588 The State of Europe. [JUNE, 



ing the guilt and superstition of the past, may retire, leaving the soil 

 impregnated for a new race of opinions, habits, and knowledge, a revived 

 creation. 



In Portugal an act of manly policy has distinguished the British 

 government. Disclaiming all desire to see England interfering in the 

 private quarrels of foreigners, and esteeming the rights of Don Miguel 

 and Don Pedro as equally beneath the public concern, it is a matter of 

 high policy that the name of Englishman should be held as a protection 

 wherever it is heard, against the caprice, extortion, or violence of foreign 

 kings. The seizure of English merchants, and still more, the insults to 

 the persons of English subjects, demanded the direct interference of our 

 government. Cromwell raised his name highest among sovereigns by 

 this wise and unhesitating protection of the Englishman in all parts of 

 the globe. Against the justice due to his people, under whatever capa- 

 city, he suffered no consideration, however grave, to interfere. In Lon- 

 don, Don Pantaleon de Saa, the Portuguese ambassador's brother, had, 

 in some personal irritation, drawn his sword and slew a man in the 

 street. This would have been nothing in Portugal. So, the murderer 

 turned on his heel, and walked to the ambassador's house, where he 

 would have been safe in any other country of Europe. Cromwell 

 instantly demanded him. The ambassador pleaded his privilege, 

 threatened Cromwell with the vengeance of his government, and refused 

 to give him up. A troop of soldiers were sent, who dragged the cri- 

 minal from the ambassador's house. He was found guilty, and in scorn 

 of all remonstrances from the foreigner, was hanged in front of the 

 Exchange, amid the acclamations of the people. From this time forth 

 there were no more stabbings by Dons in London. 



This was the great sovereign who declared that {f he knew no ambas- 

 sador like a man of war ;" and who would have sent the whole navy of 

 England, at an hour's notice, to batter the King of Portugal's palace 

 about his ears fcr an injury to one of his nation. Whatever may be 

 our general opinions of the Whig government, we give them full credit 

 for following the maxim of the Protector. With the faithlessness of 

 foreigners, who can get absolution for every lie, diplomacy is but the 

 art of delay and deception. The only point worth ascertaining is the 

 extent of material injury, and the only diplomatist who wastes no time, 

 and can be neither tricked nor sent back with his errand, is a seventy- 

 four. The man of war is the true ambassador of England. 



Don Miguel, by the mission of no formal embassy, sent to write inter- 

 minable despatches, and demand interviews, and exhibit its laced uniforms 

 at levees and balls, but of a simple consul, seconded by the simple 

 presence of a squadron of the line, has been compelled to do what 

 justice would have done at once to make a full apology for the inso- 

 lence, to release the property seized by him, to dismiss the tools which 

 he employed in those insolences, and to make atonement to the English 

 individuals in whose instance he had dared to offend the majesty of the 

 empire. 



Spain is still lethargic, or giving signs of life only in the occasional 

 struggles of some partizan, too rude to be reckoned among political 

 instruments, and too feeble to work any public change. The priesthood, 

 the most sullen, stern, and imperious of all that bear the impress of 

 popery, are still masters of the land ; the nobility are cyphers, the army 

 is a nonentity, the scholars are monks, and the banditti seem to be the 

 only representatives of the national vigour. 



