y by his
writings; he came to Paris from Aix in Provence (in 1820), and lived in
a room on the fourth floor in the Rue St. Honore; here he wrote for the
newspapers, but being taken by the hand by M. Lafitte he and his works
speedily rose into notice; it is possible that he may be as anxious for
the welfare of his country as M. Guizot, but would carry things with a
higher hand, and although every one is aware of his extraordinary
abilities, yet the moderate and thinking part of the community remember
how near he was involving France in a war with her most powerful
neighbours, and however they smarted for a time under what they
conceived an affront offered to their country, yet there are very few
now but feel fully sensible of the benefits they derive from the
blessing of peace having been preserved. M. Thiers may be cited as one
of the most animated and effective speakers of any in the Chambers, and
his speeches often display a brilliance, energy, and ardour, which
create a forcible impression, but sometimes betray the orator into hasty
assertions, of which he may afterwards repent, but feeling too much
pride to recant, he prefers standing by the position he had hastily
assumed; consequently, he is then compelled to marshal all his powers of
argument to sustain that which in his own mind he may feel convinced is
erroneous. Yet although many from prudential motives did not approve his
policy, which had nearly involved France in hostility with England, they
rather admired the spirit and susceptibility which he displayed in
resenting the slight with which the French nation had been treated, and
looked upon him as a sort of champion of their cause, so that he may be
rather designated a popular statesman than otherwise, although he was
considered in the wrong on that one point, and the reflexions which he
flung upon England would have passed away as unmerited, and soon sunk
into oblivion, had not a portion of the English press so indulged in
abuse and ridicule of the French at that period, who often remark that
they were subdued by the allies combined, but that it is only the
_English press_ which is as it were triumphing over and insulting them,
by pretending such a superiority in their troops and seamen as to place
those of France in a most contemptible light, whilst all the other
powers, although equally their conquerors, give them credit for being a
brave military nation. I must confess that I have found more liberality
in