280                 PARIS  UNDER  THE REPUBLIC.
possible for him to longer hold his position consistent
with his self-respect. The violence of the extreme Right
of the Assembly knew no bounds. He would have been
called a " conservative republican " in our country,—not
sharing the extreme views of the radicals, but a republi-
can by sentiment and conviction. He was what was
called in France " a serious man." He was a lawyer,
the bâtonnier of the Paris Bar, eminent in his profession,
a man of high character, of real ability and unques-
tioned patriotism, and he proved himself a most ad-
mirable presiding officer. Firm, cool, impartial, just, he
had challenged the admiration of the country for the
manner in which he discharged his difficult and respon-
sible duties. Every effort was made to have him with-
draw his resignation, but he persistently refused to do so.
A new election was therefore necessary, and M. Buffet,
whom the papers called, indifferently, " Orléanist," " Im-
perialist," " Legitimist," was chosen—a man particularly
distinguished for his hatred of the republicans. This re-
signation of Grévy and the election of Buffet, a bitter re-
actionist, created a great deal of feeling. No less than
three " Droiters," as they were then called by the radicals
{members of the Extreme Right), were challenged by the
Extreme Left to make "reparation by arms," and in each
case the " Droiters," it has been claimed (to use a Western
phrase), " took to the timber."
Soon after this the Assembly took a recess and M.
Thiers then came into Paris to take up his official resi-
dence in the Palace of the Elysée. In writing to a friend
about this time in relation to M. Thiers, I asked him what
he thought of a man, seventy-six years old, holding a posi-
tion of such labor and responsibility, giving a dinner-party
every night of his life, and holding a reception till mid-
night, and then up the next morning at work at five o'clock.