JET. 40.] STATE OF FRANCE. 329 



ever, the election, and still more the personal abuse of 

 Mole* by Constant, Mole* being the proper link between 

 the Opposition and ministers, has for the present ren- 

 dered this very difficult, and produced a coalition 

 between the Ultras and ministers. I don't think this 

 can last, for the Ultras consist of two bodies one small 

 in numbers, and most contemptible in every respect, 

 who desire the destruction of the Charte and Legisla- 

 ture, and the restoration of all the old system in 

 Church, State, and property ; the other a much larger 

 and more rational, at least a less insane, class, who 

 wish only to turn out the ministers and get the 

 government into their own hands, when I verily be- 

 lieve they would go on pretty much as the present 

 men do, though leaning more towards arbitrary mea- 

 sures. The whole party taken together is formidable 

 in numbers, having from seventy to eighty in the 

 Chamber before the dissolution, and having lost only 

 about ten or twelve ; having also the chief places in 

 the provinces in their hands, civil as well as military 

 for only fourteen or fifteen prefects have been dis- 

 missed since they were turned out last year. The 

 Opposition count now above thirty, having gained 

 most of those lost by the Ultras. 



" How it is all to end one cannot very well guess, 

 but I am quite sure that no material change will take 

 place during the King's life. And even at his death, if 

 which is likely he lives two years or more, I should 

 apprehend that the universal dislike of revolution will 

 keep things quiet, unless the Count d'Artois is crazy 

 enough to attempt anything very violent as Church 

 property, which I dare to say he will promise the 

 Ultras until he is king, and then find he cannot do it 



