3 io RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



of the ratification asked for from the Porte by the 

 Yiceroy in favour of a concession which he had legally 

 granted. In so just a cause I shall not be at a loss 

 for means to overcome this obstacle, against which I 

 have deemed it useless so far^to struggle, because it 

 could not up to the present hinder the march of the 

 enterprise, and because all the preliminary investiga- 

 tions not being yet terminated, we were not yet in a 

 position to put the work practically into execution. 



" In a short time the situation will have altered, and 

 in order to avoid if possible the drawbacks which would 

 result from a conflict, you will not be surprised to 

 find me still appealing to the good sense of the public. 

 My opinion is that all this business is calculated to 

 revive ill-feeling between France and England, 

 whereas it would be desirable to see the sincere union 

 of the two peoples succeeding the uncertain and 

 already weakened union of the two Governments. If, 

 upon the one hand, the country which has proclaimed 

 freedom of trade is so inconsistent with itself in a 

 question relating to the freedom of commercial trans- 

 actions, and if, upon the other hand, France becomes 

 persuaded that her former ally has two weights and 

 measures, it is clear that all the efforts of sensible 

 men will one day fail before a fresh explosion of the 

 ancient prejudices which have so long separated the 

 two nations. 



"For how can it be imagined that people on the 

 Continent will believe in the sincerity of England, in 



