’The alliance which the uncle desired as a means of oppressing Europe, the nephew seeks for the purpose of setting her free.  The heavy continued weight of Russia has, ever since the death of Alexander, kept down all energy and independence of action, and even of thought, on the Continent.  She has been the patron of every tyrant, the protector of every abuse, the enemy of every improvement.  It was at her instigation that the Congress of Verona decreed the enslavement of Spain, and that in the conferences of Leybach it was determined to stifle liberty in Italy.  Every court on the Continent is cursed with a Russian party; and woe be to the Sovereign and to the Minister who is not at its head:  all the resources of Russian influence and of Russian corruption are lavished to render his people rebellious and his administration unsuccessful.  From this peine forte et dure we believe that Europe will now be relieved; and if the people or the sovereigns of the Continent, particularly those of Germany and Italy, make a tolerable use of the freedom from foreign dictation which the weakness of Russia will give to them, we look forward to an indefinite course of prosperity and improvement.  Unhappily, experience, however, forbids us to be sanguine.  Forty years ago, an event, such as we are now contemplating, occurred.  A Power which had deprived the Continent of the power of independent action fell, and for several years had no successor.  Germany and Italy recalled or re-established their sovereigns, and entrusted them with power such as they had never possessed before.  How they used it may be inferred from the general outbreak of 1848.  A popular indignation, such as could have been excited only by long years of folly, stupidity, and tyranny, swept away or shook every throne from Berlin to Palermo.  The people was everywhere for some months triumphant; and its abuse of power produced a reaction which restored or introduced despotism in every kingdom except Prussia and Piedmont, and even in Prussia gave to the King power sufficient to enable him, up to the present moment, to maintain a policy, mischievous to the interests, disgusting to the sympathies, and injurious to the honour of his people.  But while the Anglo-Gallic alliance continues, the Continent will be defended from the worst of all evils, the prevention of domestic improvement, and the aggravation of domestic disturbance, by foreign intervention.  That alliance has already preserved the liberty of Piedmont.  If it had been established sooner, it might have preserved that of Hesse, and have saved Europe from the revolting spectacle of the constitutional resistance of a whole people against an usurping tyrant and a profligate minister crushed by brutal, undisguised violence.