England changes an administration. Whether the head of the State should
have the title of sovereign or president, whether he be hereditary or
elected, is a question of minor importance impossible now to determine,
but on which I heartily concur with you that hereditary monarchy is
infinitely better adapted to the habits of Frenchmen, to their love
of show and of honours--and infinitely more preservative from all the
dangers which result from constant elections to such a dignity, with
parties so heated, and pretenders to the rank so numerous--than any
principle by which a popular demagogue or a successful general is
enabled to destroy the institutions he is elected to guard. On these
fundamental doctrines for the regeneration of France I think we are
agreed. And I believe when the moment arrives to promulgate them,
through an expounder of weight like yourself, they will rapidly commend
themselves to the intellect of France. For they belong to common sense;
and in the ultimate prevalence of common-sense I have a faith which I
refuse to medievalists who would restore the right divine; and still
more to fanatical quacks, who imagine that the worship of the Deity, the
ties of family, and the rights of property are errors at variance with
the progress of society. Qui vivera, verra."

INCOGNITO.--"In the outlines of the policy you so ably enunciate I
heartily concur. But if France is, I will not say to be regenerated, but
to have fair play among the nations of Europe, I add one or two items
to the programme. France must be saved from Paris, not by subterranean
barracks and trains, the impotence of which we see to-day with a
general in command of the military force, but by conceding to France
its proportionate share of the power now monopolised by Paris. All
this system of centralisation, equally tyrannical and corrupt, must be
eradicated. Talk of examples from America, of which I know little--from
England, of which I know much,--what can we more advantageously borrow
from England than that diffusion of all her moral and social power
which forbids the congestion of blood in one vital part? Decentralise!
decentralise! decentralise! will be my incessant cry, if ever the time
comes when my cry will be heard. France can never be a genuine France
until Paris has no more influence over the destinies of France than
London has over those of England. But on this theme I could go on till
midnight. Now to the immediate point: what do you