From the club I went to Thiers, where I found Cousin and
Mignet and one or two more. Some change since I met him. A leader
of opposition, then a prime minister, and now left aground by the
shifting tide." . . . "Everybody has given up Louis Philippe,
everybody considers the nonsense of Louis Blanc as drawing to its
close. The delegates from Paris will full half be UNIVERSALLY
acceptable. Three-fourths of the provincial delegates will be
MODERATE republicans. The people are not in a passion. They go
quietly enough about their business of constructing new
institutions. Ledru-Rollin, Louis Blanc, and Flocon tried to lead
the way to ill, but Lamartine, whose heroism passes belief and
activity passes human power, won the victory over them, found
himself on Sunday, and again yesterday, sustained by all Paris, and
has not only conquered but CONCILIATED them, and everybody is now
firmly of opinion that the Republic will be established quietly." .
. . "But while there are no difficulties from the disorderly but
what can easily be overcome, the want of republican and political
experience, combined with vanity and self-reliance and idealism, may
throw impediments in the way of what the wisest wish, VIZ., two
elected chambers and a president."
LETTER: To W.D.B.
LONDON, May 5, 1848
My dear W.: . . . Last evening, Thursday, we went to see Jenny
Lind, on her first appearance this year. She was received with
enthusiasm, and the Queen still more so. It was the first time the
Queen had been at the opera since the birth of her child, and since
the republican spirit was abroad, and loyalty burst out in full
force. Now loyalty is very novel, and pleasant to witness, to us
who have never known it.
LONDON, May 31, 1848
. . . Now for my journal, which has gone lamely on since the 24th of
February. The Queen's Ball was to take place the evening on which I
closed my last letter. My dress was a white crepe over white satin,
with flounces of Honiton lace looped up with pink tuberoses. A
wreath of tuberoses and bouquet for the corsage. We had tickets
sent us to go through the garden and set down at a private door,
which saves waiting in the long line of carriages for your turn.
The Diplomatic Corps arrange themselves in a line near the door at
which the Queen enters the suite of rooms, which was at ten
precisely. She passes through, curtseying and bowing very
gracefully, until she reaches the throne in the next room, where she
and the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Saxe-Weimar and her
daughters, who are here on a visit, etc., sit down, while Prince
Albert, the Prince of Prussia and other sprigs of royalty stand
near. The dancing soon began in front of the canopy, but the Queen
herself did not dance on account of her mourning for Prince Albert's
grandmother.
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