494 Political Stale of' England and Europe. [Nov. 



patriots only require to sharpen their appetites for public spoil, inflame 

 tlieir discontent into insolence, and make them look beyond affected 

 rights to real and sweeping rebellion ; it has virtually alienated the only 

 strength by ■which the connexion of the islands was sustained. The 

 whole Protestant population of Ireland has declared itself injured ; and 

 if the time of some great public calamity should be hastening to try 

 the soundness of the empire, we may have to reap the bitter results of 

 having sown apathy and scorn where the mere spontaneousness of the 

 soil would have thrown up a noble harvest of courage invincible, and 

 affection strong as the grave. 



But the " Atrocious Bill" was carried. The voice of the Protestant 

 millions of the empire was sent up in vain : it could not penetrate the 

 doors of the cabinet. The most powerful appeals of insulted religion, 

 and indignant common sense, were sent up in vain. The cabinet was 

 impregnable to both. There never was in human annals so full and 

 impressive a cry, so deliberate, unequivocal, and universal a declaration 

 of national alarm on any measure of a government — legislatures had 

 been subverted, and kings dethroned arid expelled by a less general 

 impulse. Society lifted up all her unnumbered hands in supplication 

 against the measure, hands Avhich, had they been lifted up as in earlier 

 times, must have extinguished all resistance at the moment ; but a wiser 

 spirit ruled ; and the temperance of that day will not be without its re- 

 ward, when that cabinet and its measures are gone down to all the 

 oblivion that can be spared to them by immortal scorn. 



We must now speed to the conclusion. The " Atrocious Bill" had been 

 scarcely three months passed, when the supremacy of England received 

 its mortal wound. — The Turkish empire was trampled down by Russia ; 

 our policy was baffled ; our remonstrances were held in disdain ; our 

 hostility was despised. The blow inflicted on Turkey was a blow on the 

 crest of England ! The fall of the Ottoman has, at an instant, laid open 

 our eastern possessions to an enemy already encamped within two 

 hundred miles of the frontier of Hindostan. It has changed the whole 

 aspect of European diplomacy ; and while it has covered an imbecile 

 cabinet with European contempt, it has expanded before the Russian 

 throne a prospect of unlimited sovereignty. 



It is to no purpose that we may talk of the moderation of the Czar. 

 The treaty is a capitulation. Turkey is from this hour a vassal. The 

 Mediterranean must be fought for. But the Euxine will be the impreg- 

 nable dock-yard of Russia, from which she may pour down inexhausti- 

 ble fleets. The Asiatic population will be her people. The states of 

 Europe are already coveting her alliance, and even soliciting to share 

 her spoil ; the European pre-eminence of England is gone, and she will 

 finally have to fight lor her safety. 



We find this confession at length forced from the friends of the ministry. 

 What says the Time.? of our policy ? Hear the i-eluctant confession. 



" As it happened, Russia was filled with undue, we may add, un- 

 founded apprehensions ; Turkey with confidence as unfounded in our 

 support ; and the French government, overpowered by the national pre- 

 judices against the new directors of British policy, withdrew itself from 

 every plan of cordial or useful co-operation." 



Then comes the sentence wliich, let ministers try to palliate as they 

 may, is fatally true. 



" Circumstances," (happy name for infatuation !) " have done what men 



