1880,
Be.

vg0 LIFE OF COBDEN. [ons
intentions towards England were misrepresented by cortal?
people. He laughed at the reports that he was preparing
some boats for the invasion of England, when it turned out
they were intended to carry coals from the interior to Brest
He alluded to the conduct of an English lady, and ssid he
had a letter written by her to M——, saying, ¢ Will nobody
be found to shoot; that rascal ?’ meaning the Emperor. He
alluded to the affairs of Italy, and seemed to be especially
puzzled what to do with the Pope. In reference to Veneti®
he said he had suggested to Mr, —— that a pamphlet
should be written recommending that Austria should sell
the independence of that Italian province for a sum of
money. In the course of our conversation he mentioned 8°
a secret that he had bought the Ohronicle, London news:
paper, and he offered to put it into Bright’s and my hands
to be under our control I parried this proposal by sayir8
that such arrangements could never be kept secret, and I
rather surprised him by saying that I had heard some
months since of his having bought that newspaper.”
This interview had been sought by the Emperor's visitor®
from no idle motives. Most of the hour was taken up with
the subject of passports. The two Englishmen had come
there to bring arguments to bear which should induce the
Eumperor to abolish this troublesome restraint on the inter
course of nations. It naturally followed as a part of the
policy on which France had entered in the Treaty ; and the
Emperor felt that the persuasion of his visitors could 10Y
be logically resisted. This proved to be another instance of
the value of the informal diplomacy of reasonable and €0-lightened
 men. Mr. Bright was struck by the great con”
fidence which Napoleon seemed to feel in Cobden, and bY
the degree in which his mind was open to argument. Afte

8 Mr. Bright doos not recollect that the Emperor said he had bonght £59
Okronsels, but that he had secured an influence in it or aver