She did
not foresee the event which has taken place, of France abandoning the
Turks, and that which may take place, of her union with the two empires.
She allied herself with Holland, but cannot obtain the alliance of
Prussia. This latter power would be very glad to close again the breach
with France, and therefore, while there remains an opening for this,
holds off from England, whose fleets could not enter into Silesia, to
protect that from the Emperor. Thus you see, that the old system is
unhinged, and no new one hung in its place. Probabilities are rather
in favor of a connection between the two empires, France, and Spain.
Several symptoms show themselves, of friendly dispositions between
Russia and France, unfriendly ones between Russia and England, and such
as are barely short of hostility between England and France. But into
real hostilities, this country would with difficulty be drawn. Her
finances are too deranged, her internal union too much dissolved, to
hazard a war. The nation is pressing on fast, to a fixed constitution.
Such a revolution in the public opinion has taken place, that the crown
already feels its powers bounded, and is obliged, by its measures, to
acknowledge limits.
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