1851.] The Bourbon Race. 243 'He was,' said Tocqueville, 'the only sovereign of France who has had the good sense, or the patience to govern constitutionally. He made a few mistakes at the beginning-offended the army by his gardes du corps, and still more by Ney's execution; but during the remainder of his reign he took his Ministers from the majority, and his policy from his Ministers, and reigned in as Parliamentary a manner as if he had been King of England. 'It has been said that the Bourbons are a worn-out race, and Louis XVI., Ferdinand I. of Naples, and Charles IV. of Spain are used as examples: but what can be more thoroughly Bourbon than Louis Philippe's family—the children of a French Bourbon by a Neapolitan Bourbon? And yet they would be a most distinguished family in private life. I cannot but believe that the French Bourbons are still destined to act a great part, and their present fortunes are preparing them for it.' We left Sorrento on the next day for Rome. CORRESPONDENCE.. Rome, March 1, 1851. My dear M. de Tocqueville,-I impressed on Lady Holland's mind your ineffectual attempt to see her when you were last in Naples, and she hopes that next time you come you will let her know beforehand, and they will keep themselves disengaged for you. We are splendidly lodged here, in the only set of apartments we could find in Rome, and find the hotel 1851.] Return to France. 245 Sorrento, March 31, 1851. My dear Mr. Senior,-Ampère has of course told you that we have been, to our great regret, obliged to give up our visit to Rome. He, no doubt, has explained the reasons which have forced upon us this decision. They are all connected with the health of Madame de Tocqueville. Some excursions which I persuaded her to take after your departure have proved to me that she could scarcely endure the fatigue of the long land journey, or to do justice to the sights of Rome. I was afraid that her health might become as disordered as it was last year, and that we might be kept for a long while away from our country, at a time when it is so esnecsary for me to return thither. Having well weighed all these considerations, we have made up our minds and are going straight back to France by sea. Of all sorts of travelling it is the one which I dislike most, but under the circumstances it is the safest. We probably shall start on the 4th or the 14th of April, and in either case if we meet with no accidents shall be in Paris before the 1st of May. The certainty of often seeing you there consoles us for not being able to join you, as we intended, in Rome. As far as I know there is no news in Sorrento, and as for what is happening in the rest of the world, especially in France, I know no longer anything at all about it. When one has been absent from that country for more 1851.] Commercial State. 247 We look back to Sorrento as the pleasantest part of our tour. Best regards to you both from us all. Ever yours, N. W. SENIOR. CONVERSATIONS. Paris, Rue de la Paix, May 3, 1851.-We left Italy on the 27th of April, and passed the 30th at Marseilles, with the Palmers, eminent machine makers. They complained bitterly of the commercial state of France. They merely execute orders: as the wants of the purchasers of machines are peculiar, each man requiring his own form, construction, and power, they cannot accumulate stock. Ever since 1841 those who ought, and used, to be their customers have been without confidence in the security of persons and property, and therefore have suspended as far as was possible all expensive operations. What is the real danger, they can seldom explain, but they keep repeating, 'Ça ne peut pas durer;' 'Quelque chose arrivera;' and these indistinct fears keep them inactive. Before 1848 they kept 1,000 workmen, now they engage only 400, and have the greatest difficulty in keeping these employed. Rue de la Paix, May 4.-I went early in the morning to see Tocqueville, and found him sitting with BeauI related my conversation with the Palmers at Marseilles. The Marseillais are quite right,' said Beaumont, 'in |