18
e Paris December 11th 1859 Sunday.
I rode yesterday with some friends in the Bois de Boulogne –
shared accounts with my banker, made visits and in the
evening dined with a very pleasant Spanish party at the
house of the Banueolos. I met there the Spanish Ambassador
Senor Mores, the Prince Godoy, grandson of the famous
Prince of Peace, the Marquis of Acapulco, &c &c
What I see of American society resident in
Paris, does not altogether please me. There are hundreds
of our countrymen who arrive and stop here in their
travels, and they are to be commended. But there are
others who are really who take up their
residence here and affect style fashion and display
becoming practically voluntary subjects of a despotic
system while they croak continuously over the what they
regard as evidences of demoralization of public spirit
and virtue at home. Everywhere I am asked by French
men & other Europeans if the United States are not about
to fall into despotism, inquiries suggested by the croakings
of Americans who definitely would not go home to
vote for the Union to save it.
This is my last day in Paris. I will
leave it with content, and be impatient until I am
once more at home – and on duty.