CLARKE’S YIEW OF THE DISORGANIZATION OF EUROPE. 
tablishments with the temper, address, and 
wisdom which she observes at present, an 
indolent, luxurious, superstitious people, not 
much (though much morc than the world 
suspects) accustomed to reason on political 
arrangements, will continue in a certain de- 
gree of subjection to government, and in a 
certain degree of acquiescence to commercial 
restrictive regulations, in their European 
course, for the sake of reciprocity of enjoy- 
ment and protection which they derive from 
it. Not yet being hardened into a temper 
for enterprise by force of war, they will con- 
tinue to pay their taxes as a peace-offering. 
The natives, however, encreasing in num- 
bers, beyond any number of old Spaniards 
which the metropolis can send either as civil 
overnors and magistrates, or as soldiers ; 
Being the interior executive power of all the 
inferior magistracies in their own hands, by 
their own election of the magistrates ; and 
having invariably, where their choice ope- 
rates, made a decided rule to choose those of 
393 
their own body, they have, so far as that 
goes, all the power of internal government in 
their own hands, in which the majesty of the 
sovereign state never anterferes : an whiat- 
ever sovereignty the Spanish monarch holds 
by the offices of his viceroys, of his judges, 
of his audiences, his clergy, or his army; 
however majestic they may look, or however 
it may appear to individuals, and, im parti- 
cular exertions, to carry terror, it is a mere 
tenure at good-will.” 
The author proceeds to explain in de- 
tailhis plans of proceeding, which are 
based on much local knowledge and en- 
quiry concerning the country. 
The whole memorial contains many 
interesting and instructive passages, but 
they are expressed with a mystical and 
tumid frothiness, less likely to secure the 
praise of eloquence than to endanger 
that of thinking clearly. 
Arr. XIX. An Historical and Political View of the Disorganization of Europe, wherein 
the Laws and Characters of Nations and the Maritime and Commercial System of Great 
Britain and other States are vindicated against the Imputaticns and revolutionary Proposals 
ef MM. Talleyrand and M. Hauterive, Secretaries of State to the French Republic. By 
T. B. Crarxe, LL. D. 8vo. pp. 208. 
GREAT Britain has two main 
purposes to pursue in her continental 
politics. Firstly, to subdivide the con- 
tinent into the greatest possible number 
of important states; because her own 
magnitude being limited by nature, her 
relative importance depends on the other 
nations not attaining a more than equi- 
pollent magnitude. Secondly, to ba- 
lance against each other the habitual 
constellations of states, so that her own 
accession to either confederacy may 
prove decisive, and secure an attention 
to her interests in the eventual distribu- 
tions of disputed territory. These in- 
terests are nearly confined to a limita- 
tion of the northern aggrandisement of 
France, which can most effectually be 
accomplished by adding Holland, West- 
and all the territory between the 
hine and the Elbe to the Prussian do- 
minions. This territory would then be 
tae by a sufficient force against 
rench usurpation. In 1787, the op- 
portunity existed so to allot these pro- 
vinces; but it existed in vain for the 
uny statesmanship of the then minister. 
t remains for intellect to recover the 
opportunity. An alliance with Russia 
and Prussia against the preponderance 
of France, would probably restore it. 
Now that Austria has lost the Nether- 
lands, Great Britain has no remaining 
interest in her power, or her success. 
Whatever of opinion, of expence, of 
commercial accommodation, of terri- 
torial sacrifice (there are remnants of 
Dutch colonies, which Prussia might be 
induced to covet) would purchase the 
entire friendship of Berlin,,should be 
applied to conciliate that friendship. 
The possession of the whole coast from 
the Rhine to the Weichsel, including 
the very probable absorption of Den- 
mark, will still not aggrandize Prussia 
into a rival maritime power. It is use- 
less now to lament the folly and perverse 
misconduct of the Antijacobin war ; we 
ought to bend our undivided energies to 
undo the resulting mischief. 
This book is too much occupied with 
the remote past. Let Talleyrand abuse 
our press, provided we retain its free- 
dom. Let Hauterive point out our an- 
cient insignificance, provided we avoid 
to smooth the way for its return. All 
countries are ambitious, and ought to 
be so. It is the preserving principle of 
national strength; and, like the desire 
of bettering one’s condition in private 
life, prevents the unwholesome indo- 
lence of contented decrepitude. France 
is enormously aggrandized and strength- 
ened. It is for Great Britain to ag- 
grandize and strengthen herself also; 
by the occupation of such colonizable 
territory as will best contribute to in- 
crease her commerce and resident wealth; 
