power, as a moral dominion based on religion and pub-; lie opinion." Gioberti aims at "restoring the papal arbitration between the sovereign and the people ; he wishes to lead it back to the time of Gregory VII and of Alexander III, and in this restoration of the past finds the best means of repulsing foreign ojipression by the unaided efforts of Italy alone. As for the form of government, he inclines to a constitutional monar- chy, and, like Alfieri, considers Piedmont as the most compact, best organized, and most vital state of Itah- ; calls it to closer union with the other provinces, and bj' showing to it the perspective of a united Italy, in- vites it to become the champion of national independ- ence." The work was published under the most un- favorable circumstances, during the last years of the pontificate of Gregory XVI. The Jesuits, despite a few com])liments to their order, which the autlior had skilfulh' introduced in his book, were alarmed at its tendencies. Gioberti, however, answered their olijec- tions in / Prolegomeni (1845) ; // Gesuita moderno (Ca- polago, 1847, 8 vols. ; German transl. hy Cornet, Lpz. 1849, 3 vols.). This work, written ah iiato, had an im- mense effect ; the Jesuits were expelled from Pied- mont, and from all the other states of Peninsular Italy. After the events of 1848 Gioberti was recalled from exile, and his return was a triumph. He went to Milan, started the project of iniion between Lombardy and Piedmont, and traversed Central Italy, inviting all parties to unite for the good of the countr}-. He declined the office of senator which was oflored him by Charles Albert, but was elected to the House of Representatives by the inhabitants of Turin, and at once chosen for its president. In 1848 he was minis- ter of public instruction, and president of the so-called Democratic council. Austrian intrigues defeated Gio- berti's plans, and he was obliged to withdraw from the cabinet. He then advocated his views in a news- paper entitled II Sagifuitore. The misfortunes of Italy and the abdication of Charles Albert rendered it neces- sary for him to take again an active part in state af- fairs. Victor Emmanuel appointed him in the Delau- nay-Pinelli cabinet, without any special department; yet the conservative party managed soon after to have him appointed ambassador to Paris, as a means of get- ting rid of him. He understood it so, sent in his res- ignation, and on the arrival of his successor, count Gallina, returned to private life. He afterwards pub- lished his Del Rinnovamento ciiile dell' Italia (Palis and Turin, 1851, 2 vols.). In this work he examines with great in:partialit}' into the causes of the present posi- tion of Itah'. Among the chief obstacles to its inde- pendence he signalizes, on the one hand, the exagger- ation of the principles of municipal and ecclesiastical power, and, on the other, the dangerous influence of Mazzinianism. Sympathizing with the loyalty and liberalism of Victor Enmianuel, he, so to s;:y, traces (uit for him the line to be followed to arrive at the re- generation of Italy. Gioberti was preparing a philo- sojihical work, entitled Protologia. Avhen he died sud- denly at Paris, Oct. 25, 1851. His most important work is the Introdtizione, which has been translated into French under the title Introduction a Vettide de la Pkiliisopkie (Paris, 1847, 3 vols. 8vo). '1 he C/nistian Remembrancer (July, 1853, art. i) remarks n]ion it as follows: "AVith regard to the Introduction to PhUoso- pkg, it is extremely difficult to express an opinion, because (speaking witli the utmost seriousness) we have a great difficulty in deciding, upon internal evi- dence alone, whether it was the product of a sane mind. The excitement visible throughout; the lofty tone in which he passes judgment upon others, and pours forth his own 'utterances;' the virulence with wliich he treats some who differ from him, combined with the obscurity and dreaminess of the opinions ex- pressed ; the extraordinary nature of th^ premises he assumes, and his dogmatism, not the less arrogant from his entire unconsciousness — all these things on
GIOBERTI
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GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS