ro2 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



of the State had had time to commence its work. I had 

 only at the last moment availed myself of my right of 

 defence, and I had done so in a memorandum addressed 

 to the Council of State. I had spoken with the re- 

 serve, moderation, and sincerity which becomes a man 

 who, out of respect for himself and for public opinion, 

 does not choose to imitate his enemies. But it was 

 thought that even thus I was taking too much upon 

 myself, and my independence was denounced as an 

 infringement of discipline, while as the plain state- 

 ment of facts stripped bare the policy by which I had 

 had the bad grace not to allow myself to be crushed, 

 fresh blows were aimed at me during the sittings 

 of the Legislative Assembly on the 6th and 7th of 

 August. 



At the sitting of the 7th, M. de Falloux endea- 

 voured to cast doubts upon the value to be attached 

 to my statement as to the nature of the resistance 

 which Eome could offer, and as to the presence there 

 of more than 25,000 regular soldiers. These figures, 

 which I had given as far back as the 15th of May, the 

 day of my arrival, had been communicated to me by 

 General Oudinot after his entering the city. 



I learnt that it was proposed, at whose instigation 

 I knew not, to retard as much as possible, or perhaps 

 adjourn sine die, my appearance before the Council. 

 But on the 9th of July I wrote to M. Vivien, the 

 President, demanding the execution of the decree, 

 and he replied to me, but not till the 20th, that the 



