It was unjust to blame a prince surrounded by flatterers and traitors for wishing to keep near him four or five servants whom he knew by proof to be faithful even to death.
Nor was this the only instance in which our ancestors were unjust to him.

They had expected that, as soon as so distinguished a soldier and statesman was placed at the head of affairs, he would give some signal proof, they scarcely knew what, of genius and vigour.

Unhappily, during the first months of his reign, almost every thing went wrong.

His subjects, bitterly disappointed, threw the blame on him, and began to doubt whether he merited that reputation which he had won at his first entrance into public life, and which the splendid success of his last great enterprise had raised to the highest point.

Had they been in a temper to judge fairly, they would have perceived that for the maladministration of which they with good reason complained he was not responsible.