“The Imperial correspondence now published shows it is scarcely possible to invent anything too bold or too outrageous for belief, and the absolute vulgarity of the State contrivances and expedients is not the least remarkable part of the whole. If I ever get to the diplomacies of the war I shall have some fun. “Of course the present part must look to yourself for correction. “‘The Observer’ has a short notice of M’C. this week, and ‘The Sun’ another and more civil. “Have you seen that the Emperor in his pamphlet endorses the very strategy recommended by M’Caskey--the attack on Central Germany?” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “Trieste, _Nov_. 14. “It is not fair to pelt you with my ‘letters’ as well as my ‘literature,’ and you may reasonably claim some immunity on the former score. “I remember a very important Englishwoman--she wrote a book called ‘The Unprotected Female in Norway’--once stopping me in the street on the ground that ‘no introduction was necessary, as I was _a public man_.’ “I send you back M’C, which reads in places so like reality; but on the whole I think it will do, and hope you think so too. “Sir H. Seymour writes me word that he believes he is going to succeed to Lord Hertford’s Irish estates, a bagatelle of £70,000 per an.! I know of none more deserving of good fortune. “‘John’ reached me after my note was closed, with a charming note from Mrs O. “Have you heard--that is, have I told you--that the ‘Neue Presse of Vienna’ quotes M’Caskey as a veritable correspondent? But the General Brialmont did more. In his ‘Life of Napoleon’ he states, ‘Mon. Charles O’Malley raconte que,’ &c, &c.” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “Trieste, _Nov_. 20, 1870. “There is a new complication, and for _us_ I suspect a worse one than all--a Russian war! I believe that every one abroad knew that if even France had not the worst of it, the mere fact of her having gone through a stiff campaign, and been crippled of men and money by the effort, would have suggested to the Russians that _now_ was the time to deal with ‘the sick man.’ The inducement on seeing France totally disabled was too tempting, and they have denounced the treaty which they had determined not to assail before next spring.