ABSTRACT
Italy was a country of predilection for the British political class and electorate, most of whom had an education that was weighted heavily towards classical history and literature. Britain was singular in having nothing to gain from a European war and a great deal to lose. One basic premiss of foreign policy was that Austria had been Britain's major ally in defeating Napoleon. One important point of difference remained between Austria and the British: Metternich believed that liberal reforms would encourage revolution. Whereas Lord Palmerston assumed the opposite and even the conservative Castlereagh in 1815 had been anxious for the Austrians to adopt a more relaxed and liberal policy towards their Italian subjects. Any move towards constitutional government received almost automatic support in Britain, not least because constitutional assemblies were likely to be less warlike than autocrats as well as being a prophylactic against revolution.
