HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
every part of which he disapproved 
‘of, the court. of Palermo was ulti- 
mately compelled to abandon its 
designs upon Naples; though it 
affected for some time an intention 
of pursuing the enterprize with its 
ewn forces, the greater part of 
which it assembled on the north 
coast of Sicily, under the prince of 
Hesse, on pretence of inspecting, 
arming, and cloathing the troops. 
But, when the resolution of general 
Fox not to concur in the expedi- 
tion, was found to be unalterably 
fixed, the project was entirely given 
up, though with much reluctance 
and ill-hamour against the English. 
While their Sicilian majesties 
were thus intent on the recovery 
of Naples, the importance of Sicily, 
the resources which it might be 
made to afford, and the means ne- 
cessary to be taken for conciliating 
the affections of its inhabitants, and 
rousing them against the enemy,seem 
never to have entered into their con- 
templation. When the royal family 
were driven a second time toSicily for 
shelter and protection, the Sicilians 
had vainly imagined, that in return 
for their assistance and fidelity they 
would be relieved from jealous and 
injurious restrictions on their com- 
merce and navigation, and raised to 
greater weight and eonsidcration in 
the councils of their sovereign, than 
they had hitherto attained. Their 
ancient constitution, the venerable 
forms of which were still existing, 
they were desirous to re-establish, 
and no less attached to the English 
by ancient traditions than by hatred 
of the French, they fondly expected 
from us assistance and countenance 
in this great undertaking. But, it 
has been the misfortune of England, 
in the long war she has sustained 
against the different rulers of France, 
149 
that, whether contending with a re- 
public, an oligarchy, or a monarchy, 
she has never had the people of any 
country on her side. ‘Lhe protec- 
tress and champion of the old go- 
vernments of Europe, she has never 
availed herself of her power and 
influence, to mediate between .the 
prejudices and fears of her allies, 
and the just claims and expectations 
of their subjects. Kingdom after 
kingdom has been subdued, throne 
after throne has been subverted, 
without teaching governments that 
there is no safety for them but in the 
affection of their people, and that the 
price of affection is to deserve it and 
return it. Two expulsions from 
Naples had not impressed these 
lessons on the court of Palermo. 
The Sicilians were neglected and 
despised ; their grievances were not 
redressed; their complaints were not 
listened to; their government was 
in the hands of strangers, surrounded 
by traitors ; and the power of Eng- 
land, instead of being extended to 
their relief. served only to uphold 
the authority of those who slighted 
and oppressed them. 
As the transactions in Naples had 
little connection with the scenes 
passing in the rest of Europe, we 
have brought down the preceding 
narrative to the close of the year, 
without digression of interruption 3 
and for the same reason we shall 
Proceed next to give an account of 
the affairs in Cattaro and Ragusa 
between the French and Russians ; 
and afterwards revert to the more 
important but fatal events in the 
north of Germany, 
Cattaro, a small barren province, 
situated to the south of Ragusa, 
derives its value from the excellence 
of its harbour, which is the largest 
and safest in the Adriatic ; and from 
L3 the 
