[537] nearly two hours. Conversation was in English, which he speaks quite well. He inquired of me particularly with regard to the feeling in the United States towards the emperor and the present state of things, and wished me to answer frankly, as if he were not a Frenchman. This I did at some length. He then gave me an account of his relations with the emperor; of the circumstances under which he took office, and finally quitted it. He does not consider the emperor as remarkable in talents, but in will, and what the French call caractere; also in differing entirely from the French,—being calm and cool, while they are excitable and hot. He is not paresseux; but he is not industrious, and allows his time to be occupied by small things,—as uniforms and plans of buildings and ceremonies. M. Drouyn de Lhuys kept aloof from the coup daetat, with which he had no sympathy. He thought the American government would be wise not to involve itself in the complications growing out of the Chinese war, for that any advantages conquered by England and France would be for the general benefit, and we should be able to profit by them. I found him most intelligent and amiable. He kindly expressed a desire that I should visit him in the country. In the evening dined with Comte de Circourt; De Tocqueville was there. I handed in Madame de Circourt, and on my right I found M. LePlay,1 a friend of George, who takes a great interest in the moral condition of his country, on which we talked much. After dinner was a reception. April 21. Kept in the house nearly all day on account of my troubles, particularly the cold, which has vexed me ever since my arrival. Received several calls; in the evening Michel Chevalier took me to the reception of M. Magne,2 the Minister of Finance, and then to M. Fould,3 Minister of State. The rooms were fine; the company official, but not numerous. April 22. Kept in the house again nearly all day. Having accepted the invitation of Comte de Kergorlay some days ago, went out to dinner reluctantly; met a large company, many of them in the present government. From the dinner got home as soon as I could, without going elsewhere. April 23. Again kept in the house until it was time to keep an engagement made a week ago to dine with Comate de Montalembert. I found his wife agreeable, a great admirer of the character of Washington, of whom she had a portrait in a bed-room at her country house; also a great hater of slavery. She would rather dig with her fingers than live on money wrung from slaves. Montalembert again expressed his mortification that England, amidst all her professions of liberal principles, should lend herself to Louis Napoleon. After dinner several persons cane in; I stole away. Did not go to Jules Simon's,4 where I had been invited, but got home as soon as possible, and went to bed. April 24. Began the day by abandoning a breakfast at Mr. Senior's, where I was to meet Main, the head of the late Venetian Republic, and Lord Ashburton. April 28. In the house all the time till to-day, when I wrapt up and went to the exhibition of Paul de la Roche's pictures, which pleased me.
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1 1806-1882. Councillor of State, an engineer, author of scientific works, and senator. Other guests were Viel Castel, and Merimee.
2 Pierre Magne, 1806-1879.
3 Achille Fould, 1800-1867.
4 1814–.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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