First, to get back our frontiers for ourselves; next, the natural frontiers of Europe: for Europe is but the suburb of France, and cannot he annexed too soon.

The Emperor shook his head as if he was not of my opinion.

Does he entertain peaceful designs?
I do not wish to dwell upon this idea; it would kill me! "He asked me what impressions I had formed regarding the appearance of the changes which had been made in Paris.
I answered, with the sincerity of a lofty soul, 'Sire, the new Paris is the great work of a great reign; but I entertain the hope that your improvements have not yet had the finishing touch.'-- 'What is left to be done, now, in your opinion ?'--'First of all, to remedy the course of the Seine, whose irregular curve is positively shocking.

The straight line is the shortest distance between two points, for rivers as well as boulevards.

In the second place, to level the ground and suppress all inequalites of surface which seem to say to the Government, 'Thou art less powerful than Nature!' Having accomplished this preparatory work, I would trace a circle three leagues in diameter, whose circumference, marked by an elegant railing, should be the boundary of Paris.