Friday, 4 July 1879

These infamous English — executioners of Napoleon the Great, France's age-old enemies — and to think it was to England that Napoleon I fled! What stupidity, and what a crime. I do not love Napoleon III. Had he got himself killed at Sedan, his son would be alive and reigning. Sedan is an infamy, like the flight of the traitor Carey. He should have thought of his son instead of surrendering. The child paid for everything. Now we need Jérôme, despite the unfortunate phrase in the testament — but the Prince wrote it believing that Monsieur Jérôme would never press his claims under any circumstances.