part, would be grudgingly accepted as an excuse for lukewarmness in their Minister when she had started up before his eyes as a Republic. They would hail its first birth, and hope for the best afterwards. With the more reason would they do this, when so much of the high intellect, so many of the good names and a portion of the great names, of France, were seen to go with the Republic from the beginning.

Thoughts like these decided me to act, not instantly, but promptly. Before the dinner-hour, I walked over to the office of the Legation. The Secretary of Legation was there, and two of my countrymen: one, Mr. Corbin, of Virginia; the other, my friend and fellow-townsman from Philadelphia, Mr. Ridgway. I imparted to them my decision, with a summary of the reasons; adding, that I would forbear recognition until hearing from M. Lamartine that he is the organ of the new Government with foreign Powers. From the office of Legation I go to Major Poussin, Mr. Corbin accompanying me. I inform him of my determination, and that the time will have arrived for acting upon it when I am informed that M. Lamartine represents the Provisional Government in its intercourse with other nations. Major Poussin is unable to give me any present assurance on this point, but supposes there will be no difficulty. We talk about it, he zealously urging the great importance

of the step; I remarking on the propriety of what I have said about M. Lamartine.

Sunday, February 27. Appreciating the enlightened mind of our consul, Mr. Walsh, I communicate to him, in a personal interview, the course I am about to take. He concurs with me in the propriety of the step.

Unwilling to take it without the knowledge of the Diplomatic Corps, not one of whom had I seen since the Revolutionary whirlwind, I determine to inform the English Ambassador, and, after my interview with Mr. Walsh, I call on Lord Normanby. Meeting Mr. Martin on my way, I invite him to go with me. His well-trained judgment, concurring with that of Mr. Walsh in the propriety of the course I had resolved on, gives me the united voice of my Legation in its favor.

I found Lord Normanby at home. On the first intimation of my object, he mentioned what the morning papers had announced, but what I had not seen; namely, that I had already acknowledged the Provisional Government. I told him it was not the case, but that I was about to do so; perhaps to-morrow. It was not agreeable to me, I said, to separate myself from my colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps on this occasion, even temporarily, as would probably be the case; but I would not place myself in that situation without giving them

information, and trusted to their liberal estimate of my position for rightly viewing the step I was about to take. I was too far off from my country to wait for instructions. Before they could arrive, events here might show that I had fallen into undue delay. The Provisional Government proclaimed a Republic as the Government of France. France was our early friend and ally, when we were struggling for admission into the family of nations. She had now proclaimed a Government like ours; and my belief was that my Government would expect me to be prompt in acknowledging it. were the considerations appealing to me in the present exigency. It was to this general effect I made known my intention; adding, that I came to him first, from the great intercourse between our two countries, as well as from my personal relations with himself.

These

It was plain that the English Ambassador had not expected such a communication from me. He asked if I designed it merely as a communication of my intention, and nothing more; or whether I wished the expression of any opinions from him. I said I should be happy to hear any opinions he would express. He then said, that as to my distance, it was indeed peculiar to my case; neither upon that, or the other considerations to which I had adverted, was it for him to offer any opinion; it was for me alone to attach to them whatever weight I thought fit. But other

wise my course, he must say, struck him as unusual. What was the Provisional Government? Had I yet received any information from itself of its own existence? He had not, and presumed that not one of the Diplomatic Corps had. Corps had. Would I, under such circumstances, separate myself from them? Would it not be better that we should act in concert; see our senior, the Marquis Brignoli, confer with him and others, that we might know each others' views? Where would I go to make my acknowledgment? To whom address myself, in the absence of all notification from the true and proper organ of communication between the new Government and foreign Powers?

The foregoing embraces the substance of his remarks; which were enlarged upon and urged, as decidedly as an amicable manner and tone would allow. Our interview closed by my saying that what had fallen from him had not escaped my thoughts, and was reasonable in itself; and that I did not design to take the step until receiving a suitable communication from the Provisional Government of its own existence.

From the English Embassy I go to our own office of Legation. While there, Mr. Martin, who went in another direction on first leaving the English Embassy with me, comes in, and says he hears that M. Lamartine is now preparing an official note, announcing to the Foreign Ambassadors and

Ministers the existence of the new Government, and that he is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I request Mr. Martin to write a line in my name to Major Poussin, telling him what he has heard. Before the day closes, the official note to me from M. Lamartine arrives at my house corroborating the above. Its date is Sunday, the 27th.

This seems a fit occasion for saying, that an esteemed colleague of the Corps from South America, called on me as soon as the Provisional Government was formed, to learn my intentions as to recognising the new Republic. I told him it was my intention to recognise it at a period as early as I could properly see my way to that course. His motive in inquiring was, that he might prepare himself for following my example; and this, he presumed, would be the case (though he did not speak for them) with the other Diplomatic Representatives from South America accredited to the Government just overthrown.

Tuesday, February 29th. The official communication from M. Lamartine having given me the authentic document I desired, I yesterday proceeded to the Hotel de Ville, to perform the duty I had resolved upon. I wore my diplomatic dress, and requested the Secretary of Legation, whom I took with me, to wear his. I also invited Major Poussin to a seat in my carriage, as a naturalized citizen of