“... As to the conduct of Napoleon respecting Italy, of course you know I am completely with you; but I must say that some of our friends have acted as if they wished to furnish him with a pretext for behaving as he has hitherto done. He has been told that no confidence can be placed in his word (if even true he cannot like to be told), he has been _bullied_ and threatened, those who have treated him with insolence and have grossly insulted him, not only as Emperor, but as if he were the vilest of mortals, have been made most of by some public men in England (I will tell you what I allude to when we meet), all this has greatly, and not unnaturally, vexed him, and indisposed him to listen to the advice of statesmen whom he no longer considered as his friends. One of the very few Frenchmen who looks upon the English alliance as the best for France, as well as for the good of Europe generally, and who has long been doing his utmost to smooth difficulties and soften asperities has often said to me:—‘On se croit réciproquement plus mauvais qu’on n’est en réalité, il n’y a pas moyen de s’entendre.’ I have found by experience the perfect truth of this.” Here we abandon this subject: leaving at the same time material for much thought as to the instability of all human events, either private or public, and as to the uncertainty of individual character. How inconspicuous may be the turning-point upon which hangs the good or evil of the future, and with what jealous care the actions of the powerful and ambitious should be watched; how a thought or a word may lead to the misery and destruction of thousands; and how soon all that was fair, prosperous, and peaceful may be turned into hideous bloodshed, dissension, and misery! Like the Cæsars of old, the Napoleonic dynasty was ever craving for increased dominion; and although we, who live in these later days, have seen the last hopes of Imperial power in France seemingly extinguished, as we look back to the time when such haughty spirits had to be kept in check, we cannot but feel a certain amount of gratitude that such contingencies are unlikely ever again to inspire us with apprehension from so formidable a quarter. [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] CHAPTER XXV _Ill Health; Extra Leave; Deputy Principal Librarian; Departure for Naples; Storm; Naples; Excursions; La Cava; Monte Cassino; Monastic Societies; Return to England._