110 
gines of the West, meekly bow down their necks for 
the oppressor to tread on. We see in her a “ lion 
apprized of the pursuit,”—past experience having 
taught her that her welfare, though promoted, en¬ 
couraged, and strengthened by an intercourse with 
foreign nations, must find its basis within her own 
shores,—must emanate from, and be supported by, 
her own exertions. 
We do not profess to understand much of the 
complicated machinery by which the commercial 
interests of a country are directed; nor are we suffi¬ 
cient politicians to dive into the affairs of cabinets, so 
as to be able to comprehend why an object that is 
(to all rational appearance) of trivial importance, and 
doubtful issue, is pursued with unabated ardour;—or, 
perhaps, inflexible obstinacy, even long after success 
is hopeless;—while another, which presents unbounded 
advantages, and which lies within, and is even offered 
to, the grasp, is either feebly held, or altogether 
rejected. 
In our view of the subject before us, we have 
attended to facts rather than abstract reasoning—to 
practice rather than speculation ; and, under their 
influence, we confess we have been surprised at the 
manner in which the French Government have not 
merely slighted, but abused and insulted the magnifi¬ 
cent country of which we are treating. It could not 
arise from a want of knowing the riches she possessed, 
because these are clearly pointed out by their earliest 
writers on the subject; nor could they be mistaken 
