[29] It is a very characteristic trait of the gay careless character of this amiable old man, that he let a number of large boxes, containing his effects, stand at Dresden from the time he quitted it. At length he was induced to intrust some one with the charge of overlooking the contents. This person, who knew his very narrow circumstances, was not a little surprised at finding the presents made to him as English ambassador, set with jewels of considerable value, still in their packing cases.
[30] How may this be effected? Only when a man brings himself to acknowledge that religion is entirely and solely an affair of the heart and feelings; to which the head can be profitable only by standing as watchman of the sanctuary, and guarding it with the sword of reason from its two hereditary foes, superstition and intolerance. If he cannot be satisfied with this, if he will insist upon understanding what our nature forbids us to understand, he must fall into one of two difficulties; either he must take refuge in a so-called positive religion, or in a system of speculative philosophy. Both are unsatisfactory, as soon as he seeks to find more in them than an interesting sport of the fancy or of the intellect. While the profound innate sentiment of God, of Love, and of the Good, in every healthy state of the mind, stands with a steady irrefragable security, as clear to the lowest capacity, as to the highest, not merely as a belief, but as the true essence of his being,—his proper individual self. And this, without either reason or understanding being brought into immediate activity;—though both, when reflection is called in, must entirely confirm the sentiment.—Editor.
[31] It is very problematical which is the worst in the eyes of the pious,—to have no religion at all, or one different from their own. Louis XIV., who was unquestionably a champion of religion, decided for the latter opinion. The Duke of Orleans proposed to him an ambassador to Spain, whom he accepted, but the next day recalled, because he had heard he was a Jansenist. “By no means, Your Majesty,” said the Duke; “for, as far as I know, he does not even believe in a God.” “May I depend upon that?” asked the king gravely. “Certainly,” replied the Duke, smiling. “Well, then, let him take the post, in God’s name.”
[32] Bourienne’s Memoirs have unfortunately furnished us with fewer materials for forming a judgment on Napoleon’s real character than was expected. Bourienne paints Napoleon as Bourienne, and if the dwarf had run around the feet of the giant for a century, he could never have looked in his eyes. In one thing, however, which was quite ‘à sa portée,’ he was right; namely, that the grand enemy by which Napoleon was overthrown, was the commercial class, so impoliticly driven to extremity; a class now-a-days far more powerful than church or army, and which will yield only to the still stronger power of public opinion, if ever they should come into collision.—Editor.
[33] This is no exaggeration, as those who have had any opportunity of observing the strong personal attachment of the Prussian people to their present King can attest.—Trans.
[34] By ‘romantic’ the author apparently means the style of the domestic architecture of Elizabeth’s and the succeeding reigns, which affected nothing like the air of places of defence—Transl.
[35] I know not whether the reader will admit this apology.—Editor.
[36] It would have been but an act of justice had the author added, that under these very circumstances, not only the head of the family, but those who bear his illustrious name, and are destined to inherit his honours, are singularly free from the morgue and arrogance with which he justly charges the English aristocracy—Transl.
[37] There are so many pictures of Henry and Elizabeth in England, that you must forgive my frequent mention of them. There are shades of difference in all.
[38] The description is abridged. It is feared the English reader has already been sated with parks and houses.—Transl.