Tal] coBDEN AND MR. BRIGHT WITH THR EMPEROR. 78g

"jected, though it was proposed merely for the convenience 1860.
of the French Minister in controlling his own producers, and Air. 56.
ould not possibly be prejudicial to our interests. The
tlauge also respecting the Visa of French Consuls in
England was altered at the Foreign Office, with no other
Practical result than to give needless offence to the French
legotiators, and M. Herbet, one of the Commissioners,
Pronounced it to be very °blessant’ Altogether the
Spirit which animates the officials at home is very hostile
and mistrustfal to the French Government; and it is evidont
 that, whilst this spirit lasts, it is quite Impossible that
ny negotiation between the two Governments, with a view
bo Limit their respective armaments, can be entered on with
ty chance of success.”
In November Mr. Bright came to Paris to pay his friend
8 short visit. “I cannot allow you to leave Paris,” he had
Written, “to go south to Algiers, or Egypt, or even to
Cannes or Nice, without trying to have an evening or two
With you.” The day after his arrival they called on Prince
Napoleon, who told them that the English Government
Ought to invite the Emperor to bring away his troops from
Rome, According to Prince Napoleon, England could not
lo the French Government a greater service. On the
following day they saw the Emperor himself,
“Nov. 27.—Mr. Bright and I had an audience of the
Emperor, He asked if I was satisfied with the Treaty, and
I replied that, with the exception of the article of iron, I
8d not complain. I told him that if iron had been taken
last instead of the first item in the tariff, it would have been
dealt; with more boldly. He intimated that greater reductions
 wonld follow. He expressed to Mr. Bright his high
Sense of the course he had taken in always trying to pre-Serve
 a good understanding between the two countries. He
Again complained (as he bad done before to me) that his