of the French are natural. An army that expected to be in Paris in
October, had naturally taken little precaution to prevent the
French from attacking Germany in the same month. The French
officers, who could have no authority over their armies in defeat
and disgrace, have naturally acquired it in success; and the
business will begin again in the spring, being about twice as
difficult as it was when it began this autumn.

I have little doubt that this is the project of both parties. The
Austrians may perhaps put themselves a little more forward than the
Prussians; and from what I have heard of the conduct of the latter,
the enterprize may not fare the worse for this difference. The
Emperor must feel that he has now got an enemy whom he must devour,
or be devoured by it. And the governing party at Paris have very
many very obvious reasons for continuing the war. The rest of the
empire will give their contingent, unless they have been lucky
enough to be forced to sign a capitulation of neutrality. The King
of Sardinia and Italy will defend themselves as they can, which
will probably be very ill. What Spain will do, she does not know,
and therefore certainly we do not. Portugal and Holland will do
what we please. We shall do nothing. Sweden and Denmark can do
nothing, and Russia has enough else to do, and has neither the will
nor the means of doing much against France. And there is the
tableau of Europe for next year, according to my almanac.

You will not complain that this time I have not given you
speculation and prophecy enough--more than any man ought to make
who has profited, as I have done, by the experience of all these
events, to learn that human wisdom and foresight are somewhat more
shortsighted personages than the most shortsighted of us two,
whichever that is.

All my ambition is that I may at some time hereafter, when I am
freed from all active concern in such a scene as this is, have the
inexpressible satisfaction of being able to look back upon it, and
to tell myself that I have contributed to keep my own country at
least a little longer from sharing in all the evils of every sort
that surround us. I am more and more convinced that this can only
be done by keeping wholly and entirely aloof, and by watching much
at home, but doin