94] 
greater than 150,000 men, to 
be maintained by France, and 
under a commander in chief no- 
minated by the allied powers. 
Particular conventions were made 
for liquidating the claims of dif- 
ferent powers on the French Go- 
vernment. Such was the bitter 
cup of humiliation which France 
was doomed to drain, after so 
many triumphs over her neigh- 
bours, enjoyed with so little mo- 
deration. As she had risen higher 
under her late Ruler than at any 
former period, so she was called 
upon to submit to a greater abase- 
ment. The terms imposed were 
however a proof of the dread still 
entertained of her power. 
With respect to her internal 
condition, the past experience of 
the rapid changes it has under- 
gone, the known restlessness and 
impetuosity of the national cha- 
racter, and the present super- 
intendence exercised by foreign 
armies, render wholly vague all 
conjectures on this head for the 
future; and even throw much 
uncertainty on the actual state of 
things. The press is no medium 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1815. 
of information to be depended up~ 
on, since journals and periodical 
works are under a supervision, 
not less strict on account of its 
being privately exercised. In the 
published debates of the two cham- 
bers, we see an intemperate and 
almost incontrollable ardour for 
speaking, and much violence of 
language and manner, together 
with an apparent ardour of loy- 
alty, breaking out in mobbish 
shouts of Vive le Roi; and what 
seems more important, a prepon- 
derance of what is termed ultra- 
royalism, which opposes the mo- 
deration of the court and ministers 
respecting political criminals, and 
inclines to carry retrospective pu- 
nishment to the greatest prac- 
ticable severity. This spirit has 
been particularly displayed in the 
debates on the proposed law of 
amnesty, with which the year con- 
cluded, and seems to forebode a 
stormy season to come, unless 
Government shall have acquired 
the strength and the wisdom to 
hold the helm with a steady 
hand. 
