ty spirit has no mercy; indignant Freedom seldom shows forbearance
in her hour of revolt. I wish you _could_ see the aged gentleman
trudging down Cornhill with his umbrella and carpet-bag, in good
earnest; he would be safe in England: John Bull might laugh at him
but he would do him no harm.

'How strange it appears to see literary and scientific names figuring
in the list of members of a Provisional Government! How would it
sound if Carlyle and Sir John Herschel and Tennyson and Mr. Thackeray
and Douglas Jerrold were selected to manufacture a new constitution
for England? Whether do such men sway the public mind most
effectually from their quiet studies or from a council-chamber?

'And Thiers is set aside for a time; but won't they be glad of him
by-and-by? Can they set aside entirely anything so clever, so
subtle, so accomplished, so aspiring--in a word, so thoroughly
French, as he is? Is he not the man to bide his time--to watch while
unskilful theorists try their hand at administration and fail; and
then to step out and show them how it should be done?

'One would have thought political disturbance the natural element of
a mind like Thiers'; but I know nothing of him except from his
writings, and I always think he writes as if the shade of Bonaparte
were walking to and fro in the room behind him and dictating every
line he pens, sometimes approaching and bending over his shoulder,
_pour voir de ses yeux_ that such an action or event is represented
or misrepresented (as the case may be) exactly as he wishes it.
Thiers seems to have contemplated Napoleon's character till he has
imbibed some of its nature. Surely he must be an ambitious man, and,
if so, surely he will at this juncture struggle to rise.

'You should not apologise for what you call your "crudities." You
know I like to hear your opinions and views on whatever subject it
interests you to discuss.

'From the little inscription outside your note I conclude you sent me
the _Examiner_. I thank you therefore for your kind intention and am
sorry some unscrupulous person at the Post Office frustrated it, as
no paper has reached my hands. I suppose one ought to be thankful
that letters are respected, as newspapers are by no means sure of
safe conveyance.--I remain, dear sir, yours sincerely,