other feelings than those of abhorrence.  The people knew what had been their own wishes when the army was sent in aid of their Allies; and they clung to the faith, that their wishes and the aims of the Government must have been in unison; and that the guilt would soon be judicially fastened upon those who stood forth as principals, and who (it was hoped) would be found to have fulfilled only their own will and pleasure,—­to have had no explicit commission or implied encouragement for what they had done,—­no accessaries in their crime.  The punishment of these persons was anticipated, not to satisfy any cravings of vindictive justice (for these, if they could have existed in such a case, had been thoroughly appeased already:  for what punishment could be greater than to have brought upon themselves the sentence passed upon them by the voice of their countrymen?); but for this reason—­that a judicial condemnation of the men, who were openly the proximate cause, and who were forgetfully considered as the single and sole originating source, would make our detestation of the effect more signally manifest.

These thoughts, if not welcomed without scruple and relied upon without fear, were at least encouraged; till it was recollected that the persons at the head of government had ordered that the event should be communicated to the inhabitants of the metropolis with signs of national rejoicing.  No wonder if, when these rejoicings were called to mind, it was impossible to entertain the faith which would have been most consolatory.  The evil appeared no longer as the forlorn monster which I have described.  It put on another shape and was endued with a more formidable life—­with power to generate and transmit after its kind.  A new and alarming import was added to the event by this open testimony of gladness and approbation; which intimated—­which declared—­that the spirit, which swayed the individuals who were the ostensible and immediate authors of the Convention, was not confined to them; but that it was widely prevalent:  else it could not have been found in the very council-seat; there, where if wisdom and virtue have not some influence, what is to become of the Nation in these times of peril? rather say, into what an abyss is it already fallen!

His Majesty’s ministers, by this mode of communicating the tidings, indiscreet as it was unfeeling, had committed themselves.  Yet still they might have recovered from the lapse, have awakened after a little time.  And accordingly, notwithstanding an annunciation so ominous, it was matter of surprise and sorrow to many, that the ministry appeared to deem the Convention binding, and that its terms were to be fulfilled.  There had indeed been only a choice of evils:  but, of the two the worse—­ten thousand times the worse—­was fixed upon.  The ministers, having thus officially applauded the treaty,—­and, by suffering it to be carried into execution, made themselves a party to the transaction,—­drew