[1] One would suppose that in Saint Clair, a character in _The Etruscan
Vase_, he has drawn himself: “He was naturally tender-hearted and
affectionate, but at an age when lasting impressions are too easily
formed, his over-transparent sensitiveness subjected him to the
derision of his companions.... From that time he made it his business
to conceal all appearances of what he regarded as a contemptible
weakness.... In society he gained the unfortunate reputation of being
unfeeling and indifferent.... He had travelled widely, and read much,
yet he spoke of his travels and reading only when it was absolutely
necessary.” Darcy, in _The Double Mistake_, is another character
resembling his own.
[2] The following is one of his generous and delicate actions;
Béranger, in a similar experience, did the same: “When I went to Spain,
I was on the point of falling in love. It was one of the beautiful
acts of my life. The woman who was the cause of my voyage never
suspected it. Had I remained, I might have committed, possibly, a great
blunder--that of offering a woman worthy of enjoying every happiness
that one may have on earth, in exchange for the loss of all that was
dear to her, an affection which I realized was far inferior to the
sacrifice that she would probably have made.”
[3] The Résident in _The Spaniards in Denmark_, the Count and other
gentlemen in _The Conspirators_, Kermouton and the Butter Merchant in
_The Two Heirs_. But on the other hand, what true analyses are the
characters of Clémence, of Sévin, and of Miss Jackson!
[4] _Letters to an Unknown_, Vol. II, p. 294.
[5] _Letters to an Unknown_, I, p. 7. “Abandon your optimistic ideas
and realise that we are in this world to struggle and contend with our
fellows.... Learn, also, that nothing is more common than to do wrong
merely for the pleasure of doing it.”
[6]
No man knows the gods so well,
That he may be sure of living until to-morrow.
[7] Mr. Sutton Sharpe, a highly distinguished English advocate.
[8] Upon the occasion of his nomination to membership in the Academy of
Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres.
[9] His election to the French Academy occurred the 14th, two days
after this letter was written.
[10] His election to membership in the French Academy.
[11] The occasion of his reception at the French Academy.
[12] This letter was written originally in English. It is given
unchanged.--TRANSLATOR.
[13] The trial of the suit relating to Libri.
[14] M. Nogent Saint-Laurens.
[15] _Loa_, a sort of conversational dithyramb, in honour of the person
for whom the celebration is given.
[16] Implicated in the Orsini affair. The French Government requested
his extradition, which England refused to grant.
[17] Marshal Pélissier, the duc de Malakoff.
[18] The Princess Clotilde had just married Prince Napoleon.
[19] The war in Italy.
[20] The address of the emperor, on his return from Italy.
[21] The last _Letters of Madame du Deffand_, which had just been
published.
[22] The visit of the emperor and empress.
[23] On the occasion of the burial of Prince Jerome.
[24] To Scotland.
[25] The emperor of Austria.
[26] They were bored with the melodies. It is impossible to translate
the pun into English.--TRANSLATOR.
[27] The Senate.
[28] The Libri matter, and the sessions of the Senate.
[29] _Le sel pour le pain_: Salt for the bread.
[30] _Bogdan Chmielnicki_, published in the volume entitled _The
Cossacks of the Past_.
[31] _Troplong_--Too long.--TRANSLATOR.
[32] _Bousingots._ Slang expression: wineshop, “lush-crib.” Also, a
Republican or Literary Bohemian of the first years of Louis Philippe’s
reign.--TRANSLATOR.
[33] Report on musical copyright, which he was appointed to present to
the Senate.
[34] _Le Lion Amoureux._
[35] On his nomination as Grand Officer in the Legion of Honour.
[36] _Une Passion dans le Grand Monde._
[37] On popular libraries, at the session of the Senate, June 25, 1867.
[38] Distribution of prizes to the exhibitors.
[39] The death of Maximilian.
[40] For Biarritz.
[41] This is the novel which was afterwards published under the title
of Lokis.
[42] Lokis.
[43] The sessions of the Senate were going to be public.
[44] Adoption of the plan of the Senate Council, session of September
6, 1869.
[45] Victor Noir.
[46] For the French Academy.
[47] The vote of the plebiscite.
[48] The war with Prussia.
[49] Last letter, written two hours before his death.
* * * * *
Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
vol. I
kiss your hands must humbly=> kiss your hands most humbly {pg 55}
a heard of American bison=> a herd of American bison {pg 313}
vol. II
beautiful Greeek literature=> beautiful Greek literature {pg 117}