914

LIFE OF COBDEN. [omar

864. to Paris. It fs a long time since we exchanged letters:
ar. 60. But Ihave been vegetating here ever since the close of
the Session of Parliament, and have had no news to com”
municate to distant friends. I have not yet made up ™J
mind whether I shall leave home for a more sunny regio?
this winter. It will depend on my health and the temper?”
ture of our English winter. I do not contemplate in 82Y
case going to Africa. It may be necessary for me to 80 i
Southern Europe. But I confess I have a great repugnance
to making a journey of a thousand miles merely on an errand
of health.
“I have received the Débafs with its article on the
Metric system. We have made a first step; but when 1
think with what Chinese slowness we march in the path of
reform, it makes me despair of living to see this useful
change carried into effect.
“Qur politics are very stagnant. How could they be
otherwise? . . . But there is one great change amountit8
to a revolution which has been accomplished in our foreig?
policy. After the fiasco of last Session on the Danish
question, our Foreign Office will never again attempt $0
involve us in any European entanglements for the Balan?
of Power, or for any dynastic purpose. Henceforth we
shall observe an absolute abstention from continents!
politics, ~ Non-intervention is the policy of all future g”
vernments in this country. So let the Grand Turk take
care of himself, for we shall never fight his battle ag®™
Until the American war is at an end we shall not recov"
our natural tone of politics in this country, I am still eon
vinced the South will have to succumb. The geographics!
difficulties of separation have always appeared to me 0 be
insurmountable. The mouth of the Mississippi alone 18
enough to prevent Jeff Davis from establishing his 5187
empire. It would be easier to establish an East Angli#