The  queen  assisted  at  the  ceremony  in  a  carriage,  ac-
companied by  the  two  children  Humbert  and  Amadeus,
the  one  five  and  the  other  four  years  old.  The  royal
party  were  received  with  the  coldest  courtesy  by  the
citizens.  Not  a  cheer  welcomed  the  unfortunate  prince
to  the  throne  of  his  ancestors,  except  what  was  given  by
his  faithful  soldiers  who  had  followed  him  through  the
war.  The  king  was  deeply  wounded  by  the  injustice
and  ingratitude  of  his  people,  and,  naturally,  his  wife  felt


52  LIFE   OF   VICTOR   EMMANUEL   II.
with  him.     They  went   home   miserable  and   disconso-
late.
The  royal  proclamation  was  to  the  following  efifect: — -

Citizens, — Untoward  events  and  the  will  of  my  most
venerated  parent  have  called  me,  long  before  my
time,  to  the  throne  of  my  ancestors.  The  circum-
stances under  which  I  hold  the  reins  of  government
are  such  that  nothing  but  the  most  perfect  concord  in
all  will  enable  me,  and  then  with  difficulty,  to  fulfil  my
only  desire,  the  salvation  of  our  common  country.  The
destinies  of  nations  are  matured  in  the  designs  of  Pro-
vidence, but  man  owes  to  his  country  all  the  service
he  is  capable  of,  and  in  this  debt  we  have  not  failed.
Now  all  our  efforts  must  be  to  maintain  our  honour
untarnished,  to  heal  the  wounds  (jf  our  country,  to  con-
solidate our  constitutional  institutions.  To  this  un-
dertaking I  conjure  all  my  people,  to  it  I  will  pledge
myself  by  a  solemn  oath,  and  I  await  from  the  nation
the  exchange  of  help,  affection,  and  confidence.
Victor  Emmanuel.
The  proclamation  was  not  countersigned  by  any
minister ;  but  his  adviser  was  Cadorna,  whom  he  had
empowered  to  form  a  ministry  on  the  resignation  of  the
late  one.
