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Tocqueville, Alexis de, 1805-1859

"Conversations of Alexis de Tocqueville with Nassau William Senior from 1834 to 1859, Volume 2"

If
you have followed your itinerary your travels must have been most
interesting to you, and they will be equally curious to us. I conclude
that you only passed quickly through the Principalities in following the
course of the Danube. I, however, had depended on you for furnishing me
with clear ideas of a country which is at present so interesting to
Europe, and which I think is destined to play an important part in the
future. And what say you of our friends the Turks? Was it worth while to
spend so much money and to shed so much blood in order to retain in
Europe savages who are ill disguised as civilised men? I am impatient to
talk to you, and almost equally so to read you.
I shall have little to tell you. I have not stirred from home since I
left England, and am leading the life of a gentleman-farmer; a life which
pleases me more and more every day, and would really make me happy, if my
wife were not suffering from an obstinate neuralgic affection in the
face. I fear that she may have to go to some mineral waters, which she
would be sorry to do; for, as you know, she hates travelling, and does no
justice to the reputation for wandering possessed by the English race.


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