experienced the same fate in other parts of France. The Missionaries openly preach the necessity of restoring confiscated property to the church; and their discourses have much influence on the common people. While it is known, that two such bodies of men are kept on foot, can it be believed, that the nobles and fanatics have relinquished their hope of re-establishing the ancien regime? They will probably make the attempt, but their efforts will fail. The great body of the French Nation will never consent to the re-establishment of old abuses. (Note 29.)

The contest is begun in Spain: the army, the commercial interest, and men of learning, are united in the demand of a Constitution, and the assembly of the Cortes. They are opposed by the King, the priesthood, and a large proportion of the nobles. Most probably a free Constitution will terminate the contest. Kings and nobles ought to recollect, that the United States of America have now acquired that degree of importance, that the opinions of the inhabitants of that country must necessarily

of Europe.

influence the opinions of the inhabitants The Spanish Colonies in America will probably soon form a Government similar to that of the United States. Let Kings and Nobles also recollect, that every effort, which has hitherto been made to stop French principles, has only contributed to strengthen their growth.

During five months, in the years 1788-9, Royalty in Great Britain existed only in abeyance. This was a misfortune. Should along minority take place, before the House of Commons is made the représentative of the intelligence and opulence of the country, Oligarchy or Revolution will most probably be our lot. There is another circumstance which deserves the consideration of Kings. It has been generally supposed, that standing armies form the surest support of royal power: but this is not always the case: the French Revolution was ef

fected by the army. If Spain succeeds in

establishing a free Constitution, she will be indebted for it to her army.

I have said, that George III. had not

the wish to be a military conqueror. Some perhaps may think that the acquisitions in India prove this opinion to be erroneous. But let it be remembered, that the acquisitions in India were not the work of the King, or even of the British Nation. The civil and military servants of the India Company derived immediate wealth to themselves from every new conquest. They suggested, that the newly-acquired dominion would yield an increase of revenue to the India Company. But this statement was most commonly found to be false. The revenues of the new conquest were almost always found, after a few years' possession, to be unequal to the increased expence. The conquests in India are the acquisitions of a trading company, pirate et boutiquière.

At the accéssion of George III. he seemed to pay very little attention to his German dominions. They had been the object of his grandfather's affection; and George III. had been educated to dislike every thing which his grandfather had been fond of. But in the progress of his

reign his attention was drawn to his German sovereignty. His younger sons were sent to Germany, and educated like the sons of other German Princes. There is no proof that George III. was avaricious. There is reason to believe, that he received large presents from Indian Princes; but those presents were in diamonds, and given by him to the Queen. Although he was not avaricious, yet he never displayed any signal marks of generosity. It is possible, that at the commencement of his reign he conferred considerable gifts on the Earl of Bute. But he does not appear ever to have been solicitous to relieve his own sons from their pecuniary embarassments.

In his children George III. was peculiarly fortunate. For of fifteen, only two died in their infancy. Of the remaining thirteen, every man in private life would have been proud.

Few

I will add but one reflection more. Kings have ever reigned, whose personal character and personal wishes have operated such important changes.

CHAP. XXIII.

On the Three Kings of the Brunswick Race.

During the

This

THREE reigns of Princes of the Brunswick family have passed away. reign of George I., the King never seems to have thought of Great Britain, except only as he could make it subservient to his German views. The first act of his reign was to acquire Bremen and Verden. was a gross act of injustice: and a violation of that guarantee of the treaty of Munster in 1648, to which England stood pledged. That treaty had settled the rights of the different Princes of Germany. I believe the seizure of Bremen and Verden was the first open violation of that treaty; and it served as a precedent for all those infringe