Turner - already known to
fame as Shelley's Cornelia de Boinville - Fleeming saw and heard
such men as Manin, Gioberti, and the Ruffinis. He was thus
prepared to sympathise with revolution; and when the hour came, and
he found himself in the midst of stirring and influential events,
the lad's whole character was moved. He corresponded at that time
with a young Edinburgh friend, one Frank Scott; and I am here going
to draw somewhat largely on this boyish correspondence. It gives
us at once a picture of the Revolution and a portrait of Jenkin at
fifteen; not so different (his friends will think) from the Jenkin
of the end - boyish, simple, opinionated, delighting in action,
delighting before all things in any generous sentiment.
'February 23, 1848.
'When at 7 o'clock to-day I went out, I met a large band going
round the streets, calling on the inhabitants to illuminate their
houses, and bearing torches. This was all very good fun, and
everybody was delighted; but as they stopped rather long and were
rather turbulent in the Place de la Madeleine, near where we live'
[in the Rue Caumartin] 'a squadron of dragoons came up, formed, and
charged at a hand-gallop.
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