The flashy sensationalism of his policy, setting the tone for Parisian society, was fatal to the honest unseen drudgery which builds up a solid edifice alike in public and in private life.

Even the better qualities of his nature told against ultimate success.

As has been shown, his vague but generous ideas on Nationality drew French policy away from the paths of obvious self-interest after the year 1864, and gave an easy victory to the keen and objective statecraft of Bismarck.

That he loved France as sincerely as he believed in the power of the Bonapartist tradition to help her, can scarcely admit of doubt.

His conduct during the war of 1870 showed him to be disinterested, while his vision was clearer than that of the Generals about him.