Years passed, and the Empire foundered amid terrible disaster. Alexis de Tocqueville was no more; and we may say that this proved at that time an irreparable loss to his country. Who knows what part he might have been called upon to play, what influence he could have brought to bear to unmask the guilty intrigues and baffle the mean ambitions under whose load, after the lapse of more than twenty years, we are still staggering? Enlightened by his harsh experience of 1848, would he have once again tried the experiment, which can never be more than an eternal stop-gap, of governing the Republic with the support of the Monarchists? Or rather, persuaded as he was that "the republican form of government is not the best suited to the needs of France," that this "government without stability always promises more, but gives less, liberty than a Constitutional Monarchy," would he not have appealed to the latter to protect the liberty so dear to him? One thing is certain, that he would never have "subordinated to the necessity of maintaining his position that of remaining true to himself." We have thought that the present generation, which so rarely has the opportunity of beholding a man of character, would take pleasure in becoming acquainted with this great and stately figure; in spending some short moments in those lofty regions, in which it may learn a powerful lesson and find an example of public life in its noblest form, ever faithful to its early aspirations, ever filled with two great ideas: the cult of honour and the passion of liberty. COMTE DE TOCQUEVILLE. CONTENTS PART THE FIRST CHAPTER I PAGE Origin and Character of these Recollections--General aspect of the period preceding the Revolution of 1848--Preliminary symptoms of the Revolution 3 CHAPTER II The Banquets--Sense of security entertained by the Government--Anxiety of Leaders of the Opposition--Arraignment of Ministers 19 CHAPTER III Troubles of the 22nd of February--The Sitting of the 23rd--The New Ministry--Opinions of M. Dufaure and M. de Beaumont 33 CHAPTER IV The 24th of February--The Ministers' Plan of Resistance--The National Guard--General Bedeau 44 CHAPTER V The Sitting of the Chamber--Madame la Duchesse D'Orleans--The Provisional Government 56 PART THE SECOND CHAPTER I My Explanation of the 24th of February, and my views as to its effects upon the future 79 CHAPTER II Paris on the morrow of the 24th of February and the next days--The socialistic character of the New Revolution 90 CHAPTER III