Iv
i. INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS PHILIPPE. 421

Unded to the League and my labours, but I could not 1846.
bring him to the subject of Free Trade as affecting his own Ar. 42.
“untry’s interests. He spoke of the iron monopoly of
France as being, if possible, worse than our corn monopory.
Ho ang the Queen spoke in high terms of the kindness of the
English people towards them. After this short interview
! Came away with the impression that the King did not
lke the close discussion of the Free Trade question, but
that, he preferred dwelling on generalities. I formed the
%Pinion that he is a clever actor, and perhaps that is all
8 can say of the ablest sovereigns of this or any other
Country,
“He was not very complimentary to Lord Palmerston,
"plying to him a French maxim, which may be turned into
the English version, ¢ If yon bray a fool in a mortar, he will
"main a fool still’ He repeated two or three times that be
Wished there were no custom-houses, but how is revenue
% be raised 2’ He quoted a conversation with Washington,
0 which the latter had deplored the necessity of raising
the whole of the American revenue from customs’ duties.
Thag heard in England, before starting, that Louis Philippe
Vas himself deeply interested in the preservation of mono-Poly;
 and that his large property in forests would be di-Uinighed
 in value by the free importation of coals and iron.
But IT will not hastily prejudge his Majesty so far as to
belicye, without better proofs, that he is actuated by a per-%onal
 interest in secretly opposing the progress of Free
Trade principles. It is difficult, however, to conceive that
* man of his sagacity and knowledge can be blind to the
portance of these principles in consolidating the peace of
"Mpires,’?
“Paris, August 10th.~-Early in the morning a call from
Domyijte, my old French master; engaged him to give me
™ hour's instruction every morning during my stay in