In 1855 he turned Roman Catholic and entered the Austrian service as court and ministerial councillor in the department of foreign affairs.
We may clearly distinguish two periods in his administration of foreign affairs.
His knowledge of foreign affairs was, however, peculiarly useful at a juncture when boundary ques tions were the subjects that chiefly attracted public attention.
The necessities of war and foreign affairs soon placed Florence in the power of an oligarchy headed by the great Albizzi family.
Farini, who succeeded, suf retired almost at once on account of ill-health, and th inghetti became premier, with Visconti-Venosta as minister its foreign affairs.