PREFACE. 



ciently into the dissentions and contests, and given 

 specimens of the debates, in the national, conventional, 

 and legislative assembhes of France, until all freedom 

 was suppressed by the usurpation of Buonaparte. Our 

 attention is now solicited to the Cortes of Spain. If 

 we were to measure the importance of the speeches in 

 the Hall of the Cortes, and the propriety of introducing 

 them into a general History of Europe, by the extent of 

 their knowledge and views, and their admirable elo- 

 quence, we should not hesitate to make way for that 

 introduction, by the suppression of much of what passes 

 in our own Parliament. Nor would the British states- 

 men and orators be disparaged, if they were to sit as 

 close together, and make as much room as possible for 

 the admission of the Spaniards into the bright political 

 zodiac of freedom : Individual liberty and national in- 

 dependence, 



Ipse tibi jam bracbia contrahit ardcns 

 Scorpius* 



But in annals of Europe, we must be guided in our 

 selections by the consideration of what is most important 

 in its general effects and practical results. Had the 

 speeches in Cato's little senate at Utica been published, 

 there is not a doubt but they would have displayed as 

 much wisdom and eloquence as any recorded by Livy 

 or Sallust ; but they would not have excited at the time 

 the same degree of interest. As yet, the deliberations 

 and decisions of the Cortes have not had any actual in- 

 fluence on the affairs of nations. In the present volume, 

 as much space has been allotted, as could be possibly 



* Virg. Georg. lib. I, ver. 34. 



