82 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



doubting that, by themselves or by their influ- 

 ence, they should not frequently moderate the 

 hatred and vehemence of cabinets against the 

 compatriots of their comrades, of their friends. 

 These remote causes have, perhaps oftener than 

 once, stopped the rivulets of human blood, which 

 have but too often moistened and profaned the 

 earth ; and perhaps too they have prevented the 

 effusion, at the moment it was going to break 

 forth. It is thus that the Maltese fraternity, by a 

 slow but certain operation, would, probably, have 

 realized that delicious dream of philanthropy, 



universal peace, 



- 



It is abundantly evident, and it answers no 

 purpose to make the remark, that these reflec- 

 tions, presented such as they struck me when on 

 the spot, could be of no weight but under the an- 

 cient order of things, that is, at the era of my 

 voyage : they have since ceased to exhibit the 

 same interest. The French republic, which* in 

 the space of a few years, has hurried through 

 ages of glory, has just superseded the existence o( 

 the Order ; it has looked down with disdain on 

 the advantages which that institution procured to 

 France, and the hope of concord of which it 

 opened a glimpse to the nations. Speculations 

 like these were too narrow for the immen- 

 sity of her power. Mistress of the Mediter- 

 ranean, 



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