power and injustice; and although it is sometimes necessary to let injustice triumph, yet its effects should as far as possible be repaired.

The French revolution has, altogether, caused immense losses to other nations*; losses which there is no possible means of repairing: therefore, however great the injustice, the matter must so remain. In like manner, the legitimate king of Sweden having been dethroned in the hour of the insolent domination of France, and of the abject servility of the continent; and being replaced by a prince who has merited the throne by his honourable and able assistance in the liberation of Europe, the injustice cannot be repaired in a direct manner, without doing another injustice, which would be still worse; for the reason that the former injustice proceeded from the same source with the miseries of

* If we estimate the losses in money, they cannot be less than three thousand millions sterling, and in men about three millions. France itself has lost more than three millions of men, and two thousand millions of money. Such is the consequence of a system of robbery and plunder organized on a grand scale. It is not even finished yet, and more blood and treasure may yet be called for, but France never can pay for the mischief done.

the rest of Europe, whereas, were the Crown Prince of Sweden to be treated with injustice, the honour of the united sovereigns whose cause he has assisted, would be tarnished. It seems, however, to be a duty on them to find out some indemnity for the brave king Gustavus, and not let him wander about on the face of the earth, without a restingplace.

The mind of Gustavus appears to have changed from courage and bravery, to a haughty resignation of rank, and disgust of mankind. He did not, while on the throne, purchase tranquillity and ease by mean submission, and by the sacrifices of his people, like some sovereigns who have preserved their crowns; nor did he, after losing his kingdom, condescend to accept the bounty of England, in order to enjoy luxurious and careless ease, but on the throne, and off the throne, he nobly sought that independence that suits a descendant of Gustavus Vasa.

Had this young king been endowed with the wisdom and reflection that years and observation produce, he might have seen that it was his best way to bend when he could not resist, for that it was but a temporary sacrifice.

On this subject a writer we have already quoted seems to have foreseen what has happened*.

"But it is not on our conduct alone, that the study of the perspective of the human mind may have an influence, it may give us comfort and equanimity. On looking upon European politics on the great scale, we may draw much consolation and much advantage from the study of mental perspective. The apprehension that the whole of the continent of Europe will remain under the power of any one man, or of any one nation, can only arise from the exaggeration occasioned by the recency of the event, which gives an appearance of permanence and solidity to what is only a temporary and a very unnatural state of things. To suppose that all at once the ancient boundaries of nations can be thrown down, and differences of language, manners, and characters cease to operate, would be going a great way, even were it proved, that in abandoning these ancient ways of acting, men followed some new propensity, or some new interest; but the contrary is the case. Never before were men under such coersion. For liberty on a rational principle was their aim, and though they sought it too

* The Perspective of the Human Mind, printed in May 1810.

eagerly, and failed in their purpose, they still have the desire to obtain it; and that desire is most undoubtedly accompanied with a hope that time will produce an opportunity of repairing their error: there is no doubt that the intention is general and firm, of embracing that opportunity when it offers. Men have not changed their nature, though their situation is changed for a time; and it is only the exaggeration occasioned by what is recent and extraordinary, that gives so serious an aspect to the face of human affairs. The time will come, and is probably not very distant, when the terror, the panic, and the dismay occasioned by the recent changes in Europe, and which have been in part the cause of them, will cease to operate."

This writer, by taking a view of things, and setting aside the impressions of the moment, and those feelings under which most people laboured, saw that the storm was evanescent. Had the king of Sweden seen the same, he would have yielded, and he would have still been on his throne; and though he committed an error in being too determined in a good cause, we cannot but admire his conduct, and the mode of thinking that led to it.

If there is any case in which a man is to be excused for not listening to what time-serving pru

dence dictates, it is where his honour is concerned. Honour is not like a city or a province, to be given up with a hope of re-conquering it in more prosperous times, and therefore what is termed romantic bravery, though often imprudent, has always excited admiration.

The king of Sweden quitted Pomerania after great sacrifices and useless efforts, but he only yielded to superior force; in that there was misfortune, but there was no meanness: but he never would recognise the right of the robber who had dismembered his kingdom. This was unfortunate, but we must admit that it was great: and it will be highly to the honour of the allied sovereigns, if in settling the peace of injured nations, they bestow a thought upon, and make an effort to repair the loss of one of the bravest and most injured of sovereigns.