or that a paragraph seems to permit it; but it is necessary to know whether he is to preside simply honoris causa, for his own edification, quite passively, without participation, or whether he, as President, may make his own will prevail in leading and executing state affairs. In the first case, it may henceforth be allowed to ennuyer himself, if it should be his pleasure, a few hours daily in the society of Messrs Berthe,[1] Louis, Sebastiani; in the other, it must be most decidedly forbidden to him.
In fact, according to this last supposition, he would, governing by his own will, come near being an absolute monarch—at least he would himself be regarded as a responsible Minister. Certain journals have asserted with much reason that it would be unjust, if a man lying on his deathbed, like Perier, or one who cannot so much as control the muscles of his face, like Sebastiani,[2] should be responsible for the independent acts of government of the King.[3] It is in any event a troublesome question of severe significance, for it will recall to many the saying of the Terrorists——"La responsabilité c'est la mort." On this occasion the National declares, with a disagreeable for-
