22Q THE CONSERVATIVE REFORMERS. 



And first, as to our foreign policy, confided to the statesman-like 

 guidance and direction of the Duke of Wellington, the great upholder 

 of Holy Alliance politics, down to the present moment. 



In 1814, an address was moved to the Prince Regent, praying him 

 to intercede for the people of Norway, who were now reduced to the 

 dreadful alternative of perishing by famine, or of submitting them- 

 selves to the subjection of a hostile and foreign power. It was urged 

 by the Ministry that we were bound by the terms of the treaty, at 

 the same time that we permitted Sweden to break the conditions into 

 which she had entered at pleasure. The treaty referred to had re- 

 cognized the cession of Norway, but the non-fulfilment of the condi- 

 tions by one of the contracting parties, fully justified the Norwegians 

 in calling upon us to interfere in their behalf. But the truckling 

 principle prevailed, England being at that time a most serviceable 

 make- weight in adjusting " the balance of power," to be used at dis- 

 cretion by the other powers forming the Holy Alliance. 



In the same year, the Tory Ministry made a grant of money to 

 Sicily, to enable it to prosecute a war against Naples, at the very 

 moment we had entered into a solemn compact with the latter to 

 preserve their king undisturbed in his dominions. So much for the 

 national faith ! We may mention that, as an agreeable diversion, we 

 had, previously to this transaction, made ourselves parties to the par- 

 tition of Saxony. 



But Holy Alliance principles are nothing unless they be well fol- 

 lowed. We were now about to shew that we were apt scholars at 

 despotism, and that an enlightened policy called upon us in future 

 not only to desert, but to betray. 



In 1814, Lord William Bentinck told the people of Genoa, in a 

 proclamation, that their ancient government was restored, and that he 

 acted on the principles declared by the Allies in the Treaty of Paris. 

 His Lordship, in the name of the British Government, made an 

 appeal to the feelings of the Genoese, recalled to them the days of 

 their former prosperity, and pledged his country to reinstate them in 

 their former privileges. Eight months afterwards, when hopes had 

 been held out to them that they were once more to enjoy their ancient 

 privileges, a mandate was dispatched from the detestable Congress of 

 Vienna, annulling everything that had been done in favour of Genoese 

 freedom, and delivering up that unfortunate country to the King of 



