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empire would be a still less agrecable object of contemplation than a constitutional kingdom in Italy. Instead of favouring the erection of these fine countries into an independent state, it suits their purpose much better to leave them as they are, till the proper period arrives for taking them into their own hands, a measure for which a sufficient pretext will never be long wanting in the conduct of such a government as that of Turkey.

All the accounts from the theatre of this struggle are so contradictory and uncertain, that it is impossible to form an opinion upon its present state or probable result. It would appear that the Greeks have been successful in the peninsula and on the islands; and that they have the command of the sea. If they have really gained these advantages, it will be hardly possible for the Turks to recover them, should they even maintain themselves in the provinces along the Danube; and we may venture to indulge a hope, that at least the proper territory of ancient Greece, the scene of so much greatness and glory in former times, will now resume its political independence. This would at once relieve the most numerous and civilized portion of the christian subjects of Turkey from that detestable yoke, and would furnish a rallying point for the future efforts of the rest. The day, it may be

hoped, is not now very far remote, when the civilization of Europe will overflow its present limits, and carry wealth and happiness through the whole of those delightful but desolate regions, that embosom the Mediterranean. Could the christian powers but act together for good with as much cordiality as they often do for evil, the regeneration of these countries might be accomplished almost without an effort. The expense, which has lately been so miserably employed in crushing the liberal institutions of Naples, would, under such circumstances, have been sufficient to establish them in every part of the domains of Islamism.

CHAFTER V.

Germany, including Austria and Prussia.

It is one of the anomalies in the political constitution of the German confederacy, that it comprehends several powers, which are wholly independent in regard to the government of the greater part of their dominions, and have subjected only a small portion of them to the laws of the union. It would be worse than simplicity not to see, in this arrangement, a mere pretext for the interference of England, Austria, and Prussia in the affairs of Germany

proper. These states are nominally members of the league, but really masters of it; and the union, considered in distinction from the independent possessions of the principal members, can hardly be said to enjoy a real political existence. It is fortunate, therefore, for the interests of the smaller states, that its general operation is as feeble as it is unjust, and that it leaves the members, as scparate sovereignties, in possession of every thing essential to independence, either in form or substance. The interval, that has elapsed since the peace of Paris, has been marked, in these states, by important and interesting events. It has been the epoch of the introduction of representative government. This important revolution has been effected without bloodshed or violence, under the influence of an enlightened public opinion and with the free consent of the sovereigns of these countries, some of whom have distinguished themselves by a truly liberal and magnanimous spirit. Such events are sufficiently curious to merit particular attention; and as they had not, perhaps, at the time of their occurrence, the immediate notoriety which belongs almost exclusively to military tranactions, some notice of them, in detail, may not be wholly superfluous. This will form the principal subject of the present section. As the history of the confederacy

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is intimately connected with that of the separate governments, it will be necessary to commence by stating some of its principal points. It is only in this part of the subject that I shall have occasion to touch upon the affairs of Austria, which has not been the theatre of any important domestic occurrences. Those of Prussia will require particular attention, not only in their connexion with the League, but from the interesting nature of the proceedings in that kingdom in regard to the new constitution, which has been so long in preparation and so frequently promised.

At the close of the war, the principal powers of Europe and most of the inferior ones, fell, by the mere operation of the change of circumstances, into a settled and easy position. But there remained in the centre of this great body politic a mass of territorial and political interests, which, by the effect of repeated revolutions and counter revolutions, had heen thrown at last into a state of complete chaos. The principal of these interests were those connected in different ways with the German states. To adjust them on the broad principles of natural justice might not have been extremely difficult; but it was necessary to reconcile and satisfy, as far as possible, individual pretensions of the most various and opposite characters, infinite in

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number and boundless in extent. There were the great states demanding indemnity and increase of power; and the small ones insisting on security and independence. There were the secularized clergy and the mediatized nobles, clamouring for a restoration of their exclusive privileges and confiscated property, emperors obstinately refusing the hereditary right to be elected to that high dignity; and electors bent upon resuming the right of choice, whether there were any body to be chosen or not;* there was a confusion of the greatest and the smallest interests requiring to be settled at the same time, a vast confederacy to be organized and the balance of power in Europe to be secured; while the antichambers of the congress were besieged by the representatives of a thousand private concerns down to those of the very booksellers. Besides all these, and though last, it is to be hoped not considered as absolutely least in importance, was the interest of the people, the public good, which could not be wholly overlooked, though unfortunately it was found impossible to make it the first and principal" object of attention. To introduce something like a principle of order into this scene of wild confusion was the most difficult task that devolved upon the

* The elector of Hesse actually retained this title; and his successor has, in like manner, assumed it at his father's death.

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