The _coup d'etat_ was a grand thing, dramatically and poetically speaking, and the appeal to the people justified it in my eyes, considering the immense difficulty of the circumstances, the impossibility of the old constitution and the impracticability of the House of Assembly.

Now that's all over.

For the rest--the new constitution--I can't say as much for it; it disappoints me immensely.
Absolute government, _no_, while the taxes and acceptance of law lies, as he leaves it, with the people; but there are stupidities undeniable, I am afraid, and how such a constitution is to _work_, and how marshals and cardinals are to help to work it, remains to be seen.

I fear we have not made a good change even from the 'constitution Marrast'[8] after all.

The English newspapers have made me so angry, that I scarcely know whether I am as much ashamed, yet the shame is very great.