The situation was in a deadlock, and all the conflicting parties were full of dangerous hope of taking advantage of it; and I don't see, for my part, what better could be done for the French nation than to sweep the board clear and bid them begin again.
With no sort of prejudice in favour of Louis Napoleon (except, I confess to you, some artistical admiration for the consummate ability and courage shown in his _coup d'etat_), with no particular faith in the purity of his patriotism, I yet hold him justified _so far_, that is, I hold that a pure patriot would be perfectly justifiable in taking the same steps which up to this moment he has taken.

He has broken, certainly, the husk of an oath, but fidelity to the intention of it seems to me reconcilable with the breach; and if he had not felt that he had the great mass of the people to back him, he is at least too able a man, be certain, if not too honest a man, to have dared what he has dared.

You will see the result of the elections.

As to Paris, don't believe that Paris suffers violence from Louis Napoleon.

The result of my own impressions is a conviction that _from the beginning_ he had the sympathy of the whole population here with him, to speak generally, and exclusively of particular parties.