LONDON,April 7,1848
...On Wednesday we had an agreeable dinner at Mrs.Milner Gibson's.Mr.and Mrs.Disraeli,Mr.and Mrs.Sheridan (brother of Mrs.Norton),etc.,were among the guests.After dinner I had a very long talk with Disraeli.He is,you know,of the ultra Tory party here,and looks at the Continental movements from the darkest point of view.He cannot admit as a possibility the renovation of European society upon more liberal principles,and considers it as the complete dissolution of European civilization which will,like Asia,soon present but the ashes of a burnt-out flame.This is most atheistic,godless,and un-christian doctrine,and he cannot himself believe it.The art of printing and the rapid dissemination of thought changes all these things in our days.
