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authority he had disregarded； whose fleet he had kidnapped； whose
fair provinces he had pounced upon； that they determined to come to
the aid of Abdul Medjid the First； Emperor of the Turks； and bring
his rebellious vassal to reason。 In this project the French nation
was invited to join； but they refused the invitation； saying； that
it was necessary for the maintenance of the balance of power in
Europe that his Highness Mehemet Ali should keep possession of what
by hook or by crook he had gotten； and that they would have no hand
in injuring him。 But why continue this argument； which you have
read in the newspapers for many months past？ You； my dear； must
know as well as I； that the balance of power in Europe could not
possibly be maintained in any such way； and though； to be sure； for
the last fifteen years； the progress of the old robber has not made
much difference to us in the neighborhood of Russell Square； and the
battle of Nezib did not in the least affect our taxes； our homes；
our institutions； or the price of butcher's meat； yet there is no
knowing what MIGHT have happened had Mehemet Ali been allowed to
remain quietly as he was： and the balance of power in Europe might
have beenthe deuce knows where。
Here； then； in a nutshell； you have the whole matter in dispute。
While Mrs。 Corbett and the Prince de Joinville were innocently
interchanging compliments at St。 Helena；bang！ bang！ Commodore
Napier was pouring broadsides into Tyre and Sidon； our gallant navy
was storming breaches and routing armies； Colonel Hodges had seized
upon the green standard of Ibrahim Pacha； and the powder…magazine of
St。 John of Acre was blown up sky…high； with eighteen hundred
Egyptian soldiers in company with it。 The French said that l'or
Anglais had achieved all these successes； and no doubt believed that
the poor fellows at Acre were bribed to a man。
It must have been particularly unpleasant to a high…minded nation
like the Frenchat the very moment when the Egyptian affair and the
balance of Europe had been settled in this abrupt wayto find out
all of a sudden that the Pasha of Egypt was their dearest friend and
ally。 They had suffered in the person of their friend； and though；
seeing that the dispute was ended； and the territory out of his
hand； they could not hope to get it back for him； or to aid him in
any substantial way； yet Monsieur Thiers determined； just as a mark
of politeness to the Pasha； to fight all Europe for maltreating
him；all Europe； England included。 He was bent on war； and an
immense majority of the nation went with him。 He called for a
million of soldiers； and would have had them too； had not the King
been against the project and delayed the completion of it at least
for a time。
Of these great European disputes Captain Joinville received a
notification while he was at sea on board his frigate： as we find by
the official account which has been published of his mission。
〃Some days after quitting St。 Helena；〃 says that document； 〃the
expedition fell in with a ship coming from Europe； and was thus made
acquainted with the warlike rumors then afloat； by which a collision
with the English marine was rendered possible。 The Prince de
Joinville immediately assembled the officers of the 'Belle Poule；'
to deliberate on an event so unexpected and important。
〃The council of war having expressed its opinion that it was
necessary at all events to prepare for an energetic defence；
preparations were made to place in battery all the guns that the
frigate could bring to bear against the enemy。 The provisional
cabins that had been fitted up in the battery were demolished； the
partitions removed； and； with all the elegant furniture of the
cabins； flung into the sea。 The Prince de Joinville was the first
'to execute himself；' and the frigate soon found itself armed with
six or eight more guns。
〃That part of the ship where these cabins had previously been； went
by the name of Lacedaemon； everything luxurious being banished to
make way for what was useful。
〃Indeed； all persons who were on board agree in saying that
Monseigneur the Prince de Joinville most worthily acquitted himself
of the great and honorable mission which had been confided to him。
All affirm not only that the commandant of the expedition did
everything at St。 Helena which as a Frenchman he was bound to do in
order that the remains of the Emperor should receive all the honors
due to them； but moreover that he accomplished his mission with all
the measured solemnity； all the pious and severe dignity； that the
son of the Emperor himself would have shown upon a like occasion。
The commandant had also comprehended that the remains of the Emperor
must never fall into the hands of the stranger； and being himself
decided rather to sink his ship than to give up his precious
deposit； he had inspired every one about him with the same
energetic resolution that he had himself taken 'AGAINST AN EXTREME
EVENTUALITY。'〃
Monseigneur； my dear； is really one of the finest young fellows it
is possible to see。 A tall； broad…chested； slim…waisted； brown…
faced； dark…eyed young prince； with a great beard （and other martial
qualities no doubt） beyond his years。 As he strode into the Chapel
of the Invalides on Tuesday at the head of his men； he made no small
impression； I can tell you； upon the ladies assembled to witness the
ceremony。 Nor are the crew of the 〃Belle Poule〃 less agreeable to
look at than their commander。 A more clean； smart； active； well…
limbed set of lads never 〃did dance〃 upon the deck of the famed
〃Belle Poule〃 in the days of her memorable combat with the 〃Saucy
Arethusa。〃 〃These five hundred sailors；〃 says a French newspaper；
speaking of them in the proper French way； 〃sword in hand； in the
severe costume of board…ship （la severe tenue du bord）； seemed proud
of the mission that they had just accomplished。 Their blue jackets；
their red cravats； the turned…down collars of blue shirts edged with
white； ABOVE ALL their resolute appearance and martial air； gave a
favorable specimen of the present state of our marinea marine of
which so much might be expected and from which so little has been
required。〃Le Commerce： 16th December。
There they were； sure enough； a cutlass upon one hip； a pistol on
the othera gallant set of young men indeed。 I doubt； to be sure；
whether the severe tenue du bord requires that the seaman should be
always furnished with those ferocious weapons； which in sundry
maritime manoeuvers； such as going to sleep in your hammock for
instance； or twinkling a binnacle； or luffing a marlinspike； or
keelhauling a maintopgallant （all naval operations； my dear； which
any seafaring novelist will explain to you）I doubt； I say； whether
these weapons are ALWAYS worn by sailors； and have heard that they
are commonly and very sensibly too； locked up until they are wanted。
Take another example： suppose artillerymen were incessantly
compelled to walk about with a pyramid of twenty…four pound shot in
one pocket； a lighted fuse and a few barrels of gunpowder in the
otherthese objects would； as you may imagine； greatly inconvenience
the artilleryman in his peaceful state。
The newspaper writer is therefore most likely mistaken in saying
that the seamen were in the severe tenue du bord； or by 〃bord〃
meaning 〃abordage〃which operation they were not； in a harmless
church； hung round with velvet and wax…candles； and filled with
ladies； surely called upon to perform。 Nor indeed can it be
reasonably supposed that the picked men of the crack frigate of the
French navy are a 〃good specimen〃 of the rest of the French marine；
any more than a cuirassed colossus at the gate of the Horse Guards
can be considered a fair sample of the British soldier of the line。
The sword and pistol； however； had no doubt their effectthe former
was in its sheath； the latter not loaded； and I hear that the Frenc