Life of Henry Reeve, vol 2 | Page 5

stopped by no scruples, might find it an excellent opportunity for bringing on a personal war--if I may say so; for driving the Germans across the Alps and naming himself the Dictator of Italy. It is true that no great material advantage can result from it; but L. N. is sufficiently well acquainted with France to know that the glitter of such a course would probably content her. All this would be easy to understand if Maria Theresa reigned at Vienna, Frederic at Berlin, and Mme. de Pompadour at Versailles; in a word, if we were in the eighteenth instead of the nineteenth century. But being, as we are, in the nineteenth century, the designs which are ascribed to the Emperor are to be condemned as in the highest degree treasonable to humanity and to France. Kings can no longer claim to be guided only by their personal interests and passions; and now--when it is agreed that England cannot remain neutral in a war between France and a great Continental Power; when it is admitted that a Continental war, however short, would surely awaken the hatred of all princes and all neighbouring people, and would end in a coalition against France--now, I say, to plunge into such an adventure would be not only the most silly, but the most wicked thing which a Frenchman could do.
La longueur un peu d��sordonn��e de cette lettre, mon cher ami, vous prouvera mieux que tout ce que je pourrais dire les progr��s de ma sant��. Je vais ��crire �� Mme Grote. Rappelez-nous, je vous prie, tout particuli��rement au souvenir de Lady Theresa et de Sir C. Lewis. J'esp��re que Lord Hatherton ne m'a pas oubli��. Mille et mille amiti��s �� tous les Senior. Je n'ai pas besoin d'en dire autant pour Mme et Mile Reeve. Tout �� vous de coeur, A. T.
Reeve replied immediately:--
_62 Rutland Gate, 1 mars_.--Votre lettre me fait le plus sensible plaisir. Les nouvelles indirectes de votre sant�� qui me sont parvenues de temps en temps m'avaient excessivement pr��occup��. J'ai su que le mois de janvier avait ��t�� mauvais, et quoique j'eusse bien des fois l'envie de prendre la plume, elle m'est tomb��e des mains lorsque j'ai r��fl��chi que j'ignorais malheureusement dans quel ��tat de corps et d'esprit ma lettre pourrait vous trouver. Pendant tout l'hiver j'ai re?u par lettre et de bouche une infinit�� de demandes sur votre ��tat. Vous ne sauriez croire �� quel point tous vos amis d'Angleterre, qui sont encore plus nombreux que ceux dont vous avez une connaissance personnelle, m'ont t��moign�� pour vous d'int��r��t, de consid��ration et d'affection. Aussi votre convalescence est une bonne nouvelle pour nous tous--les Lewis, les Hatherton, les Grote, Knight-Bruce et tant d'autres. Je me permets cependant de dire que le sentiment que j'ai eu toutes les fois que je me suis transport�� par la pens��e �� votre chambre de malade est bien autrement profond. Mon amiti�� pour vous est une des affections les plus vives qu'il m'ait ��t�� donn�� de conserver. Je n'ai rien de plus cher. Et l'id��e que vous souffriez tant de mal, sans qu'il me f?t possible de vous offrir le moindre soulagement, m'�� ��t�� extremement p��nible. Pour un malade la lecture de mes 'Catacombes' ne me para?t pas excessivement gai, mais je reconnais l�� votre aimable souvenir de l'auteur. Bref, vous ��tes en convalescence. Le soleil printanier, m��me dans nos climats, luit d'un ��clat extraordinaire. D��j�� au mois de f��vrier les arbustes poussaient des feuilles. Dieu veuille que cette douce chaleur de l'ann��e vous rende bient?t �� la sant�� et �� la Normandie.
There is no doubt that the state of public affairs is more serious than it has been since 1851. [Footnote: _Sc._ in France, before the _Coup d'��tat_.] The meaning of what has lately been going on in public, and of the secret plots which have been hatching for a long time, is very clear. As to France, I say nothing; for, after all, she has the chances of success, which will smooth away many apparent difficulties. But the peace of Europe depends on Germany and on England. Shall we succeed in maintaining it? The attitude of England is, I think, good. Without any hostile demonstration, she has shown very clearly that she will be no party to any breach of the treaties. Lord Cowley's mission to Vienna has been arranged between him and the Emperor, but I have no faith in it. It is merely a device to make people think he is acting in agreement with the English Cabinet, and so conceal a scheme to which the English Cabinet is totally opposed. Opinion here is unanimous against French intervention in Italy. Unfortunately, we are in a very bad position at home. The Cabinet is deplorably weak, and it has just lost two of its