THE 



MONTHLY MAGAZINE 



OF 



POLITICS, LITERATURE, AND THE BELLES LETTRES. 



Vol. XII.] SEPTEMBER, 1831. [No. 69- 



It is impossible to doubt that the condition of those governments 

 which attempt to keep Europe from coming to blows, is one of increas- 

 ing difficulty ; that the political relations of the continent are becoming 

 more hazardous hour by hour ; and that the whole aspect of public 

 affairs, both abroad and at home, teems with revolution. 



We by no means join in the parliamentary oratory against the foreign 

 policy, even of the Whigs. Sinners as they openly are against the stabi- 

 lity of the constitution, we have no ground for suspecting them of ill-will 

 to the external strength of the empire. With all the administrations that 

 liave governed the country since the Hanover accession, the policy has 

 l)een, directly, to act as arbiter between the continental powers, to be 

 the general peace-maker, and by throwing the weight of England on 

 the weaker side, to preserve the general equality of the balance. 



This was Pitt's successful policy, and for which he entered into the 

 war with France, in 1793. This was Fox's unsuccessful policy, and for 

 Avhich he plunged into the negociation with France, in 1806. This was 

 the Perceval policy, for which the minister aided Spain ; this was the 

 Canning policy, for which, different as the administrations were in all 

 other points, the minister aided Portugal ; and this is the policy for 

 which Wellington, the enemy of Reform, rescued Turkey from the 

 grasp of Russia ; and for which Grey, the enthusiast for Reform, now 

 struggles to save Belgium from being the prey of France, Prussia, and 

 Holland, and the source of an universal war. The unquestionable fact 

 is, tliat the foreign policy of all the successive administrations has been 

 their strong-hold, and that it is guided by such obvious and necessary 

 principles, that no administration can go far wide of the mark. As a 

 proof of this, we ask, wliat administration, for the last fifty years, has 

 ever been beaten on the ground of its foreign policy .-' Motions, innu- 

 merable, liave been made to shake them, on every casualty abroad, but 

 they have cleared themselves with such ease, tliat the assailants have 



M. M. Nav Hcries.—Vou. XII. No. til). Z 



