Note 4 — Chapter I

The Times does not take this view, for we find as follows, in one of its leading articles of the 27th of August, 1867:—“By one of the clauses in the recent commercial treaty between Austria and Italy, it is provided that both countries shall co-operate in the restoration and maintenance of international communication on the frontier. One of the results of this agreement is, that the magnificent military road of the Stelvio, a road which constituted one of the wonders of the Alps, but which Austria, ever since her loss of Lombardy in 1859, had suffered to go to ruin, will be completed and re-established. Italians and Austrians are now hard at work, each on their own side, vying with each other in their endeavours to efface the traces of ten years’ neglect, and restoring gradients and galleries, bridges and embankments, to their former condition. It is pleasant to hear of competition in such peaceful pursuits among people who, only twelve months ago, were confronting each other amid those very mountain scenes, bent on mutual destruction.”