470 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



as suddenly recurring to the dis- 

 tractions of the busy world. 



Yet in business or in study his 

 mind was equally alert, and few 

 men were better qualified to shine 

 in the councils of his country, or to 

 uphold the interests of a sinking 

 state. Sydney's talents, as a ne- 

 gociator, were displayed in his 

 transactions at the Sound ; and the 

 wisdom of his measures were after- 

 wards more clearly unfolded, in the 

 steady adherence of Sweden to the 

 English alliance ; when the Danes, 

 whom he was accused of compel- 

 ling to a disadvantageous treaty, 

 forsook that alliance, from their 

 more intimate connection with the 

 Dutch. It was, however, in main- 

 taining the beneficial schemes of 

 an enlightened policy, that he was 

 chiefly fitted to excel. He had no 

 sympathy with the intriguers of 

 an abandoned court ; and if, after 

 the restoration, his talents were re- 

 quired for the service of his coun- 

 try, it was to oppose, and not to 

 forward, their designs. 



Aware of the evils inseparable 

 from despotism, and the mischiev- 

 ous tendency of delusion on the 

 minds of princes, Sydney was at- 

 tached to a popular schtine of po- 

 licy, which he deemed most con- 

 ducive to the public good. But, 

 free from all animosity and fac- 

 tion, in his resistance to the arbi- 

 trary proceedings of the Stuarts, he 

 preserved the consistency of his 

 principles, by refusing to acquiesce 

 in the usurpation of Cromwell, or 

 to countenance the triumph of the 

 military over the civil power. The 

 religious enthusiasm which so ge- 

 nerally prevailed, had little influ- 

 ence on his mind ; and his efforts 

 were solely diiectcd to secure the 



liberties of his country, by the es- 

 tablishment of a free constitution, 

 founded on the only legitimate basis 

 of government, the general 

 WILL. He vindicated the lawful- 

 ness of resistance to oppressive ru- 

 lers, as necessary to maintain the 

 people's rights ; and he challenged 

 a degree of freedom, as essential to 

 their happiness, which the advo- 

 cates of regal authority are seldom 

 disposed to allow. He esteemed 

 himself free, because dependant on 

 the will of no man, and struggled 

 to assert the proud inheritance of 

 an Englishman, against all unwar- 

 ranted control. The love of li- 

 berty, and of his country, was deep- 

 ly rooted in his mind ; and he was 

 incapable of doing any thing repug- 

 nant to his principles, even for the 

 preservation of his life. As those 

 principles were formed on the pu- 

 rest models of antiquity, they were 

 free from that fanaticism and coarse- 

 ness, which strongly characterized 

 his age. He had a soul above dis- 

 guise. His elevated sentiments 

 and undoubted courage raised him 

 above the little arts of the dema- 

 gogue. He was a genuine repub- 

 lican, superior to all selfish consi- 

 derations, and worthy to be hand- 

 ed down for the admiration of 

 posterity, among the most dis- 

 tinguished patriots of Greece and 

 Rome. 



Although, during the triumph 

 of his party, Sydney declined to sit 

 in judgment on a fallen Sovereign, 

 he scorned to take advantage of 

 such delicacy, in the reaction which 

 afterwards ensued. He chose the 

 hour of danger to avow his approba- 

 tion of a sentence, in which he had 

 not participated,rather than beliehis 

 principles, and disown his friends. 



