As to Napoleon’s waiting for the bribe of Savoy before he would pass beyond Villafranca, this is making him ignoble; and I do not believe it in the least.  Also it contradicts the letter-writer’s previous letter, in which he said that Savoy had been from the beginning the sous entendre of Venetia.  No, I can see that an Italy in unity, a great newly constituted nation, might be reasonably asked by her liberator to shift her frontier from beyond the Alps, but for Victor Emmanuel to be expected at Milan to put his hand into his pocket and pay, without completion of facts, or consultation of peoples, this would be to ’faire le marchand’ indeed, and I could write no odes to a man who could act so.  I don’t sell my soul to Napoleon, and applaud him quand meme.  But absolutely I disbelieve in this version, Isa.  If the war had not stopped at Villafranca, it would have been European; that, if not clear at the time, is clear now—­clear from the official statement of Prussia.  By putting diplomacy in the place of the war, a great deal was absolutely attained, besides a better standpoint for a renewal of the war, should that be necessary.  ’Hence those tears’—­of Villafranca!

The letter-writer is very keen, and evidently hears a good deal, while he selects after his own judgment. I am glad to hear that ’L’Opinion Nationale’ represents the efficient power.  That’s comfortable.  What’s to be done next in the south here rests with us, it seems.  But what of the occupation of Rome?  And what is the meaning of Lamoriciere being here ‘with the consent of the Emperor’?  Lamoriciere can mean no good either to the French Government or to Italy; and the Emperor knows it well.

My dearest Isa, let us make haste to say that of course I shall be glad to let my book be used as is proposed.  How will we get a copy to M. Fauvety?  I enclose an order to Chapman and Hall which M. Dall’ Ongaro[83] may enclose to his friend, who must enclose it on to England, with a letter conveying his address in Paris.  Then the book may be sent by the book post.  Wouldn’t that do?

I shall give a copy to Dall’ Ongaro (when I can get a supply), and one for the Trollopes also, never forgetting dear Kate! (and I do expect copies through the embassy) but I have not seen a word of the book yet.  I only know that, being Caesar’s wife, I am not merely ‘suspected’ (poor wife!), but dishonored before the ‘Athenaeum’ world as an unnatural vixen, who, instead of staying at home and spinning wool, stays at home[84] and curses her own land.  ‘It is my own, my native land!’ If, indeed, I had gone abroad and cursed other people’s lands, there would have been no objection.  That poem, as addressed to America, has always been considered rather an amiable and domestic trait on my part.  But England!  Heavens and earth!  What a crime!  The very suspicion of it is guilt.

The fact is, between you and me, Isa, certain of those quoted stanzas do ‘fit’ England ‘as if they were made for her,’ which they were not, though....