"I appreciate the thanks which you are kind enough to address to me. You call obligingness what I regarded as a debt which I was glad to pay to the eloquent writer. All true friends of letters participate in your triumph and are bound to regard themselves as jointly and severally interested in your success. At all times and places, I shall contribute to it with all my might, if it be possible that you have need of efforts so feeble as mine. "In our enlightened century, genius is the only power that remains above the blows of disgrace; it falls to you, monsieur, to furnish a living proof of this to those who rejoice at it as well as to those who have the misfortune to deplore it. "I have the honour to be, with the most distinguished regard, your, etc. etc., "ÉTIENNE. "PARIS, 5 _April_ 1826." [Sidenote: Letter from Benjamin Constant.] "I have delayed very long, monsieur, in thanking you for your admirable speech. An inflammation of the eyes, my work for the Chamber and, still more, the terrible scenes in that Chamber shall serve as my excuse. You know, besides, how my mind and soul participate in all that you say and sympathize with all the good that you are trying to do to our unhappy country. I am glad to add my feeble efforts to your powerful influence; and the frenzy of a ministry which plagues France and would like to degrade it, while disquieting me as to its approaching results, gives me the consoling assurance that such a state of things cannot last long. You will have powerfully contributed to put an end to it; and, if I deserve some day that my name be placed far after yours in the struggle which we must maintain against so much folly and crime, I shall consider myself amply rewarded. "Accept, monsieur, the homage of a sincere admiration, of a profound esteem and of the highest regard. "BENJAMIN CONSTANT. "PARIS, 21 _May_ 1827."