Correspondence & Conversations of Alexis de Tocqueville with Nassau William Senior from 1834 to 1859, Volume 2 — Background and Themes

The Coup d'État and Its Aftermath

Tocqueville's journal entries from 1851-1852 provide a running commentary on Louis Napoleon's consolidation of power. He compares the coup to the 18th Brumaire, noting that 'the army master of France' is a recurring theme. His language is precise: he describes the President's actions as 'aggressive acts' and predicts that 'socialism leads to despotism.' The entries are filled with specific observations, such as the treatment of state prisoners on December 2 and the President's 'devotion to the Pope.' Tocqueville does not merely condemn; he dissects the mechanisms of power, noting how 'latent Bonapartism' resurfaces in French politics.

The excerpts show him tracking the regime's reliance on war to maintain itself. He writes that 'war necessary to maintain Louis Napoleon' and later that 'empire can be firmly established only by a successful war.' This is not abstract theorizing but a concrete analysis of political survival. His tone is often weary, as when he observes that 'revolutions leading to masquerades'—a phrase that captures his disillusionment with the political theater of the Second Empire.

Military Critique and Strategic Blunders

Tocqueville's military judgments are among the most striking passages in the volume. In a conversation with Senior, he dissects Louis Napoleon's orders to Canrobert, calling them 'the grossest of faults.' He points to the specific error of sending 'a small body and not to support them,' comparing it to the British mistake at the Redan. His critique extends to the broader campaign, which he says was 'managed by the two Emperors from Paris and from St. Petersburg.' The language is technical but vivid: he notes that 'a very large ball or shell is wasted on the trenches, but may sink a ship,' illustrating the misuse of artillery.

He also reflects on the limits of command in battle, arguing that 'even a commander-in-chief actually present in a field of battle can do little after the action... has once begun.' This is a seasoned observer's view, grounded in the realities of 19th-century warfare. The footnote on Chrzanowski's career adds another layer, showing Tocqueville's familiarity with military figures and their histories. His voice here is that of a critic who knows the details, not a detached philosopher.

Political Torpor and Intellectual Life

Tocqueville's letters and journal entries also address the state of intellectual culture under the Second Empire. He notes a 'political torpor unfavourable to intellectual product,' contrasting it with the vibrant debates of the eighteenth century. His observation that 'English not fond of generalities' reveals a comparative perspective on national character. The volume includes references to 'great writers of the eighteenth century' and a mention of 'David Hume,' suggesting Tocqueville's engagement with philosophical history.

He also comments on the 'curious archives at Tours' that present a 'frightful picture' sufficient to 'account for the Revolution of 1789.' This is a rare glimpse into his historical method—he values archival evidence over abstract theory. The discussion of 'La Marck's memoir of Mirabeau' shows his interest in the interplay between individuals and revolutionary events. His tone is analytical but not pedantic; he is a thinker who grounds his ideas in concrete sources.

Democracy, Aristocracy, and English Politics

Tocqueville's observations on England run throughout the volume. He discusses the 'Reform Bill' and its implications, noting that 'democracy or aristocracy' is a central tension. His comments are specific: he finds it 'easier to understand Lord Derby than Lord John' and dismisses the 'new Reform Bill' as 'a blunder.' He also remarks on 'idleness of young aristocrats' and the 'death of Protection,' tracking the decline of old Tory certainties.

His conversations with King Leopold reveal a diplomat's perspective on European alliances. He notes 'no symptoms of aristocratic re-action in England' and sees 'England's democratic tendencies' as irreversible. The language is measured but pointed: he describes 'Tory reforms' as a contradiction in terms. These passages show Tocqueville applying his comparative method to contemporary politics, using England as a foil for French developments. His voice remains that of a skeptical liberal, wary of both democratic excess and aristocratic reaction.

Readers approaching this volume will find a Tocqueville who is more polemical and less systematic than in his published works. The conversational format allows for sharper judgments and quicker shifts in topic. Pay attention to his use of military and political examples—they reveal a mind that tests general principles against specific cases. The volume is best read as a companion to his major writings, offering a more immediate sense of his reactions to the events of his time.

There are moments in Tocqueville’s letters, particularly when he watches the Second Empire settle into its certainties, where I feel the quiet ache of a mind missing frank dispute. Reading him, I remembered how Boswell’s own restless conversation with Erskine Boswell's Correspondence with the Honourable Andrew Erskine, and His Journal of a Tour to Corsica — Key Ideas to Explore had that same raw, unguarded texture—two voices stretched thin between friendship and admiration.