The situation of the private individual, who, in a foreign nation, stands, or is supposed to stand, contradicted in his facts, by the authorized agents of their common country, is anything but pleasant.  It is doubly so in Europe, where men fancy those in high trusts are better authority, than those who are not.  It is true that this supposition under institutions like ours, is absurd; but it is not an easy thing to change the settled convictions of an entire people.  In point of truth, other things being equal, the American citizen who has been passing his time in foreign countries, employed in diplomacy, would know much less of the points mooted in his discussion, than the private citizen who had been living at home, in the discharge of his ordinary duties; but this is a fact not easily impressed on those who are accustomed to see not only the power, but all the machinery of government in the hands of a regular corps of employes.  The name of Mr. Harris was introduced into the discussion, as one thus employed and trusted by our government.  It is true he was falsely presented, for the diplomatic functions of this gentleman were purely accidental, and of very short continuance; but there would have been a littleness in conducting an argument that was so strong in its facts, by stooping to set this matter right, and it was suffered to go uncontradicted by me.  He therefore possessed the advantage, the whole time, of appearing as one who enjoyed the confidence of his own government.  We had this difficulty to overcome, as well as that of disproving his arguments, if, indeed, the latter could be deemed a difficulty at all.[41]

[Footnote 41:  The American government, soon after the date of this letter, appointed Mr. Harris to be charge d’affaires at Paris.]

The private individual, like myself, who finds himself in collision with the agents of two governments, powerful as those of France and America, is pretty sure to get the worst of it.  It is quite probable that such has been my fortune in this affair (I believe it to be so in public opinion, both in France and at home), but there is one power of which no political combination can deprive an honest man, short of muzzling him:—­that of telling the truth.  Of this power I have now availed myself, and the time will come when they who have taken any note of the matter may see reason to change their minds.  Louis-Philippe sits on a throne, and wields a fearful force; but, thanks to him of Harlem (or of Cologne, I care not which), it is still within my reach to promulgate the facts.  His reign will, at least, cease with his life, while that of truth will endure as long as means can be found to disseminate it.  It is probable the purposes of the French ministers are answered, and that they care little now about the controversed points at all; but their indifference to facts can have no influence with me.