298 Sir Henry Parnell on " Financial Reform," $c. [[MARCH, 



view the notorious fact, that its successful exertions are owing to its 

 continual importation of fresh labourers from Africa ; and that the 

 " small proprietors/' who are said to cultivate their properties with- 

 out the aid of slaves, are principally employed in raising provisions, 

 cattle, and mules, for the use of the sugar estates ; and in hunting, 

 as monteros, the runaway negroes ! 



In conclusion we have only to remark, that if we are to square the 

 commercial and Colonial policy of this country by the rule and opi- 

 nions of this Political Economist and Financial Reformer, our ship- 

 owners may dismantle about one half of their ships,* our manufacturers 

 may dismiss a part of their labourers, a great part of our fishermen 

 may give up their occupation ; the fundholder may look for a serious 

 diminution of the interest on his unsubstantial property and every class 

 of the community may prepare themselves for difficulties and privations, 

 little short of what might be caused by a National Bankruptcy ! 



THE PERSONAL AND POLITICAL PORTRAIT OF PRINCE 

 METTERNICH. 



FEW men have attracted more attention in their generation, than the 

 Prince Metternich. Born of an ancient and noble family, but unaided 

 by the advantages of fortune, undistinguished by education, and 

 ungifted with extraordinary intellectual powers, yet possessing extreme 

 dexterity, a rapid and clear perception of human character, with 

 exquisite tact of manner and address ; insinuating in discourse, and 

 eminently graceful in action; effeminate in personal appearance, and, if 

 not depraved in taste, indifferent to, or wholly devoid of respect for 

 more than the forms of his church; he trembled not to seize the helm 

 of state of the Austrian empire, under the most difficult circumstances ; 

 and adapting himself to events with suppleness, he for some time, 

 like the automaton chess-player, never moved but to victory, of what- 

 ever force his antagonist might be ; but no expression of dread, or 

 joy, or triumph, could be remarked in that piece of mysterious mecha- 

 nism. 



Whatever may be the distant and ultimate destiny of his name and 

 fortunes, the dark shadow of " coming events" has, just now, somewhat 

 obscured their usual lustre ; and it is, haply, while their sometime bril- 

 liancy stands impaired, and when the eye is no longer overpowered by 

 their light, that it may better consider some few of the man's humanities; 

 for who might safely advert to the qualities of the minister and the 

 prince, where those qualities are best understood, and where they are 

 more indistinctly comprehended? who would willingly thread the 

 labyrinth of diplomatic intrigue, or patiently chronicle the ever varying 

 phases of that sidus errans which shed its better or baneful influence 

 on men and things, just as they happened to be proud and powerful, 

 or humble and degraded ? It is enough that Italy may best become the 



* By Parliamentary Return No 51, Session 1829, it appears that the employ- 

 ment of British shipping outwards, in one year, was as follows, 



Men. Ships. Tons. 



To British Possessions and Dependencies 56,493 4,701 90,150 



To Foreign Countries 55,892 6,780 997,532 



