The streets were now alive with people, the quays and bridges being still resorted to, on account of their affording an unobstructed avenue to the sounds that came from the quarter where the conflict was going on.  Occasionally, a discharge of musketry reached these spots, and once or twice I heard the report of a gun; but the firing was desultory, far from heavy, and irregular.

In the Carrousel I met an English acquaintance, and we agreed to go towards the scene of action together, in order to learn what was going on.  My companion was loud in his complaints against the revolters, who, he said, would retard the progress of liberty half a century by their rashness.  The government would put them down, and profit by its victory to use strong measures.  I have learned to distrust the liberalism of some of the English, who are too apt to consult their own national interests, in regarding the rights of their neighbours.  This, you will say, is no more than human nature, which renders all men selfish.  True; but the concerns of few nations being as extensive, varied, and artificial, as those of England, the people of other countries are not liable to be influenced by so many appeals to divert them from a sound and healthful state of feeling.  England, as a nation, has never been a friend of liberty in other nations, as witness her long and bitter hostility to ourselves, to France and Holland, and her close alliance with Turkey, Persia, etc., etc.  Just at this moment, apprehension of Russia causes her to dilate a little more than usual on the encouragement of liberty; but it is a mystification that can deceive no one of the least observation.  Of whatever sins England is to be accused, as a nation, she cannot be accused of that of political propagandism.  Even her own recent progress in liberty has been the result of foreign and external example.  I now speak of the state, which extends its influence very far into society; but there are many individuals who carry their principles as far as any men on earth.  This latter class, moreover, is largely and rapidly on the increase, has always effected, and will still effect, far more than the slate itself in favour of freedom.

We went by the Palais Royal, the Passages Vivienne, and du Panorama, to the Boulevards.  The streets were filled with people, as on a fete, and there appeared still to be a good deal of anxiety as to the result.  There were plenty of troops, report saying that sixty thousand men were under arms on the side of the government.  Half that number would suffice to assure its success unless there should prove to be disaffection.  Had a single regiment of the line declared against the King the previous day, or even on the 6th of June, Louis-Philippe, in my opinion, would have been dethroned.  But, so far as I can learn, none of the principal persons of the opposition appeared against him on this occasion, or seemed to have any connexion with the affair.