vi PREFACE. 



been in no haste to suspend their profitable warfare; 

 hence the reports of insults and outrages committed on 

 the flags and territory of some of the smaller Italian 

 States ; but which no doubt will speedily be repressed 

 by the interference of the superior powers. 



The general and successful appeal which had been 

 made by the Sovereigns of tlie German States to the 

 great body of the people in throwing off the yoke which 

 had been imposed by the French armies, had been ac- 

 companied by the promise of a liberal reform in their 

 political institutions. Popular writers had been encou- 

 raged to arouse and create patriotic feelings by the 

 contrast between slavish submission to a detestable 

 foreign tyranny, and the acquiescence of freemen in a 

 constitution (conceded by the sovereign and ratified by 

 the several orders of the state) which, by adopting with 

 greater or less modifications, the principles of a repre- 

 sentative government, might, as far as human infirmi- 

 ties will permit, secure alike the legitimate rights both 

 of the rulers and of the people. 



In the triumph that succeeded their military labours, 

 in the partitions and repartitions, in the intrigues and 

 squabbles consequent on the division of the spoil, or, 

 to use a diplomatic phrase, the adjustment of the in- 

 demnities, so much time was occupied as very naturally 

 to excite suspicions on the part of the Public, with 

 regard to the good faith of the Sovereigns. The im- 

 patience of the people increased in proportion to the 

 delay ; and according as the projected reforms were 

 supported in each state by the Military, the Nobility, 

 and the Clergy, the respective Sovereigns withstood 

 or yielded to the popular voice. Even under the most 

 favourable circumstances, however, the practical diffi- 

 culties of adjusting ancient and chartered privileges, 

 and conciliating them with the extended exercise of 

 equal law and proportioned taxation, have been so great, 

 that the progress of reform has been, and must ne- 

 cessarily be, very slow. In Prussia and Wirtemburg, 



and 



