a position not to dread an attack, should find in the consciousness of her strength reasons for a watchful prudence, awaiting the moment in which, with the assistance of the opinion of civilised nations, and the principles of a wise liberality which prevailed in the Councils of Europe, a favourable opportunity should arise of delivering Venetia, of accomplishing and insuring her Independence.

*

Although waiting was not without danger nor without sorrow, within Frontiers badly defined and disarmed, under the constant threats of the Enemy, who had for a long period accumulated in the Provinces submitted to her sway formidable preparations of attack and defence; notwithstanding the distressing spectacle of the treatment inflicted on the miserable populations which she *The Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom was ceded by Austria to Italy by the Treaty signed at Prague, 23rd August, 1866.