Items related to Characteristical Views of the Past and of the Present...
Characteristical Views of the Past and of the Present State, of the People of Spain and Italy; Addressed to an English Traveller - Softcover
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808. Excerpt: ... others, is happier certainly than that which provokes them through its ambition, though it terrifies them by its power. The field of accidents is wide, and empires frequently fall by such as are unforeseen and unexpected; the fatal blow was given to Spain itself in tlie height Of its greatness. The remembrance of this unlooked-for catastrophe ought to be a lesson to the ambitions how insecurely they rely on the firmest appearances of permanent successes: the misfortune of a day often deranges all their projects, and places their enemies above them. Reasoning on such principles, it is evident that the cessation of means to disturb the peace of the world is not a national calamity, any more than a pacific disposition can be construed into degeneracy. The loss of its American colonies has diminished the extent of the British empire, but has not, most assuredly, lessened the greatness of the British spirits. As the natural result of immense possessions is ambition, and as this leads finally to the detriment, commonly indeed to the ruin of states that misuse the power they possess, the more extensive it is, the more care fill they should be to act with moderation; the surest rule to render them permanent and flourishing. The principal cause of the long continuance of the prosperity and grandeur of Great Britain, is not only the excellence of its government, and the spirit and industry of its inhabitants, but the peaceable inclinations of its rulers, and their noted averseness to engage in ambitious projects, together with their no less known readiness to concur in repressing the ambition of others. From these various arguments sufficient, motives may be deduced to satisfy the reasonable part of the Spanish nation how little cause they have to lament the reduct...
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
(No Available Copies)
Search Books: Create a WantCan't find the book you're looking for? We'll keep searching for you. If one of our booksellers adds it to AbeBooks, we'll let you know!
Create a Want
