THE

HISTORY OF FRANCE,

FROM THE

EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME.

VOLUME THIRD.

LONDON:

JOHN CASSELL, 335, STRAND, AND LUDGATE-HILL;

AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

Transportation of the Remains of the Emperor Napoleon from St. Helena 76

Interchange of Visits between Louis Philippe and Queen Victoria.....

86

THE

HISTORY OF FRANCE,

CHAPTER I.

BELATIONS OF LOUIS PHILIPPE WITH FOREIGN POWERS-diffiCULTIES ON THE KING'S POSITION-MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THE PRINCE OF CONDE-BELGIAN AFFAIRS-TRIAL OF THE EXMINISTERS.

THE first thing to which the new king directed his attention, was the justification of the revolution in the eyes of foreign governments; and, as a consequence, the recognition of his election to the throne. No country hailed the new régime with as much delight as England; for though her people shouted with triumph over the downfall of Napoleon's military despotism, they sympathised with France under her forced subjection to the imbecile and worn-out rule of the Bourbons. This unhappy race showed but too plainly, by their conduct in power, how little wisdom their misfortunes had taught them, and therefore had no claim upon men's pity. The vigour which the French had shown in resisting breaches of the law, their moderation in victory, and their adoption of a form of government so nearly resembling our own, had gained them the applause and sympathy of all parties. Louis Philippe, also, from his long residence in Great Britain, was, naturally enough, supposed to have acquired as much knowledge of our institutions, and taste for our manners, as would induce him to seek our alliance and support our policy, instead of throwing France, as Charles X. had done, into the arms of Russian despotism.

Austria looked upon all revolutions with dislike and distrust, and could scarcely bring herself to recognise a monarchy raised by barricades. She feared, too, the influence which the event might exercise upon her Italian possessions, the inhabitants of which were groaning under the most debasing tyranny; and if she acknowledged the sovereignty of the people in France, how could she ignore it in Germany? Prussia shared in these feelings. As to Russia, she could fear little from popular commotion, or the spread of revolutionary ideas, as despotism was part of her people's religion; but she felt bitterly chagrined that the negotiations she had set on foot with Charles X., to share Turkey and Egypt between them, should be thus rudely and suddenly broken off, and was well aware, that the successes of the three days would furnish a dangerous example to the Poles.

Here, then, were three great powers, whom Louis Philippe had to reassure and conciliate. The only way of doing this was, by checking the course of the revolution, by making it, as far as possible, a change VOL. III.

B