Gladstone, who was subsequently made a Roumanian citizen by an Act of the legislature about the year 1861, and whom the Roumanians still regard with feelings of great respect and admiration.  On the return of M. Rosetti to Roumania after the Crimean war he founded the ‘Romanal’ a daily paper which still occupies a high position amongst the journals of the capital, and which remains his property.[197] He took a conspicuous part in the union of the Principalities under Prince Couza, and supported that prince whilst his proceedings were constitutional, but he was one of the most active agents in his deposition, and the only serious objection that has been taken to his acts and those of his colleagues on that occasion is that he employed the army to bring about the prince’s overthrow.  To this matter, however, we have already referred in our historical summary.  In 1866 he was one of the provisional government, and was at first by no means favourably disposed towards the present king, who was, we believe, recommended to the Roumanians by the Emperor Napoleon III.  In later times, however, he became one of his Majesty’s most faithful advisers.

[Illustration:  Constantin A. Rosetti]

M. Rosetti is about sixty-seven years of age, full of life and energy.  His career of hardship has somewhat bowed his physical frame, but it has in no way interfered with his cheerful and kindly disposition.  In appearance he is an Italian, has very prominent but mild eyes, and a most thoughtful, somewhat careworn countenance.  He is vif, hot and excitable, and not unfrequently lets his voice be heard if anything is going wrong in public affairs, and something is very often going wrong in Roumania.  He speaks Roumanian, French, and German, and can write English (of which he is fond of interjecting an expressive word now and then when he is speaking in French) fairly well.  Unfortunately for scandal-mongers, of whom there are a good many in the capital and elsewhere, M. Rosetti lives with great simplicity on the premises of the ‘Romanul,’ and upon, the profits of his paper and his salary; so they are unable to charge him with peculation, which they would certainly do if he gave them the slightest justification.  He is a Radical, and an uncompromising enemy of coups d’etat, and of despotism or unconstitutional proceedings in any form, a man of unflinching honesty and the leader of political thought in his country.  In fact, he is a patriot, and his countrymen know and appreciate the fact.

They usually couple his name with that of M. Bratiano, who is President of the Council and Minister of Finance, and, so far as temperament is concerned, the very opposite of his colleague.  M. Bratiano is a quiet, courteous gentleman, somewhat younger than M. Rosetti.  His features are regular and handsome, his beard and hair iron-grey, and his voice even and melodious.  He is full of pleasant humour, and has the bearing and manner of an English gentleman; but although an