THE SUPREMACY OF PUBLIC OPINION. 



which prevailed in the old government of France, and in other 

 despotic countries of Europe. On every occasion he exhibited his 

 determination to treat all classes of his subjects upon terms of the 

 most perfect equality, and to afford to the very meanest of them the 

 fullest opportunity of aspiring to the most important situations, and 

 the most distinguished honours. He took good care to prove that 

 this was not a nominal but a real privilege ; for he was surrounded 

 with men who had risen from the very lowest ranks ; and every day 

 displayed to France the spectacle of her Emperor bestowing the most 

 splendid rewards upon some successful soldier, whose only claims to 

 favour were such as every Frenchman might flatter himself with one 

 day possessing. This part of his policy does infinite credit to Napo- 

 leon ; for it enabled him at once to gratify the people, and to sur- 

 round himself with a numerous body of adherents, who, owing their 

 all to him, were entirely devoted to his interests. 



But his unbounded ambition, and the hostility he had excited 

 throughout Europe, compelled the Emperor to demand sacrifices 

 from his subjects, which they were not very willing to make, when 

 they could discover no really beneficial and national object for which 

 they were required. The tide of fortune too began to turn ; and no 

 longer blinded by the glare of military glory, the French began to 

 find out the faults of their hero. He became especially sensible to 

 the evils of that despotism which deprived them of all constitutional 

 influence over the conduct of the government. The people still, 

 indeed, retained some attachment to the Emperor, but public opinion 

 became every day more decidedly in favour of a liberal form of go- 

 vernment ; and as it was but too evident, that Buonaparte would 

 never willingly cede to his subjects their political rights, his abdi- 

 cation, when he was compelled to consent to that dreadful sacrifice, 

 produced little sensation in France, as the superior and middle 

 classes were willing to submit to the restoration of the Bourbons, on 

 condition of receiving a free constitution. Buonaparte owed his re- 

 storation wholly to the army; and he found it impossible to excite 

 in his favour the body of the people, who were now little inclined to 

 confide in his professions, and who saw no prospect of tranquillity and 

 security, but in his absence from France. 



The final termination of the revolutionary war, placed the different 

 nations of Europe in a situation highly favourable for the reception 

 and progress of liberal opinions ; and it soon appeared that such opi- 

 nions had acquired considerable strength in countries where their 

 existence had scarcely been suspected. Spain, Portugal, and Naples, 

 which had been hitherto regarded as the strong-holds of ignorance 

 and despotism, now stood forth to the world, in the aspect of na- 

 tions, extorting free constitutions from their unwilling sovereigns ; 

 but these constitutions, not being supported by the affection and 

 opinion of the majority of the people, were soon destroyed, either by 

 counter internal revolutions, or by the efforts of foreign enemies. 

 But in France and England, public opinion continued to advance 

 quietly but steadily ; and it was apparent to every attentive observer, 

 that those political feelings and sentiments to which the revolution 

 had given birth, were rapidly extending themselves throughout these 



