Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/280

 238 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1853 chat, an appreciation of the room which he had in . 1_ his mind for double and conflicting views, and a knowledge of his hesitating nature, and of the pressing wants of the associates by whom he was surrounded, may justify the more friendly view of those who imagine that, when he made all these solemn declarations, he was really shrinking from treason. Certainly, his words were just such as may have pictured the real thoughts of a goaded man at times when he had determined to make a stand against hungry and resolute follow- ers who were keenly driving him forward. It was natural that, in looking at the operation which changed the Republic into an Empire, the attention of the observer should be concentrated upon the person, who, already the Chief of the State, was about to attain to the throne ; and there seems to be no doubt that what may be called the literary part of the transaction was performed by the President in person. He was the lawyer of the confederacy. He no doubt wrote the Proclamations, the Plebiscites, and the Constitutions, and all suchlike things ; but ib seems that the propelling power which brought the plot to bear was mainly supplied by Count de Morny, and by a resolute Major named Fleury. Moray. M. Morny was a man of great daring, and gifted with more than common powers of fascina- tion. He had been a member of the Chamber of Deputies in the time of the monarchy; but he was rather known to the world as a speculator