1847-1848] Bulls from Nineveh 115 



amusing hearing all these men talking of learned times and 

 things, which you do not hear at an English dinner- table. 

 There was a frankness in this that was very agreeable. 

 Next to Bunsen, I should think my neighbour, the Scan- 

 dinavian, was the most learned of the party. He seemed to 

 know all things, so I ventured to try him with my bulls. He 

 was quite au fait, told me where they were, not yet arrived 

 in India, from whence they come here by vessels. I asked 

 him what their height was, and he said 16 feet high, so 

 there I shall leave them a very proper height. He told 

 me they had deciphered also some words on the Babylonian 

 bricks and that Nebuchadnezzar was on every one. The 

 world was created on Sept. 21, at 3 o'clock in the after- 

 noon. . . . 



Madame Sismondi to her niece Elizabeth Wedgwood. 



March 4 [1848]. 



As great a change has taken place in my f eelings since this 

 day week, as there did in Paris almost in those wonderful 

 four days. Then I do not remember ever being made so 

 unhappy by politics, and so I continued until my Galignanis, 

 which were suspended, were returned to me, and a letter 

 from Mine Mojon telling me the romantic turn of the Revo- 

 lution, the safety of those for whom I trembled, and really, 

 as far as it seems at present, the most sublime political move- 

 ment that has ever taken place in any country. I go to bed 

 after reading every paper I can lay my hands on, only in 

 impatience to awake again to know and read more. No 

 government is possible now but a republic, whatever one 

 might feel of pity for the poor Orleans, of love and admira- 

 tion for my heroine, the Duchess. . . . The Revolution is 

 now more a social than a political one. Will they be able to 

 realise their promises to the working classes ? and if they 

 cannot, how much may be dreaded from the disappointed 

 vengeance of the monster they have unchained. I see to-day 

 a decree of what Sismondi so unceasingly asked, " a partici- 

 pation of the workman in the gains of what he produces, 



