that men think much more of the present than the past, and do not seek to change when they find themselves comfortable. A prince who performs well his duties need never fear the want
The north and the south are humbled at her feet: and what bosom feels not proud in triumphing over a host of rivals; of rivals, who, but a few years before, swore the destruction of France? He is adored as a conqueror, for victory has uniformly followed his footsteps; he is beloved as a sovereign, for he is the friend of the sciences, the protector of the arts, and the encourager of commerce and agriculture. His wisdom is evinced as the uniform patron of merit, which alone is the passport to honour.
The conduct of the King of Naples, &c. has been that of the King of Spain and his son. They possessed no regular military force of any importance; they treated the people as slaves, and neglected to unite in their interests the grand link between the people and the throne,-the nobles. Hence it was that Buonaparte was considered as a deliverer rather than a tyrant; and hence it was that the flame of patriotism languished to its close[secundus 1]; for out of 9,000,000, notwithstanding every effort of the patriot chiefs, there were never more than 150,000 in arms to resist the enemy; and of those, how nany were traitors to the cause they professed to espouse, we are not now to be told. Those who had every thing to lose, solicited our aid; and we, taking spirited proclamations for the spirit of the people, or rather overjoyed with the opportunity of increasing obstacles to the enemy's success, inconsiderately sent for the aid of the patriots, as they were
- ↑ It is virtually extinct. The immortal defenders of Saragossa and Gerona do not affect the conclusion I have drawn, though forming splendid exceptions to the general rule. They must curse the remainder of their nation more than we ought, for they poured forth the blood of heroes in vain. Be it on the head of overy traitor to his country!
