George Canning and His Times

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J. W. Parker and son, 1859 - Great Britain - 614 pages
 

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Page 353 - But, intimately connected as we are with the system of Europe, it does not follow that we are therefore called upon to mix ourselves on every occasion with a restless and meddling activity, in the concerns of the nations which surround us. It is upon a just balance of conflicting duties, and of rival but sometimes incompatible advantages, that a government must judge when to put forth its strength, and when to husband it for occasions yet to come. " Our ultimate object must be the peace of the world.
Page 151 - 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 399 - 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 205 - In this manner, a general rise of all prices, a rise in the market price of gold, and a fall of the foreign exchanges, will be the effect of an excessive quantity of circulating medium in a country which has adopted a currency, not exportable to other countries, or not convertible at will into a coin which is exportable.
Page 145 - 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 353 - No — through th' extended globe his feelings run As broad and general as th' unbounded sun ! No narrow bigot he ; — his reason'd view Thy interests, England, ranks with thine, Peru ! France at our doors, he sees no danger nigh, But heaves for Turkey's woes th' impartial sigh ; A steady patriot of the world alone, The friend of every country — but his own.
Page 120 - 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 67 - 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 383 - Monarchy in Mexico, and monarchy in Brazil would cure the evils of universal democracy, and prevent the drawing of the line of demarcation which I most dread — America versus Europe. The United States, naturally enough, aim at this division, and cherish the democracy which leads to it. But I do not much apprehend their influence, even if I believe (which I do not altogether) in all the reports of their activity in America.
Page 55 - MR. SPEAKER : At so late an hour of the night, I am sure you will do me the justice to believe that I do not mean to go at length into the discussion of this great question. Exhausted as the attention of the House must be, and unaccustomed as I have been of late to attend in my place, nothing but a deep sense of my duty could have induced me to trouble you at all, and particularly to request your indulgence at such an hour. Sir, my honorable and learned friend [Mr.

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