That paradoxical as the assertion might appear, the cabinet of France had been the most consistent in its conduct of any that ever existed. Notwithstanding the genius and character of the French, as a people; notwithstanding the levity of their manners, the fickleness of their minds, tne constitutional mutability of their conduct, the cabinet of France, as a cabinet, had uniformly acted upon the same principle, aiming at the same end, and only changing the means of attaining tnat end, as the necessity of the times, And as the suggestion of a wiser policy dictated. If ministers supposed that France acted upon a principle of sincerity and friendship towards us, let them point out the proofs of that friendship. The way to judge of the friendly intentions of those with whom we negotiate, was not, he said, by looking to the manner of their negociating with us, but their conduct with other powers, as far as it regarded our interests. Ministers might, as yet, be said to be in the honeymoon of their connection with France. Had they, during that period, felt the influence of France greatly operating in our favour with those powers with whom we were negociating treaties?Did it manifest itself in the court of Portugal, in the court of Spain, or in the court of Petersburgh ? Were the symptoms of it strongly traceable at any one of these courts ? Where else was a symptom of it to be found?At this time France, that formerly wa& celebrated for having the most powerful army of any European nation, had an army the fqurth only upon the continent; Prussia, the emperor, and Russia, had much greater armies. What was the reason of this ? The reason was obvious.
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