neral Garibaldi would politely show me the door. Other and
more powerful counsellors have inspired him with different ideas.
Friendship dangerous indeed! How deeply painful is it that no man,
however intelligent or great, can clearly distinguish the line, where
the mission for which Heaven has endowed him ceases, and, disdaining all
celebrity foreign to his true glory, consent to remain such as future
ages will admire.[32]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 31: The Citizen Gambon, representative of the Department of
the Seine, left Paris charged with a mission to seek Garibaldi, but was
arrested at Bonifacio, in the island of Corsica, just as he was
embarking for Caprera.

For Memoir, see Appendix 4.]

[Footnote 32: Garibaldi was chosen by the Central Committee for
Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard, but he refused in the
following terms, pretending not to be aware of the condition of Paris:--

"Caprera, 28th March, 1871.

"CITIZENS,--

"Thanks for the honour you have conferred upon me by my nomination as
Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard of Paris, which I love, and
whose dangers and glory I should be proud to share.

"I owe you, however, the following explanations:--

"A commandant of the National Guard of Paris, a commander of the Army of
Paris, and a directing committee, whatever they may be, are three powers
which are not reconcilable with the present situation of France.

"Despotism has the advantage over us, the advantage of the concentration
of power, and it is this same centralisation which you should oppose to
your enemies.

"Choose an honest citizen, and such are not wanting: Victor Hugo, Louis
Blanc, Felix Pyat, Edgar Quinet, or another of the elders of radical
democracy, would serve the purpose. The generals Oremer and Billot, who,
I see, have your confidence, may be counted in the number.

"Be assured that one honest man should be charged with the supreme
command and full powers; such a man would choose other honest men to
assist him in the difficult task of saving the country.

"If you should have the good fortune to find a Washington, France will
recover from shipwreck, and in a short time will be grander than ever.

"These conditions are not an excuse for escaping the duty of serving
republican France. No! I do not despair of fighting by the side of these
_braves_, and I am,

"Yours devotedly,

(Signed), "G. GARIBALDI."]

XXVI.

Monday, the 3rd of April.[33] A fearful day