466 The King's Speech— ■ ^No^^ 



promise of calling the attention of Parliament in the next session to a 

 reform biU^ assuring the nation of " his Majesty's unaltered desire to 

 proriaote its settlement by such improvements in the representation as 

 may be found necessary for securing to his Majesty's people the full en- 

 joyment of their rights, which, in combination with those of the other 

 orders of the state, are essential to the support of our free constitution." 



The king was received with applause by the multitude on his way to 

 the house. The galleries were filled with ladies, who, customary as the 

 affair may be, would make a much better figure anywhere else : some 

 of them, leaders of ton, for which they are fit, attempting to be leaders 

 of politics, in which they only make themselves ridiculous ; and deeming 

 that to lose any exhibition of themselves and their officiousness, would 

 be a loss of their station in public influence I One or two of those 

 bustling personages forced their way through aU obstacles, to the front, 

 and by their looks of approbation, we hope, much comforted his Ma- 

 jesty, under the difficulties of his government, and by their smiles 

 cheered the downcast hearts of his Majesty's ministers. When Napo- 

 leon was once approached by one of these female settlers of nations, who 

 tendered her opinions on government, he turned round, and simply 

 asked her, " how many children she had at home ?" The lady politi- 

 cians would be much better employed in their nurseries. 



We shall follow his Majestjr's speech in its principal features, to ascer- 

 tain on what footing the year leaves us with Europe. ' 



Russia is once more mistress of Poland. This we regret, for every 

 reason, and first for the sake of the Poles themselves. "Their insurrec- 

 tion was that of a brave people against an oppressive government ; of 

 patriots against strangers ; of men demanding a government of equal 

 laws, and necessary rights, against a fierce and iron despotism, which 

 acknowledges no law but the sword. The attempt has failed. But its 

 failure shall not make us hesitate to pronounce that it was justifiable in 

 the highest degree ; that the conception of the enterprize was magna- 

 nimous ; that its conduct through unexampled hazards was heroic ; and 

 that its failure is unstained by any loss of national honour. On the con- 

 trary, the national honour has come out of this tremendous contest 

 raised to a nobler rank, and though the sword has been wrenched by- 

 brute superiority of force from the Polish hand, and Poland will from this 

 hour be watched with a more envenomed vigilance, and loaded with a 

 heavier chain, yet she stands in a more distinguished rank with 

 Europe, than if she had never made this gallant effort, and, prisoner as 

 she may be, she has redeemed herself for ever from the name of slave. 



Russia has lost formidably by the struggle. Her military name has been 

 tarnished by successive defeats ; her armies have been dispirited — her 

 most distinguished chieftains baffled. It has cost her almost two years, 

 the expenditure of millions of money, and little short of two hundred 

 thousand lives, to break down the resistance of the poorest people of 

 the north — a people scattered over a wilderness, without money or a 

 government ; with but one fortified town, and with but one army. 

 Russia never purchased so doubtful a victory, nor purchased any vic- 

 tory at so dear a rate. She has no triumph to boast of in the field. To 

 garrison Poland, she must expend an army. The spirit of the country 

 is not dead, and every movement in Europe will vibrate to Warsaw. 

 The first sound of war among the restless powers of the south and west 

 will be re-echoed along the Vistula, and Russia will have justly brought 



