tions, when not otherwife engaged by a close attention to the ufeful, or mellowed by a knowledge of the fine arts.

It may now appear late to look back to the fubverfion or change of the feudal fyftem, and from thence to derive reafons for prognofticating the approach of a lefs martial age. This change was not indeed immediately productive of fo happy an effect. Many, how ever, of the causes of ancient quarrels were certainly removed, by the different modifications which that fyftem underwent in most of the countries of Europe. The two laft centuries were (partly through accident, and partly from thofe epidemic paffions, which have been obferved at particular eras to poffefs the minds of great bodies of mankind) fo peculiarly fertile in producing new caufes of diffenfion, that the confequences naturally to be expected from the decline of the feudal government could not be perceived amidst the continual din of fresh difputes. It may be unneceffary to recapitulate thofe caufes of diffenfion; many of them are generally known. Religion, or the pretence to it, had its full fhare amongst them. The uncertain rights of fucceffion in most countries, together with the avidity with which all mankind were feized to grapple at the treasures of the new world, were fuch feeds of contention, as ferved, along with many others, to keep Europe in continual agitation.

Several of the principal of thofe caufes, and happily fome of thofe which occafioned the greatest mifchief, are now no more. The violence of religious animofity; that bitterness of zeal, which fet mankind to the deftruction of each

other's bodies, for the falvation of their fouls, is not only worn out, but almost forgotten. Succeffions, boundaries, and rights of government, are fixed upon a more known and fettled foundation than ever they were before; and commercial nations have discovered a more fuccefsful and happy method of procuring gold, than by digging it themfelves from the mine, or forcing it from those that do.

Many other fources of contention of a later date, together with fome mistaken notions in politics, which have had their day and done fufficient mischief, are exhausted. Some juft caufes of contention are alfo removed. The ideas attending a balance of power, feem to be at prefent very different from what they have been formerly. The dread of univerfal monarchy appears to be much abated, if not entirely at an end. With regard to England, to our happiness, the caufes of thofe fears which were once fo prevalent, with refpect to the proteftant fucceffion; the danger of rebellions within, or invafions from without, from that cause, are fo entirely vanished, that they only ferve to endear to us our prefent fecurity.

Thefe circumftances Teem in fome fort pledges of a greater tranquillity to our pofterity, than we or our ancestors have enjoyed. However, it must be confeffed that all fpeculations of this kind, however plaufible, are in their naturé extremely uncertain. The natural inconftancy of mankind, the sport which fortune feems at fome times to make of every system, destroying in a day, or an hour, the best laid foundations, and trampling the labour of ages, and the wifeft

infti

1

inftitutions in the duft: all thefe may forbid the hopes of a lafting permanency to any fyftem of tranquillity, let the prefent appearances be ever fo ferene.

It must be admitted that this age feems to have a caufe of contention more particularly its own, and which cannot fail to fupply in fome degree, thofe which are now by time and change of manners extinguished. The defire of naval power, which at prefent acts fo ftrongly upon many of the nations in Europe, will generate daily difputes, and muft become a fruitful fource of diffenfion. The fpirit of commerce will not be confined to the acquifitions of industry. The new adventurers in this field will encroach upon the old, while the fame paffion will act as powerfully with the old poffeffors, not to relinquifh any of thofe profits which ufually came into their hands, and to which they will think that long prescription has given them a right.

With refpect to other matters, the general state of affairs in Europe has fuffered no material change fince the conclufion of our laft volume. The fame clofe union and alliance ftill fubfifts between the different branches of the houfe of Bourbon. The friendship and union between that family and the house of Auftria, is ftill more clofely cemented by a marriage between the young King of Naples, and a daughter of the Emprefs Queen. The hopes of this alliance might indeed have been fruftrated in a lefs numerous family, by 15th Oct. the death of the Arch1767. duchefs Maria Jofepha, who was feized with the fmall-pox in a few days after her being married by proxy, and

but

declared Queen of Naples ; upon this occafion it made no great change, and the young Prince has been fince contracted to her next fifter the Archduchefs Caroline, who is about a year younger.

Unnatural as the prefent friendship and alliance between those ancient and hereditary enemies, the houses of Bourbon and Auftria, may appear, and dangerous as the effects of it might at first seem to many of their neighbours; it is not perhaps impoffible, but it may contribute to preferve that tranquillity, which feemed to be fo much endangered by it. This will appear the lefs problematical, if we reflect on the many wars in which the bickerings and enmity of these two families have engaged for near two centuries the rest of Europe. Neither does this alliance appear fo very formidable to its neighbours, as it might have done in another fituation of things. The great

weight which has accumulated in the northern balance of late years, may well prevent the fcale from preponderating exceffively in their favour.

It does not at prefent appear, that any of the three powers in queftion are difpofed, or indeed in a 'condition to disturb the public repofe. France has been long a lofer by her wars, nor do the late trials fhe has made of her ftrength, comparatively with that of her neighbours, give the leaft encouragement to her feeking for new. The fyftem of Europe is much changed fince thofe victorious days of Lewis the XIVth, when he was fo much the terror of it. Other nations have gained great additional ftrength, whilft France has without question rather loft [A] 2

ground;

great powers, who by treaty as well as connection, were interefted in their confequences, brought into a train of being fettled upon the most permanent and happy footing.

Germany has offered no matter of political obfervation during the courfe of the prefent year. The Emperor and King of Pruffia fpend the fummers, either in reviewing their armies, or in making progreffes through different parts of their dominions; by which they become eye-witneffes of the improvements that are requifite to be made, the encouragement that is neceffary to be given, and of the diftreffes and wants of their fubjects. Notwithstanding this attention to domeftic and internal happiness, the two great powers of the empire are far from being negligent of their military departments; the fword feems only to flumber, but does not fleep, and their armies are kept compleat, and in the best condition. The Empress Queen has published an edict, whereby the foldiers in all her armies are allowed and even encouraged to marry, a corrective in fome degree to the political mifchiefs attendant on thofe extenfive military establishments.

Turning our eyes to the fouthward, the scene is there alfo entirely pacific. Indeed the new Dey of Algiers had made fome extraordinary demands upon the republic of Venice; among the reft, befides the payment of an exorbitant fum of money, he infifted that his corfairs fhould have free liberty to cruize in the gulf of Venice, and to take the hips of any nation with whom he was not bound by treaty; with this extraordinary

condition annexed, that if any of his cruizers fhould happen to be taken, the republic fhould repair the lofs in ready money.

Thefe difhonourable propofals were refused with a proper disdain by the fenate; and as the Dey of Algiers had broken the peace, and imprifoned their conful, they equipped a fquadron of men of war, which they difpatched to Algiers, under the command of Admiral Emo, to bring him to reafon. The Dey continued obftinate; upon which the admiral, according to his orders, immediately declared war against him, and failed out of the harbour to fulfil his inftructions, which were to block up the port, and deftroy all the Algerine corfairs he could meet with.

Thefe vigorous refolutions foon brought the Dey to temper, and indeed to a fubmiffion as mean as his demands had been infolent; he found himself under a neceffity of making use of the mediation of the British conful, to procure a renewal of the peace upon the origi nal terms.

The other parts of Italy have afforded little remarkable, except the expulfion of the Jefuits from Naples and Parma; as thefe events are intimately connected with, or may rather be looked upon as confequences of the measures which had been already taken in Spain to the fame purpose, we fhall include them under that head; as well as the ineffectual remonftrances made by the court of Rome in their favour. The edict which has been paft by the regency of Parma, with refpect to ecclefiaftical affairs, and which almost totally fecludes the Roman fee from all jurifdiction in that dutchy,

[4] 3

together

together with the confequences, which are faid to be an excommunication, will find their proper place in the transactions of the enfuing year. The power and intereft of the court of Rome is daily lofing ground in Italy; where other ftates, befides thofe we have mentioned, are taking measures to circumfcribe it. The govern ment of Milan, which includes the Auftrian Lombardy, has publifhed a law, by which all the rights which the pope or the bishops have hitherto exercifed over ecclefiaftics, either with regard to their effects or their perfons, is transferred to a council, eftablished for that purpose at Milan. All ecclefiaftics are obliged to fell the eftates which they have become poffeffed of fince the year 1722; and no fubject, whether ecclefiaftic or fecular, is permitted to go to Rome, to folicit any favour except letters of indulgence, without the confent of the faid council.

This law is the fame as that which was published at Venice under the pontificate of Benedict XIV. and which occafioned fo many debates that the Republic was obliged to abolish it, in the beginning of the pontificate of Clement XIII. but the prefent law is paffed at a period much more favourable to the indepen. dency of fovereigns.

Portugal has afforded but little material in the courfe of the paft year. Whether from fome miftaken notion in politics, or from fome national prejudice, or whatever other caufe, is uncertain; but the prefent prime minifter in that country has taken every occafion during his adminiftration, of dif

couraging, reftraining, and dif treffling the British factories and commerce in that kingdom. This conduct feems the more wholly unaccountable, as the very exiftence of that nation as an independent ftate, has fo long and fo often depended upon the powerful protection of Great Britain; which has also upon every other occafion always acted the part of a moft faithful ally and generous friend, If the advantages arifing from the commerce between the two nations were not mutual, this conduct might admit of fome plea in its juftification; but the contrary is evidently fhewn, by the great preference which has been fo long given by England to the Portuguefe wines, for which they could find no other market, and the confequent immenfe confumption of them in these countries. Many have with reafon been furprized at the fupinenefs of the British miniftry, in putting up fo long with the frequent oppreffions, infults, and indignities, which have been fo repeatedly offered to the English merchants in that country. Nor have they been lefs furprized at the temerity of the Portuguese minifter, in venturing to roufe the indignation of a nation, which could fo eafily and fo effectually do itself ample justice,