You urge me to visit Heraclea. I can assure you that there is not in the wide range of thought a prospect that would afford me a tithe of the pleasure; but I am ashamed to acknowledge that I feel within me the old leaven of instinctive dislike for the members of the corps, from nationality. For personally, as you are aware, I have no acquaintance with them. From this cause I am so doubtful of self control within that I cannot with sincerity venture the experiment of voluntary association with them, even under Heraclean auspices. My feelings, as a Frenchman, are still instinctively patriotic, notwithstanding the reproof administered in every sentence of your letter. I am well aware of all you would urge in favor of the trial, and my reason sanctions with desire all you could say; and it is with humiliation that I am candidly obliged to avow myself unfit for an association with the German members of the corps, although they have received the prestige of Heraclean adoption. If my disposition would allow me to enact the part of affectionate sympathy, the treacherous disguise of hypocrisy would not shield me from Manatitlan auramentation, with whom I would fain hold myself, in sincerity, worthy, to the extent of my freedom from instinctive disability. However much you may regret my lack of the noble qualities, which allow your unbiased passions the privilege of repose, I am certain that your native Gallic infusion of clannish prejudice, will, even with your new light, appreciate the honesty of my motives. To merit the esteem of the Manatitlans, I will use every possible means for the subjugation of my sectional prejudices; having already been obliged to acknowledge to myself, from the revolting impression still retained of the commune massacres of Paris, that with the murderous spirit in train, we should scarcely have shown as merciful a record as the Germans, if we had been victorious. With better generals as players, in the deadly game of war, the weak movements of our imbeciles were forestalled and checkmated. This causes a furious undercurrent for reprisal, especially as the war was precipitated by a tyrant without the provisionary tact to foresee and provide for the tottering destiny of his throne. Of course, the disastrous results of war reflect from the ruler to the subjects, alike in imbecility and determined intelligence. Our soldiers were driven like sheep to the slaughter. In fact, there was no real cause for the war on either side, and great reason why it should have been firmly opposed on the part of the French people, who have in the game enacted the part of pawns and are paying the penalty. The victorious can afford the dole of generosity to the defeated. This retrospective glance I offer as a specimen of my instinctive forbearance, and until I feel the sincerity of my self-control, I must avoid temptation likely to arouse hatred and revenge, the chief constituents of patriotism. With sincere