This will be excused by the candid critics of even
foreign nations, on the ground that they are prin-
cipally intended for English readers. But we are
not inattentive to free assemblies in other countries.
We have entered sufficiently into the dissensions
and contests, and given specimens of the debates,
in the national, conventional, and legislative assem-
blies of France, until all freedom was suppressed
by the usurpation of Buonaparte. Our attention
is now solicited to the Cortes of Spain. If we were
to measure the importance of the speeches in the
Hall of the Cortes, and the propriety of intro-
ducing them into a general History of Europe, by
the extent of their knowledge and views, and their
admirable eloquence, we should not hesitate to
make way for that introduction, by the suppression
of much of what passes in our own Parliament.
Nor would the British statesmen and orators be dis-
paraged, if they were to sit as close together, and
make as much room as possible for the admission of
the Spaniards into the bright political zodiac of free-
dom: Individual liberty and national independence
-Ipse tibia jam Brachia contrahit ardens
Scorpius*-
But in annals of Europe, we must be guided in
our selections by the consideration of what is most:
important in its general effects and practical results.
Had the speeches in Cato's little senate at Utica
been published, there is not a doubt but they
would have displayed as much wisdom and clo