"It is particularly desirable that you should
show an example to the citizens by your regular observance of the
festivals of the Church; and--and--" (here His Highness shuffled his
feet, and, hanging his head down, chanced to cast his eyes on the line
of feet of the men drawn up before him) "and--and--always keep your
shoes clean." And with that doubtless much-needed exhortation His
Highness concluded his address.
The fact that Leopold was not regarded by his subjects with any
bitterness of hatred--nay, that there was _au fond_ a considerable
feeling of affection for him--is shown by the circumstances of his
deposition from the throne. A little timely concession would have
saved Charles I.: a still less amount of concession would have
preserved his throne to Leopold II. As regarded his own power, he had
no objection to agree to all that was asked of him, but he could not
make up his mind to go against the head of his house and the head of
his religion. The last proposal made to him was to abdicate in favor
of his son, whom, if allied with Piedmont, the Tuscans would have
consented to accept as their sovereign. But the grand duke felt that
this would in fact be doing in an indirect manner that which he had
fully determined not to do; and he refused. And then came the end, and
that memorable April morning (the 27th) when the present writer
witnessed a revolution such as the world had not seen before, and such
as, it may be feared, it is not likely soon to see again.
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