Untitled - 24grammata.com

INTERESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN, 457influence. In the second place,in the great wars in whichEngland took part, she uniformly supported the weakeragainst the more powerful. She connected herself withAustria in the early wars, and in the later with Prussia, asthese monarchies, one after the other, seemed threatened tobe destroyed by confederated Europe. Both might possiblyhave saved themselves without the co-operation of England ;but the merit of England must not, on that account, be depreciated.She materially contributed, perhaps in a greaterdegree than any other European power, to uphold the political balance of Europe.SIXTH PERIOD.PERIOD OP THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, 17881815.We have still to consider the last periodcontinental policy,of the Britishwhich, though not the most extensive,isunquestionably the most interesting, both as respectsEngland herself, and the continent of Europe. In respectto England herself, because it is distinguished by the mostremarkable development of her energiesin ; respect to thecontinent, because England became in it the centre and theonly unshaken support of the still existing political systemof Europe and because she determined and influenced the;than shepolitics of other cabinets much more decisivelyhad ever done in any former period. Never has the truthof the observation with which we commenced this inquiry,"that it is a highly advantageouscircumstance' for themaintenance of the liberty and independence of a statessystem,that one of its principalmembers should be an insular state and in possessionof a naval force," been morestrikingly demonstrated than in this period.If a bridge hadbeen thrown across the Channel how totally different mighthave been the fate of England and of Europe We cer!tainly do not entertain the slightest doubt that England,even in this case, would have remained unconquered, orthat the invasion of a French army would eventually haveended in its destruction ;and simply because the warlikeenergiesof the nation would in that case have been moregenerally roused and concentrated, and more resolutelydisplayed.But the destiny of the British state, at least, if notof the British people,is now so entirelyidentified with the