icult it is to create a Constitutional
Government, and how difficult to preserve one, and, what is the same, how
easy to destroy one.

* * * * *

Mrs. Senior is going to Wales and to Ireland, where I join her, after
having paid a long-promised visit to Lord Aberdeen.

I like the conversation of retired statesmen, and he is one of our
wisest. Thiers has just left us. I spent two evenings with him, but on
the first he was engrossed by Lord Clarendon, and on the second by the
Duc d'Aumale and by Lord Palmerston. They were curious _rapprochements_,
at least the first and third. It was the first meeting of Palmerston and
Duc d'Aumale. I am very much pleased with the latter. He is sensible,
well informed, and unaffected.

Kindest regards, &c.

A.W. SENIOR.

Tocqueville, September 4, 1856.

I have read, my dear Senior, your letter with great pleasure. Your
criticism delights me, for I rely on your judgment and on your sincerity.
I am charmed that you have found in my book more than you had learned
from our conversations, on my view of our history. We have known one
another so long, we have conversed so much and so unreservedly, that it
is difficult for either of us to write anything that the other will think
new. I was afraid that what may appear original to the public might seem
trite to you.

The Reeves have been with us; we have passed together an agreeable
fortnight. I had charged Reeve to bring you, whether you would or not.
Did he make the attempt? I am sure that you would have enjoyed your
visit, and we should have rejoiced to have under our roof two such old
friends as you and Reeve.

I am glad that you have printed your article; pray try to send it to me.

It seems that you intend this winter to anchor in Rome. It increases my
regret that I cannot be there. It is out of the question. My wife's
health and mine are so much improved that the journey is not necessary,
and business of all kinds keeps us at home. If you push on to Naples, you
will, perhaps, enjoy the absence of the rascally king whom you and I
found there five years ago. I applaud the virtuous indignation of the
English against this little despot, and their sympathy with the unhappy
wretches whom he detains arbitrarily to die slowly in his prisons, which,
though not placed in the African deserts or the marshes of Cayenne, are
bad enough. The interest which your great nation takes in the cause of
humanity and lib