You will guess I mean the Convention of Cintra.

My detestation, I may say abhorrence, of that event is not at all diminished by your account of it.

Buonaparte had committed a capital blunder in supposing that when he had _intimidated_ the _Sovereigns_ of Europe he had _conquered_ the several _Nations_.

Yet it was natural for a wiser than he was to have fallen into this mistake; for the old despotisms had deprived the body of the people of all practical knowledge in the management, and, of necessity, of all interest, in the course of affairs.

The French themselves were astonished at the apathy and ignorance of the people whom they had supposed they had utterly subdued, when they had taken their fortresses, scattered their armies, entered their capital cities, and struck their cabinets with dismay.
There was no hope for the deliverance of Europe till the nations had suffered enough to be driven to a passionate recollection of all that was honourable in their past history, and to make appeal to the principles of universal and everlasting justice.