" SIPODO AND BERNARD-1858 AND 1900."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—You say in noticing my article in the Fortnightly (Spectator, September 8th) that while 'it is true that London crowds in 1858 did cheer the men who plotted against Napoleon's life, and appeals were made to the prejudice of the jury who acquitted, still it differs from recent conduct in Brussels in this, that the Prince of Wales was not guilty of a coup d'gtat. Surely on reconsideration you will see how perilous it would be if you lent your authority to the drawing of such a difference. History may weigh the ethical conduct of Brutus, or Ravaillac, or Wilkes Booth, or Joe Brady, but law and the seemly circumstances of law ought to be con- fined to the mere issue of guilty or not. The matter needs no amplification. In Napoleon's case, he was "our august ally" after the coup d'gtat, he was the honoured guest of the Queen and Prince Consort in 1857 and their host in 1858, so that the coup d'itaf was, so far as condonation is possible, condoned. You condemn it and so do I, but good men have justified it, and seven millions of Frenchmen ratified it. But I am only concerned to enter a respectful protest against anything that would seem like making excuses for murderers because they happen to assail a man whom you think wicked. Pray remember, too, that had the vile plot of 1858 succeeded, the Empress, of neces- sity, would have been killed, for she was in the same carriage with the Emperor. As it was, innocent bystanders were
killed. Do not, I pray you, allow your deserved authority to be thrown on the side of those who applaud murder or murderers anywhere. A small matter in conclusion : the name of that mad, bad boy of Brussels is, I find, given in all reports as Sipido, and I ought to have followed usage. It seemed to me, however, that it was a corruption or variant of the name of the Antwerp patriot-priest of 1830. But I do not find myself supported in that view, and therefore your correction was well founded, as usage is all in the matter.—I am, Sir, &c., Joan F. TILTLOE. Devonshire Club, St. James's, S.W.
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