712

LIF# OF UOBDEN.

{omar

1869. living in comparative simplicity, without a sentry at bi
&r. 56. door or a livery servant in his house.”
In writing of this important interview to Mr. Bright
Cobden says (Nov. 17, 1859) :—
“I had a full hour’s private talk at St. Cloud with Louis
Napoleon. He knew I had taken the unpopular line iv
opposing the invasion cry. He is not unmindfal of such
acts of fairness, and I felt myself not only tolerated but
encouraged to talk, with just as much frankness as I could
to you or any other equal. In reply to his strong complaints
 against the English press, I told him that the course
he had taken in beginning the Italian war suddenly, and
without publishing a manifesto of his grievances to the
world, had alarmed the public mind of Europe; that nob
only England but Germany was arming to the teeth; and
that this was all in reference to himself, and from the fea?
that he contemplated repeating the career of his uncle. I
bold him that there was but one way of removing this impression,
 and that was by a bold measure of commercial
reform ; that there was only a choice between the policy of
Napoleon I. and the policy of Sir Robert Peel. On this
point, I used every argument, to make it appear that it was
his interest to begin the work at once; quoted the complete
success of our experiment ; and pointed to the fame of Sir
Robert Peel, and the veneration in which his memory was:
held, as stimulants for his honourable ambition. I found his
sympathies strongly with us, but he is ignorant of practical
details, and he has consequently a great dread of the probectionists.
 You may be sure I spared no pains to take the
latter gentry down in his estimation. I never had a better
private pupil. He isa good listener, and put some very pertinent
 questions. The most remarkable fact respecting this
man is, that, whilst the press and the popular sentiment attribute
 to him the most tortuous and deceptive policy, all who