anything to do with it" "That's what I intend," said he. Said I, "I have not seen my wife and children for three years; I want to be quick, organize immigration, and take the steamer of 13th November for France." "Certainly," said he. Then he said, "I wish you to continue the conversation with the Empress; I have something pressing to do. She will make notes, give me verbal explanations, and have it all ready for me by four o'clock in the morning, when I will attend to it." Carlotta was walking in the garden. He referred me to some books on the table, and went to look for her. She came, and we commenced discussing matters, she making notes nearly as fast as I could talk. Among other subjects, I mentioned that of an office; that I had sent for Dick and family, who would be the first immigrants under the Decree, and that a house had been offered me which would answer the purpose of an office and a dwelling as well. "Certainly." Then we discussed with approbation my going to see you; the appointments of agents in the South and their salaries, and the organization of a land-office. She is very clever, practical, and business-like. I told her I thought she could do more business in a day than all of the Ministers put together could do in a week. She said, "I believe I could." She told me she had recently received a letter from the Empress of France about me, and enclosing a copy of a long letter I wrote in June to Admiral Chabanne about my new "Virginia," commending the plan as a grand idea, and asking Carlotta if she did not know me. . . .
16th.—I shall take the house, servants and all, which the Soulès have been living in, at say $150 per month. This will be for office, and for Dick and me. The Soulès are fourteen in number; they live extravagantly. I shall not; and the cost of living, including servants, is twenty-eight cents a day. I want to get Dick a place with a salary of $2500 if I can. This arrangement will enable me to contribute $3000 towards your expenses in England, leaving $2000 for helping the other children, supporting myself, and paying my way to "wife's house." How is it now, that all my friends, except Dick, will say I am crazy to come here?
"The Decree" has been injured in the translation. It is
