Describes attending a procession for Louis Napoleon in London. Transcription: on the consideration that they should play the Marseillaise, which they did. Not till past 5 did the cortege pass. Mounted policeman galloped to and fro for some time, and presently an equerry, who returning to the Bricklayers Arms Station, probably reported that all was right. From our front little garden, I had a very good view of the party. L. N. [Louis Napoleon] sat in a spacious open carriage, which rolled on at an easy trot, his wife [Eugene de Montijo] on his right side, and Prince Albert facing him. He was d
Describes attending a procession for Louis Napoleon in London. Transcription: on the consideration that they should play the Marseillaise, which they did. Not till past 5 did the cortege pass. Mounted policeman galloped to and fro for some time, and presently an equerry, who returning to the Bricklayers Arms Station, probably reported that all was right. From our front little garden, I had a very good view of the party. L. N. [Louis Napoleon] sat in a spacious open carriage, which rolled on at an easy trot, his wife [Eugene de Montijo] on his right side, and Prince Albert facing him. He was dressed in regimentals, with a gold-laced cocked hat, he bent forwards, stooping rather, and looked unwholesome. Eugenie ?s head was turned towards the other side of the road, so the rear of a pretty straw bonnet was all I saw of her. Prince Albert sat upright, looking good humored and florid. The crowd did some shouting, not over much, and women waved handkerchiefs from windows, and so passed the commencement of this ovation to successful and unscrupulous despotism. I don ?t like Crimea the more when flushed with all the glory of triumph. Do Englishmen think they can dodge and palter with Eternal Justice and Right and Wrong, that they are willing to shelve all this man ?s antecedents, to believe in him, because Expediency has made him their ally in this War. If he have, as appears, acted in all good faith to them, let him have justice done to his conduct, in God ?s name, but no slavering gratis. History won ?t identify him with France. Napoleonism will wear out, it matters not much whether in three years or in thirty. For he, himself, how must he muse on all this, knowing what his life has been. To him Right and Wrong, Good and Evil, and Justice, must seem figures of speech, his whole career is a contradiction to the idea of wrong-doing ending Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 7, page 52, April 16, 1855 . 16 April 1855. Gunn, Thomas Butler, 1826-1903
Size: 1810px × 2760px
Photo credit: © The Picture Art Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords:
