第14章

WhatIhavewrittenhere，dearsirandfriend，othersthink。I

haveseenmanyofmyclassmatesoroldergraduatescaughtlikemeinthetoilsofsomespecialty，——geographicalengineers，captain—

professors，captainsofengineers，whowillremaincaptainsalltheirlives，andnowbitterlyregrettheydidnotenteractiveservicewiththearmy。Reflectingonthesemiserableresults，I

askmyselfthefollowingquestions，andIwouldlikeyouropiniononthem，assuringyouthattheyarethefruitoflongmeditation，clarifiedinthefiresofsuffering:——

WhatistherealobjectoftheState？Doesittrulyseektoobtainfinecapacities？Thesystemnowpursueddirectlydefeatsthatend;

ithascratedthemostthoroughmediocritiesthatanygovernmenthostiletosuperioritycoulddesire。Doesitwishtogiveacareertoitschoiceminds？Asamatteroffact，itaffordsthemthemeanestopportunities;thereisnotamanwhohasissuedfromtheEcoleswhodoesnotbitterlyregret，whenhegetstobefiftyorsixtyyearsofage，thatheeverfellintothetrapsetforhimbythepromisesoftheState。Doesitseektoobtainmenofgenius？

Whatmanofgenius，whatgreattalenthavetheschoolsproducedsince1790？IfithadnotbeenforNapoleonwouldCachin，themanofgeniustowhomFranceowesCherbourg，haveexisted？Imperialdespotismbroughthimforward;theconstitutionalregimewouldhavesmotheredhim。HowmanymenfromtheEcolesaretobefoundintheAcademyofSciences？Possiblytwoorthree。Themanofgeniusdevelopsalwaysoutsideofthetechnicalschools。Inthescienceswhichthoseschoolsteachgeniusobeysonlyitsownlaws;

itwillnotdevelopexceptunderconditionswhichmancannotcontrol;neithertheStatenorthescienceofmankind，anthropology，understandsthem。Riquet，Perronet，LeonardodaVinci，Cachin，Palladio，Brunelleschi，Michel—Angelo，Bramante，Vauban，Vicat，derivetheirgeniusfromcausesunobservedandpreparatory，whichwecallchance，——thepetwordoffools。Never，withorwithoutschools，aremightyworkmensuchasthesewantingtotheirepoch。

Nowcomesthequestion，DoestheStategainthroughtheseinstitutionsthebetterdoingofitsworksofpublicutility，orthecheaperdoingofthem？Asforthat，Ianswerthatprivateenterprisesofalikekindgetonverywellwithoutthehelpofourengineers;andnext，thegovernmentworksarethemostextravagantintheworld，andtheadditionalcostofthevastadministrativestaffofthe/PontsetChaussees/isimmense。Inallothercountries，inGermany，England，Italy，whereinstitutionslikeoursdonotexist，worksofthischaracterarebetterdoneandfarlesscostlythaninFrance。Thosethreenationsareremarkablefornewandusefulinventionsinthisline。

Iknowitisthefashiontosay，inspeakingofourEcoles，thatallEuropeenviesthem;butforthelastfifteenyearsEurope，whichcloselyobservesus，hasnotestablishedotherslikethem。

England，thatclevercalculator，hasbetterschoolsamongherworkingpopulation，fromwhichcomepracticalmenwhoshowtheirgeniusthemomenttheyrisefrompracticetotheory。StephensonandMacAdamdidnotcomefromschoolslikeours。

Butwhatisthegoodoftalking？Whenafewyoungandableengineers，fullofardor，solve，attheoutsetoftheircareer，theproblemofmaintainingtheroadsofFrance，whichneedsomehundredmillionsspentuponthemeveryquarterofacentury（andwhicharenowinapitiablestate），theygainnothingbymakingknowninreportsandmemorandatheirintelligentknowledge;itisimmediatelyengulfedinthearchivesofthegeneralDirection，——

thatParisiancentrewhereeverythingentersandnothingissues;

whereoldmenarejealousofyoungones，andallthepostsofmanagementareusedtoshelveoldofficersormenwhohaveblundered。

Thisiswhy，withabodyofscientificmenspreadalloverthefaceofFranceandconstitutingapartoftheadministration，——abodywhichoughttoenlighteneveryregiononthesubjectofitsresources，——thisiswhywearestilldiscussingthepracticabilityofrailroadswhileothercountriesaremakingtheirs。IfeverFrancewastoshowtheexcellenceofherinstitutionoftechnicalschools，itshouldhavebeeninthismagnificentphaseofpublicworks，whichisdestinedtochangethefaceofStatesandnations，todoublehumanlife，andmodifythelawsofspaceandtime。

Belgium，theUnitedStatesofAmerica，England，noneofwhomhaveanEcolePolytechnique，willbehoneycombedwithrailroadswhenFrenchengineersarestillsurveyingours，andselfishinterests，hiddenbehindallprojects，arehinderingtheirexecution。

ThusIsaythatasfortheState，itderivesnobenefitfromitstechnicalschools;asfortheindividualpupilofthoseschools，hisearningsarepoor，hisambitioncrushed，andhislifeacrueldeception。Mostassuredlythepowershehasdisplayedbetweensixteenandtwenty—sixyearsofagewould，ifhehadbeencastuponhisownresources，havebroughthimmorefameandmorewealththanthegovernmentinwhomhetrustedwillevergivehim。Asacommercialman，alearnedman，amilitaryman，thischoiceintellectwouldhaveworkedinavastcentrewherehispreciousfacultiesandhisardentambitionwouldnotbeidioticallyandprematurelyrepressed。

Where，then，isprogress？ManandStatearebothkeptbackwardbythissystem。Doesnottheexperienceofawholegenerationdemandareforminthepracticalworkingoftheseinstitutions？ThedutyofcullingfromallFranceduringeachgenerationthechoicemindsdestinedtobecomethelearnedandthescientificofthenationisasacredoffice，thepriestsofwhich，thearbitersofsomanyfates，shouldbetrainedbyspecialstudy。Mathematicalknowledgeisperhapslessnecessarytothemthanphysiologicalknowledge。

Anddoyounotthinkthattheyneedalittleofthatsecond—sightwhichisthewitchcraftofgreatmen？Asitis，theexaminersareformerprofessors，honorablemengrownoldinharness，wholimittheirworktoselectingthebestthemes。Theyareunabletodowhatisreallydemandedofthem;andyettheirfunctionsarethenoblestintheStateanddemandextraordinarymen。

Donotthink，dearsirandfriend，thatIblameonlytheEcoleitself;no，Iblamethesystembywhichitisrecruited。Thissystemisthe/concours/，competition，——amoderninvention，essentiallybad;badnotonlyinscience，butwhereveritisemployed，inarts，inallselectionsofmen，ofprojects，ofthings。IfitisareproachtoourgreatEcolesthattheyhavenotproducedmensuperiortoothereducationalestablishments，itisstillmoreshamefulthatthe/grandprix/oftheInstitutehasnotasyetfurnishedasinglegreatpainter，greatmusician，greatarchitect，greatsculptor;justasthesuffrageforthelasttwentyyearshasnotelectedoutofitstideofmediocritiesasinglegreatstatesman。Myobservationmakesmedetect，asI

think，anerrorwhichvitiatesinFrancebotheducationandpolitics。Itisacruelerror，anditrestsonthefollowingprinciple，whichorganizershavemisconceived:——

/Nothing，eitherinexperienceorinthenatureofthings，cangiveacertaintythattheintellectualqualitiesoftheadultyouthwillbethoseofthematureman。/

AtthismomentIamintimatewithanumberofdistinguishedmenwhoconcernthemselveswithallthemoralmaladieswhicharenowafflictingFrance。Theysee，asIdo，thatourhighesteducationismanufacturingtemporarycapacities，——temporarybecausetheyarewithoutexerciseandwithoutfuture;thatsucheducationiswithoutprofittotheStatebecauseitisdevoidofthevigorofbeliefandfeeling。Ourwholesystemofpubliceducationneedsoverhauling，andtheworkshouldbepresidedoverbysomemanofgreatknowledge，powerfulwill，andgiftedwiththatlegislativegeniuswhichhasneverbeenmetwithamongmoderns，exceptperhapsinJean—JacquesRousseau。

Possiblyoursuperfluousnumbersmightbeemployedingivingelementaryinstructionsomuchneededbythepeople。Thedeplorableamountofcrimeandmisdemeanorsshowsasocialdiseasedirectlyarisingfromthehalf—educationgiventhemasses，whichtendstothedestructionofsocialtiesbymakingthepeoplereflectjustenoughtodesertthereligiousbeliefswhicharefavorabletosocialorder，andnotenoughtoliftthemtothetheoryofobedienceandduty，whichisthehighestreachofthenewtranscendentalphilosophy。ButasitisimpossibletomakeawholenationstudyKant，thereforeIsayfixedbeliefsandhabitsaresaferforthemassesthanshallowstudiesandreasoning。

IfIhadmylifetobeginoveragain，perhapsIwouldenteraseminaryandbecomeasimplevillagepriest，ortheteacherofacountrydistrict。ButIamtoofaradvancedinmyprofessionnowtobeamereprimaryinstructor;Ican，ifIleavemypresentpost，actinawiderrangethanthatofaschooloracountryparish。TheSaint—Simonians，towhomIhavebeentemptedtoallymyself，wantnowtotakeacourseinwhichIcannotfollowthem。

Nevertheless，inspiteoftheirmistakes，theyhavetouchedonmanyofthesorespotswhicharethefruitsofourpresentlegislation，andwhichtheStatewillonlydoctorbyinsufficientpalliatives，——merelydelayinginFrancethemoralandpoliticalcrisisthatmustcome。

Adieu，dearMonsieurGrossetete;accepttheassuranceofmyrespectfulattachment，which，notwithstandingalltheseobservations，canonlyincrease。

GregoireGerard。

Accordingtohisoldhabitasabanker，Grossetetehadjotteddownhisreplyonthebackoftheletteritself，headingitwiththesacramentalword，/Answered/。

Itisuseless，mydearGerard，todiscusstheobservationsmadeinyourletter，becausebyatrickofchance（Iusethetermwhichis，asyousay，thepetwordoffools）Ihaveaproposaltomaketoyouwhichmayresultinwithdrawingyoufromthesituationyoufindsobad。MadameGraslin，theowneroftheforestsofMontegnacandofabarrenplateauextendingfromthebaseofachainofmountainsonwhicharetheforests，wishestoimprovethisvastdomain，toclearhertimberproperly，andcultivatethestonyplain。

Toputthisprojectintoexecutionsheneedsamanofyourscientificknowledgeandardor，andonewhohasalsoyourdisinteresteddevotionandyourideasofpracticalutility。Itwillbelittlemoneyandmuchwork！agreatresultfromsmallmeans！awholeregiontobechangedfundamentally！barrenplacestobemadetogushwithplenty！Isn’tthatpreciselywhatyouwant，——youwhoaredreamingofconstructingapoem？Fromthetoneofsinceritywhichpervadesyourletter，IdonothesitatetobidyoucomeandseemeatLimoges。But，mygoodfriend，don’tsendinyourresignationyet;getleaveofabsenceonly，andtellyouradministrationthatyouaregoingtostudyquestionsconnectedwithyourprofessionoutsideofthegovernmentworks。Inthisway，youwillnotloseyourrights，andyouwillhavetimetojudgeforyourselfwhethertheprojectconceivedbytherectorofMontegnacandapprovedbyMadameGraslinisfeasible。

Iwillexplaintoyoubywordofmouththeadvantagesyouwillfindincasethisgreatschemecanbecarriedout。RelyonthefriendshipofYours，etc，T。Grossetete。

MadameGraslinrepliedtoGrosseteteinfewwords:"Thankyou，myfriend;Ishallexpectyour/protege/。"Sheshowedthelettertotherector，saying，——

"Onemorewoundedmanforthehospital。"

Therectorreadtheletter，rereadit，madetwoorthreeturnsontheterracesilently;thenhegaveitbacktoMadameGraslin，saying，——

"Afinesoul，andasuperiorman。HesaystheschoolsinventedbythegeniusoftheRevolutionmanufactureincapacities。Formypart，Isaytheymanufactureunbelievers;forifMonsieurGerardisnotanatheist，heisaprotestant。"

"Wewillaskhim，"shesaid，struckbyananswer。

XVII

THEREVOLUTIONOFJULYJUDGEDATMONTEGNAC

Afortnightlater，inDecember，andinspiteofthecold，MonsieurGrossetetecametothechateaudeMontegnac，to"presenthisprotege，"

whomVeroniqueandMonsieurBonnetwereimpatientlyawaiting。

"Imustloveyouverymuch，mydearchild，"saidtheoldman，takingVeronique’stwohandsinhis，andkissingthemwiththatgallantryofoldmenwhichneverdispleaseswomen，"yes，Imustloveyouwell，tocomefromLimogesinsuchweather。ButIwantedtopresenttoyoumyselfthegiftofMonsieurGregoireGerardherepresent。You’llfindhimamanafteryourownheart，MonsieurBonnet，"addedthebanker，bowingaffectionatelytotherector。

Gerard’sexternalappearancewasnotprepossessing。Hewasofmiddleheight，stockyinshape，thenecksunkintheshoulders，astheysayvulgarly;hehadyellowhair，andthepinkeyesofanalbino，withlashesandeyebrowsalmostwhite。Thoughhisskin，likethatofallpersonsofthatdescription，wasamazinglywhite，marksofthesmall—

boxandotherveryvisiblescarshaddestroyeditsoriginalbrilliancy。Studyhadprobablyinjuredhissight，forheworeglasses。

Whenheremovedthegreatcloakofagendarmeinwhichhewaswrapped，itwasseenthathisclothingdidnotimprovehisgeneralappearance。

Themannerinwhichhisgarmentswereputonandbuttoned，hisuntidycravat，hisrumpledshirt，weresignsofthewantofpersonalcarewithwhichmenofscience，allmoreorlessabsent—minded，arecharged。Asinthecaseofmostthinkers，hiscountenanceandhisattitude，thedevelopmentofhisbustandthethinnessofhislegs，betrayedasortofbodilydebilityproducedbyhabitsofmeditation。

Nevertheless，theardorofhisheartandthevigorofhismind，proofsofwhichweregiveninthisletter，gleamedfromhisforehead，whichwaswhiteasCarraramarble。Natureseemedtohavereservedtoherselfthatspotinordertoplacetherevisiblesignsofthegrandeur，constancy，andgoodnessoftheman。Thenose，likethatofmostmenofthetrueGallicrace，wasflattened。Hismouth，firmandstraight，showedabsolutediscretionandtheinstinctofeconomy。Butthewholemask，wornbystudy，lookedprematurelyold。

"Wemustbeginbythankingyou，monsieur，"saidMadameGraslin，addressingtheengineer，"forbeingwillingtodirectanenterpriseinapartofthecountrywhichcanofferyounootherpleasurethanthesatisfactionofknowingthatyouaredoingarealgood。"

"Madame，"hereplied，"MonsieurGrossetetehastoldmeenoughaboutyourenterpriseaswecamealongtomakemealreadygladthatIcaninanywaybeusefultoyou;theprospectoflivingincloserelationswithyouandMonsieurBonnetseemstomecharming。UnlessIamdismissedfromthisregion，Iexpecttoendmydayshere。"

"Wewilltrynottoletyouchangeyourmind，"repliedMadameGraslin，smiling。

"Here，"saidGrossetete，addressingVeronique，whomhetookaside，"arethepaperswhichthe/procureur—general/gavetome。HewasquitesurprisedthatyoudidnotaddressyourinquiryaboutCatherineCurieuxtohim。Allthatyouwishedhasbeendoneimmediately，withtheutmostpromptitudeanddevotion。ThreemonthshenceCatherineCurieuxwillbesenttoyou。"

"Whereisshe？"askedVeronique。

"SheisnowinthehospitalSaint—Louis，"repliedtheoldman;"theyareawaitingherrecoverybeforesendingherfromParis。"

"Ah！isthepoorgirlill？"

"Youwillfindallnecessaryinformationinthesepapers，"saidGrossetete，givingVeroniqueapacket。

MadameGraslinreturnedtohergueststoconductthemintothemagnificentdining—roomontheground—floor。Shesatattable，butdidnotherselftakepartinthedinner;sinceherarrivalatMontegnacshehadmadeitaruletotakehermealsalone，andAline，whoknewthereasonofthiswithdrawal，faithfullykeptthesecretofittillhermistresswasindangerofdeath。

Themayor，the/jugedepaix/，andthedoctorofMontegnachadbeeninvited。

Thedoctor，ayoungmantwenty—sevenyearsofage，namedRoubaud，wasextremelydesirousofknowingawomansocelebratedinLimoges。TherectorwasallthemorepleasedtopresenthimatthechateaubecausehewantedtogatheralittlesocietyaroundVeroniquetodistracthermindandgiveitfood。Roubaudwasoneofthosethoroughlywell—

trainedyoungphysicianswhomtheEcoledeMedecineinParissendsforthtotheprofession。Hewouldundoubtedlyhaveshoneonthevaststageofthecapital;butfrightenedbytheclashofambitionsinParis，andknowinghimselfmorecapablethanpushing，morelearnedthanintriguing，hisgentledispositionledhimtochoosethenarrowcareeroftheprovinces，wherehehopedtobesoonerappreciatedthaninParis。

AtLimoges，Roubaudcameincontactwiththesettledpracticeoftheregularphysiciansandthehabitsofthepeople;hethereforelethimselfbepersuadedbyMonsieurBonnet，who，judgingbythegentleandwinningexpressionofhisface，thoughthimwell—suitedtoco—operateinhisownworkatMontegnac。Roubaudwassmallandfair;

hisgeneralappearancewasratherinsipid，buthisgrayeyesbetrayedthedepthsofthephysiologistandthepatienttenacityofastudiousman。TherewasnophysicianinMontegnacexceptanoldarmy—surgeon，moredevotedtohiscellarthantohispatients，andtoooldtocontinuewithanyvigorthehardlifeofacountrydoctor。Atthepresenttimehewasdying。

RoubaudhadbeeninMontegnacabouteighteenmonths，andwasmuchlikedthere。ButthisyoungpupilofDespleinandthesuccessorsofCabanisdidnotbelieveinCatholicism。Helivedinastateofprofoundindifferenceastoreligion，anddidnotdesiretocomeoutofit。Therectorwasindespair。NotthatRoubauddidanywrong;heneverspokeagainstreligion，andhisdutieswereexcuseenoughforhisabsencefromchurch;besides，hewasincapableoftryingtounderminethefaithofothers，andindeedbehavedoutwardlyasthebestofCatholics;hesimplyprohibitedhimselffromthinkingofaproblemwhichheconsideredabovetherangeofhumanthought。WhentherectorheardhimsaythatpantheismhadbeenthereligionofallgreatmindshesethimdownasincliningtothedoctrineofPythagorasonreincarnation。

Roubaud，whosawMadameGraslinforthefirsttime，experiencedaviolentsensationwhenhemether。Sciencerevealedtohiminherexpression，herattitude，intheravagesofherface，untoldsufferingsbothmoralandphysical，anatureofalmostsuperhumanforce，greatfacultieswhichwouldsupportherunderthemostconflictingtrials;hedetectedall，——eventhedarkestcornersofthatnaturesocarefullyhidden。Hefeltthatsomeevil，somemalady，wasdevouringtheheartofthatfinecreature;forjustasthecolorofafruitshowsthepresenceofawormwithinit，socertaintintsinthehumanfaceenablephysicianstodetectapoisoningthought。

FromthismomentMonsieurRoubaudattachedhimselfsodeeplytoMadameGraslinthathebecameafraidoflovingherbeyondthepermittedlineofsimplefriendship。Thebrow，thebearing，aboveall，theglanceofVeronique’seyehadasortofeloquencethatmeninvariablyunderstand;itsaidasplainlythatshewasdeadtoloveasotherwomensaythecontrarybyareversalofthesameeloquence。Thedoctorsuddenlyvowedtoher，inhisheart，achivalrousworship。

Heexchangedarapidglancewiththerector，whothoughttohimself，"Here’sthethunderboltwhichwillconvertmypoorunbeliever;MadameGraslinwillhavemoreeloquencethanI。"

Themayor，anoldcountryman，amazedattheluxuryofthisdining—roomandsurprisedtofindhimselfdiningwithoneoftherichestmeninthedepartment，hadputonhisbestclothes，whichratherhamperedhim，andthisincreasedhismentalawkwardness。Moreover，MadameGraslininhermourninggarmentsseemedtohimveryimposing;hewasthereforemute。AfterlivingallhislifeasafarmeratSaint—

Leonard，hehadboughttheonlyhabitablehouseinMontegnacandcultivatedwithhisownhandsthelandbelongingtoit。Thoughheknewhowtoreadandwrite，hewouldhavebeenincapableoffulfillinghisfunctionswereitnotforthehelpofhisclerkandthe/jugedepaix/，whopreparedhisworkforhim。HewasveryanxioustohaveanotaryestablishedinMontegnac，inorderthathemightshifttheburdenofhisresponsibilityontothatofficer’sshoulders。Butthepovertyofthevillageanditsoutlyingdistrictsmadesuchafunctionaryalmostuseless，andtheinhabitantshadrecoursewhennecessarytothenotariesofthechieftownofthearrondissement。

The/jugedepaix/，namedClousier，wasformerlyalawyerinLimoges，wherecaseshaddesertedhimbecauseheinsistedonputtingintopracticethatfineaxiomthatthelawyeristhebestjudgeoftheclientandthecase。In1809heobtainedhispresentpost，themeagresalaryofwhichjustenabledhimtolive。Hehadnowreachedastageofhonorablebutabsolutepoverty。Afteraresidenceoftwenty—oneyearsinthispoorvillagetheworthyman，thoroughlycountrified，looked，top—coatandall，exactlylikethefarmersabouthim。

UnderthiscoarseexteriorClousierhidaclear—sightedmind，giventoloftymeditationonpublicpolicy，thoughhehimselfhadfallenintoastateofcompleteindifference，derivedfromhisintimateknowledgeofmenandtheirinterests。Thisman，whobaffledforalongtimetherector’sperspicacityandwhomightinahigherspherehaveprovedanotherl’Hopital，incapableofintriguelikeallreallyprofoundpersons，wasbythistimelivinginthecontemplativestateofanancienthermit。Independentthroughprivation，nopersonalconsiderationactedonhismind;heknewthelawsandjudgedimpartially。Hislife，reducedtothemerestnecessaries，waspureandregular。ThepeasantslovedMonsieurClousierandrespectedhimforthedisinterestedfatherlycarewithwhichhesettledtheirdifferencesandgavethemadviceintheirdailyaffairs。The"goodmanClousier"asallMontegnaccalledhim，hadanephewwithhimasclerk，anintelligentyoungman，whoafterwardscontributedmuchtotheprosperityofthedistrict。

OldClousier’spersonalappearancewasremarkableforabroad，highforeheadandtwobushesofwhitehairwhichstoodoutfromhisheadoneithersideofit。Hishighlycoloredcomplexionandwell—developedcorpulencemighthavemadepersonsthink，inspiteofhisactualsobriety，thathecultivatedBacchusaswellasTroplongandToullier。

Hishalf—extinctvoicewasthesignofanoppressiveasthma。PerhapsthedryairofMontegnachadcontributedtofixhimthere。Helivedinahousearrangedforhimbyawell—to—docobblertowhomitbelonged。

ClousierhadalreadyseenVeroniqueatchurch，andhehadformedhisopinionofherwithoutcommunicatingittoanyone，noteventoMonsieurBonnet，withwhomhewasbeginningtobeintimate。Forthefirsttimeinhislifethe/jugedepaix/wastobethrowninwithpersonsabletoappreciatehim。

Whenthecompanywereseatedroundatablehandsomelyappointed（forVeroniquehadsentallherhouseholdbelongingsfromLimogestoMontegnac）thesixguestsfeltamomentaryembarrassment。Thedoctor，themayorandthe/jugedepaix/knewnothingofGrosseteteandGerard。Butduringthefirstcourse，oldGrossetete’sheartygood—

humorbroketheiceofafirstmeeting。Inadditiontothis，MadameGraslin’scordialityledonGerard，andencouragedRoubaud。Underhertouchthesesoulsfulloffinequalitiesrecognizedtheirrelation，andfelttheyhadenteredasympatheticcircle。So，bythetimethedessertappearedonthetable，whentheglassandchinawithgildededgessparkled，andthechoicerwineswereservedbyAlineandChampionandGrossetete’svalet，theconversationbecamesufficientlyconfidentialtoallowthesefourchoiceminds，thusmeetingbychance，toexpresstheirrealthoughtsonmattersofimportance，suchasmenliketodiscusswhentheycandosoandbesureofthediscretionoftheircompanions。

"YourfurloughcamejustintimetoletyouwitnesstherevolutionofJuly，"saidGrossetetetoGerard，withanairasifheaskedanopinionofhim。

"Yes，"repliedtheengineer。"IwasinParisduringthethreefamousdays。Isawall;andIcametosadconclusions。"

"Whatwerethey？"saidtherector，eagerly。

"Thereisnolongeranypatriotismexceptunderdirtyshirts，"repliedGerard。"InthatliestheruinofFrance！Julywasthevoluntarydefeatofallsuperiorities，——name，fortune，talent。Theardent，devotedmassescarriedthedayagainsttherichandtheintelligent，towhomardoranddevotionarerepugnant。"

"Tojudgebywhathashappenedduringthepastyear，"saidMonsieurClousier，"thischangeofgovernmentissimplyapremiumgiventoanevilthatissappingus，——individualism。Fifteenyearshenceallquestionsofagenerousnaturewillbemetby，/Whatisthattome？/——

thegreatcryofFreedomofWilldescendingfromthereligiousheightswhereLuther，Calvin，Zwinglius，andKnoxintroducedit，intoevenpoliticaleconomy。/Everyoneforhimself/;/everymanhisownmaster/，——thosetwoterribleaxiomsform，withthe/Whatisthattome？/atrinityofwisdomtotheburgherandthesmallland—owner。Thisegotismresultsfromthevicesofourpresentcivillegislation（toohastilymade），towhichtherevolutionofJulyhasjustgivenaterribleconfirmation。"

The/jugedepaix/fellbackintohisusualsilenceafterthusexpressinghimself;butthetopicshesuggestedmusthaveoccupiedthemindsofthosepresent。EmboldenedbyClousier’swords，andmovedbythelookwhichGerardexchangedwithGrossetete，MonsieurBonnetventuredtogofurther。

"ThegoodKingCharlesX。，"hesaid，"hasjustfailedinthemostfar—

sightedandsalutaryenterpriseamonarcheverplannedforthewelfareofthepeopleconfidedtohim;andtheChurchoughttofeelproudofthepartshetookinhiscouncils。Buttheupperclassesdesertedhiminheartandmind，justastheyhadalreadydesertedhimonthegreatquestionofthelawofprimogeniture，——thelastinghonoroftheonlyboldstatesmantheRestorationhasproduced，namely，theComtedePeyronnet。Toreconstitutethenationthroughthefamily;totakefromthepressitsvenomousactionandconfineittoitsrealusefulness;

torecalltheelectiveChambertoitstruefunctions;andtorestoretoreligionitspoweroverthepeople，——suchwerethefourcardinalpointsoftheinternalpolicyofthehouseofBourbon。Well，twentyyearsfromnowallFrancewillhaverecognizedthenecessityofthatgrandandsoundpolicy。CharlesX。wasingreaterperilinthesituationhechosetoleavethaninthatinwhichhispaternalpowerhasbeendefeated。Thefutureofournoblecountry——whereallthingswillhenceforthbebroughtperiodicallyintoquestion，whereourrulerswilldiscussincessantlyinsteadofacting，wherethepress，becomeasovereignpower，willbetheinstrumentofbaseambitions——

thisfuturewillonlyprovethewisdomofthekingwhohasjustcarriedawaywithhimthetrueprinciplesofgovernment;andhistorywillbearinmindthecouragewithwhichheresistedhisbestfriendsafterhavingprobedthewoundandseenthenecessityofcurativemeasures，whichwerenotsustainedbythoseforwhosesakeheputhimselfintothebreach。"

"Ah！monsieur，"criedGerard，"youarefrank;yougostraighttoyourthoughtwithoutdisguise，andIwon’tcontradictyou。NapoleoninhisRussiancampaignwasfortyyearsinadvanceofthespiritofhisage;

hewasneverunderstood。TheRussiaandEnglandof1830explainsthecampaignof1812。CharlesX。hasbeenmisunderstoodinthesameway。

Itisquitepossiblethatintwenty—fiveyearsfromnowhisordinancesmaybecomethelawsoftheland。"

"France，tooeloquentnottogabble，toofullofvanitytobowdownbeforerealtalent，is，inspiteofthesublimegoodsenseofitslanguageandthemassofitspeople，theverylastnationinwhichtwodeliberativechambersshouldhavebeenattempted，"saidthe/jugedepaix/。"Or，atanyrate，theweaknessesofournationalcharactershouldhavebeenguardedagainstbytheadmirablerestrictionswhichNapoleon’sexperiencelaiduponthem。Ourpresentsystemmaysucceedinacountrywhoseactioniscircumscribedbythenatureofitssoil，likeEngland;butthelawofprimogenitureappliedtothetransmissionoflandisabsolutelynecessary;whenthatlawissuppressedthesystemoflegislativerepresentationbecomesabsurd。Englandowesherexistencetothequasi—feudallawwhichentailslandedpropertyandfamilymansionsontheeldestson。Russiaisbasedonthefeudalrightofautocracy。Consequentlythosetwonationsareto—dayonthehigh—

roadofstartlingprogress。AustriacouldonlyresistourinvasionsandrenewthewayagainstNapoleonbyvirtueofthatlawofprimogeniturewhichpreservesinthefamilytheactiveforcesofanation，andsuppliesthegreatproductionsnecessarytotheState。ThehouseofBourbon，feelingthatitwasslippingtothethirdrankinEurope，byreasonofliberalism，wantedtoregainitsrightfulplaceandtheremaintainitself，andthenationhasthrownitoverattheverytimeitwasabouttosavethenation。IamsureIdon’tknowhowlowdownthepresentsystemwilldropus。"