George Canning and his timesJ.W. Parker and son, 1859 - 614 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admitted affairs affectionately Alliance Allies answer appears believe bill Britain British Brougham bullionists Buonaparte Cabinet Canning's Catholic question conduct confidence consequence course Court currency DEAR GRANVILLE DEAR LIVERPOOL decision declaration depreciation desire despatch difficulty divorce doubt Duke of Wellington duty effect Emperor England Europe evidence favour feelings Foreign Office France French army friends honour hope House of Commons House of Lords humbly King King's letter Lieven Lisbon Lord Castlereagh Lord Granville Lord Liverpool Lord Wellesley Majesty Majesty's servants measure ment mind Minister Napoleon nation negotiations never object opinion Paris Parliament party peace person Pitt political Portugal present Prince Metternich Princess Princess of Wales principles Private and Confidential proceeding proposed reason received respect Roman Catholic Russia sent sincerely Spain speech taken things thought tion treaty Villèle Whig whole wish Y. M.'s Government Y. M.'s servants
Popular passages
Page 71 - It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals, that their maxims have a plausible air; and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin; and about as valuable. They serve equally the first capacities and the lowest ; and they are, at least, as useful to the worst men as to the best. Of this stamp is the cant of Not men but measures ; a sort of charm by which many people get loose from every honourable engagement.
Page 145 - Spain, and we must be at hand to aid and take advantage of whatever happens. — The wishes of our country, and our. duty demand this of us, with whatever risk it may be attended. — I mean to proceed bridle in hand, for if the bubble bursts, and Madrid falls, we shall have a run for it.
Page 70 - Sir ; if the comparison must be made, if the distinction must be taken, men are everything, measures comparatively nothing. I speak, Sir, of times of difficulty and danger ; of times when systems are shaken, when precedents and general rules of conduct fail. Then it is, that not to this or that measure, — however prudently devised, however blameless in execution, — but to the energy and character of individuals, a State must be indebted for its salvation.
Page 352 - Villele is a Minister of thirty years ago — no revolutionary scoundrel : but constitutionally hating England, as Choiseul and Vergennes used to hate us — and so things are getting back to a wholesome state again. Every nation for itself, and God for us all. Only bid your Emperor be quiet, for the time for Areopagus, and the like of that, is gone by.
Page 391 - The fight has been hard, but it is won. The deed is done. The nail is driven. Spanish America is free ; and if we do not mismanage our matters sadly, she is English, and Novus saeclorum nascitur ordo.
Page 601 - The Natural History of Infidelity and Superstition in Contrast with Christian Faith.
Page 71 - I cannot shut my eyes to the superiority of his talents, to the amazing ascendency of his genius. Tell me not of his measures and his policy — it is his genius, his character, that keeps the world in awe. Sir, to meet, to check, to curb, to stand up against him, we want arms of the same kind. I am far from objecting to the large military establishments which are proposed to | you. I vote for them with all my heart. But, for the purpose of coping with Bonaparte, one great commanding spirit is worth...
Page 139 - We shall proceed upon the principle, that any nation of Europe, that starts up with a determination to oppose a power which, whether professing insidious peace, or declaring" open war, is the common enemy of all nations, whatever may be the existing political relations of that nation with Great Britain, becomes instantly our essential ally.
Page 117 - His Majesty had received the most positive information of the determination of the present ruler of France to occupy, with a military Force, the Territory of Holstein, for the purpose of excluding Great Britain from all her accustomed channels of communication with the Continent ; of inducing or compelling the Court of Denmark to close the passage of the Sound against the British Commerce and Navigation; and of availing himself of the aid of the Danish Marine for the invasion of Great Britain and...
Page 375 - Monarchy in Mexico, and monarchy in Brazil would cure the SPANISH AMERICAN QUESTION. 395 evils of universal democracy, and prevent the drawing of the line of demarcation which I most dread — America versus Europe.