20 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



a sea of blood, and that is what neither you nor I 

 desire. 



" I had not been long in Koine before the Triumvirs 

 expressed their wish to see me. When I called upon 

 them I informed them that I had been sent by my 

 Government to ascertain and to speak the truth 

 as to the state of public feeling in Eome since the 

 events of April 30th ; that our object was to employ 

 all the means compatible with our dignity and 

 military honour to prevent a deplorable struggle 

 between the French and the Eomans ; that, after what 

 I had seen and should communicate to General 

 Oudinet, I hoped soon to be able to announce that 

 all hostile acts or demonstrations upon the part of the 

 French army against Eome would come to an end. 



" This morning I sent M. de la Tour d'Auvergne to 

 head- quarters, and he informed the General of what 

 I had done, and brought back with him the latter 's 

 promise not to hamper my action by any hostile 

 demonstration. I am therefore in a position to 

 promise, upon behalf of the General in command as 

 well as of myself, that hostilities would be suspended, 

 and to show myself ready to enter into negotiations. 

 I have confidently suggested that the National 

 Assembly should send a deputation selected from its 

 midst to head- quarters to negotiate, and should ask me 

 to accompany it. I am in hopes that this suggestion 

 will be adopted ; and I have already ascertained that 

 the Triumvirs, the President, and several deputies of 



