There is no race more ready at making and discussing laws; legislation and jurisprudence have been among their chief triumphs.
The idea of law sprang up in Italy at the time of the foundation of Rome, and it is the richest production of this marvellous soil.

The Italians still possess administrative genius in a high degree.
Administration went forth from the midst of them for the conquest of the world, and the greatest administrators known to history, Caesar and Napoleon, were of Italian origin.
Thus gifted by nature, they have the sense of their high qualities, and they at times carry it to the extent of pride.

The legitimate desire to exercise the faculties they possess, degenerates into ambition; but their pride would not be ludicrous, nor would their ambition appear extravagant, if their hands were free for action.
Through a long series of ages, despotic Governments have penned them into a narrow area.

The impossibility of realizing high aims, and the want of action which perpetually stirs within them, has driven them to paltry disputes and local quarrels.

Are we to infer from this that they are incapable of becoming a nation?
I am not of that opinion.
Already they are uniting to call upon the King of Piedmont, and to applaud the policy of Count Cavour.