than when that, which ought to follow as an effect, goes before under a vain notion that it will be a cause.—­Let us attend to the springs of action, and we shall not be deceived.  The works of peace cannot flourish in a country governed by an intoxicated Despot; the motions of whose distorted benevolence must be still more pernicious than those of his cruelty. ’I have bestowed; I have created; I have regenerated; I have been pleased to organize;’—­this is the language perpetually upon his lips, when his ill-fated activities turn that way.  Now commerce, manufactures, agriculture, and all the peaceful arts, are of the nature of virtues or intellectual powers:  they cannot be given; they cannot be stuck in here and there; they must spring up; they must grow of themselves:  they may be encouraged; they thrive better with encouragement, and delight in it; but the obligation must have bounds nicely defined; for they are delicate, proud, and independent.  But a Tyrant has no joy in any thing which is endued with such excellence:  he sickens at the sight of it:  he turns away from it, as an insult to his own attributes.  We have seen the present ruler of France publicly addressed as a Providence upon earth; styled, among innumerable other blasphemies, the supreme Ruler of things; and heard him say, in his answers, that he approved of the language of those who thus saluted him. (See Appendix E.)—­Oh folly to think that plans of reason can prosper under such countenance!  If this be the doom of France, what a monster would be the double-headed tyranny of Spain!

It is immutably ordained that power, taken and exercised in contempt of right, never can bring forth good.  Wicked actions indeed have oftentimes happy issues:  the benevolent economy of nature counter-working and diverting evil; and educing finally benefits from injuries, and turning curses to blessings.  But I am speaking of good in a direct course.  All good in this order—­all moral good—­begins and ends in reverence of right.  The whole Spanish People are to be treated not as a mighty multitude with feeling, will, and judgment; not as rational creatures;—­but as objects without reason; in the language of human law, insuperably laid down not as Persons but as Things.  Can good come from this beginning; which, in matter of civil government, is the fountain-head and the main feeder of all the pure evil upon earth?  Look at the past history of our sister Island for the quality of foreign oppression:  turn where you will, it is miserable at best; but, in the case of Spain!—­it might be said, engraven upon the rocks of her own Pyrenees,

    Per me si va nella citta dolente;
    Per me si va nell’ eterno dolore;
    Per me si va tra la perduta gente.