4 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



During my stay at head-quarters I kept up, through 

 my private secretary, M. Leduc, daily intercourse 

 with the Eoman authorities and several influential 

 persons not in office. 



On the 24th of May I addressed a letter to the 

 French residents in Eome, informing them that dur- 

 ing my absence the French flag would continue to 

 float over my hotel and the French public buildings, 

 and that they could display it from the windows of 

 their own houses if they pleased. I added that they 

 were to apply to M. Gerando, the Chancellor of the 

 Embassy, in case of need ; and impressed upon them 

 the importance of their being reserved and discreet in 

 their intercourse with the Eomans. 



I also forwarded to the Minister of Foreign Affairs 

 in Paris a letter which I had received from the 

 Triumvirate on the 26th, urging that the French 

 troops, while remaining in occupation of Civita 

 Yecchia, should not enter Eome, or interfere to pre- 

 vent the Eomans from taking the field against the 

 Austrian and Neapolitan forces. To this I replied by 

 the following letter, a copy of which I forwarded at 

 the same time to M. Drouyn de Lhuys : 



"FKENCH HEAD-QUARTERS, 



" VILLA SANTUCCI, May 26. 



" Gentlemen, I have received with much satisfac- 

 tion the letter which you did me the honour to address 

 me yesterday. The explanations which I have already 



