But I look to the future with confidence and with hope.  Manifold adversities could not fail to impress some mark of sorrow upon my heart, which is at least a guard against sanguine illusions.  But I have a steady faith in principles.  Once in my life indeed I was deplorably deceived in my anticipations, from supposing principle to exist in quarters where it did not.  I did not count on generosity or chivalrous goodness from the governments of England and France, but I gave them credit for selfish and instinctive prudence.  I supposed them to value Parliamentary Government, and to have foresight enough to know the alarming dangers to which they would be exposed, if they allowed the armed interference of Russia to overturn historical, limited, representative institutions.  But France and England both proved to be blind, and deceived me.  It was a horrible mistake; and has issued in a horrible result.  The present condition of Europe, which ought to have been foreseen by those governments, exculpates me for having erred through expecting them to see their own interests.  Well, there is a providence in every fact.  Without this mistake the principles of American republicanism would for a long time yet not have found a fertile soil on that continent, where it was considered wisdom to belong to the French school.  Now matters stand thus:  that either the continent of Europe has no future at all, or this future is American republicanism.  And who can believe that two hundred millions of that continent, which is the mother of such a civilization, are not to have any future at all?  Such a doubt would be almost blasphemy against Providence.  But there is a Providence indeed—­a just, a bountiful Providence, and in it I trust, with all the piety of my religion.  I dare to say my very self was an instrument of it.  Even my being here, when four months ago I was yet a prisoner of the league of European despots in far Asia, and the sympathy which your glorious people honours me with, and the high benefit of the welcome of your Congress, and the honour to be your guest, to be the guest of your great Republic—­I, a poor exile—­is there not a very intelligible manifestation of Providence in it?—­the more, when I remember that the name of your guest is by the furious rage of the Austrian tyrant, nailed to the gallows.

I confidently trust that the nations of Europe have a future.  I am aware that this future is vehemently resisted by the bayonets of absolutism; but I know that though bayonets may give a defence, they afford no seat to a prince.  I trust in the future of my native land, because I know that it is worthy to have one, and that it is necessary to the destinies of humanity.  I trust to the principles of republicanism; and, whatever may be my personal fate, so much I know, that my country will preserve to you and your glorious land an everlasting gratitude.

A toast in honour of Mr. Webster, the Secretary of State, having then been proposed, that gentleman responded in an ample speech, of which the following is an extract:—­