92 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



verbal instructions, there was nothing to show (nor if 

 there had been should I have consented to do so) that 

 I was not meant to take into serious account the 

 resolutions of a sovereign authority, resolutions which 

 I had heard discussed in advance, and the spirit of 

 which was perfectly familiar to me. I may take this 

 opportunity of adding that, from the time of my 

 departure till my recall, I received no fresh instruc- 

 tions, nor a word in reply to the telegrams in which I 

 asked for a simple yes or no as to the measures which 

 I suggested nothing, in short, which could modify 

 the inspiration by which my course of conduct was 

 guided. 



Was I sent to Eome to insist upon the Eomans 

 opening the gates to our army, under pain, in the 

 event of their refusal, of seeing their houses devas- 

 tated and their fellow -citizens decimated by the 

 sword ? It is evident that I was sent to come to an 

 understanding with a population which we regarded 

 as having lost its head, to bring together parties 

 which, irritated by recent occurrences, could not act 

 of themselves. There was no suggestion that I should 

 facilitate a surprise or provoke a struggle, but what I 

 had to do was to give the Eomans a proof of our 

 disinterestedness and friendship. I went to Eome to 

 make the inhabitants feel that they would do well to 

 place themselves under the protection of France and 

 escape from all the consequences of reaction by 

 accepting our support. The honour of our flag was 



