romise never to return or make a similar attempt--in which he openly
called on the subjects of the then King of the French to follow him
as the successor of Napoleon, the _Coup d'Etat_ of December 1851,
followed by great ... severity and the confiscation of the property of
the unfortunate Orleans family, would lead one to believe that he is
not. On the other hand, his kindness and gratitude towards all those,
whether high or low, who have befriended him or stood by him through
life, and his straightforward and steady conduct towards us throughout
the very difficult and anxious contest in which we have been engaged
for a year and a half, show that he is possessed of noble and right
feelings.

My impression is, that in all these apparently inexcusable acts, he
has invariably been guided by the belief that he is _fulfilling a
destiny_ which God has _imposed_ upon him, and that, though cruel or
harsh in themselves, they were _necessary_ to obtain the result which
he considered _himself_ as _chosen_ to carry out, and _not_ acts of
_wanton_ cruelty or injustice; for it is impossible to know him and
not to see that there is much that is truly amiable, kind, and honest
in his character. Another remarkable and important feature in his
composition is, that everything he says or expresses is the _result_
of deep reflection and of settled purpose, and not merely _des phrases
de politesse_, consequently when we read words used in his speech
made in the City, we may feel sure that he _means_ what he says; and
therefore I would rely with confidence on his behaving honestly and
faithfully towards us. I am not able to say whether he is deeply
versed in History--I should rather think not, as regards it
_generally_, though he may be, and probably is, well informed in
the history of his own country, certainly fully so in that of the
_Empire_, he having made it his special study to contemplate and
reflect upon all the acts and designs of his great uncle. He is very
well read in German literature, to which he seems to be very partial.
It is said, and I am inclined to think with truth, that he reads but
little, even as regards despatches from his own foreign Ministers, he
having expressed his surprise at my reading them daily. He seems to
be singularly ignorant in matters not connected with the branch of
his _special_ studies, and to be ill informed upon them by those who
surround him.

If we compare him with poor King Louis Philippe, I sho