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Text. Par. 5.
The tower power power of Russia has lately grown
to such a pitch that, in the opinion of the best informed
statesmen, it threatens to overthrow the political balance of Europe."
Observations on Par 5:
A comment on this passage is no further
of use, than as it serves to shew the badness of
the cause, by the necessary distresses betrayed by those
who stand up in its defence. Is Russia, or is she
not so strong as the opposition writers it seems
have been representing her? Is the alliance of a
strong power, or is it not, better than that of a
weak one? No one reply, nor any two, nor any two
consistent replies, will answer the purpose of this
advocate. The statements of the opposition must be
true and false, Russia strong and weak, an eligible
ally and an ineligible one at the same time.
Weak, for the purpose of assisting us so long as the
alliance lasts: strong, for the purpose of injuring
us, when, in order to get at us, she has made a
sudden spring, broke the alliance, and overthrown
the political balance of Europe. Ineligible, so long as
a chain of aggressions, as unexampled as they were
unprovoked, have failed of winning her to our side:
Eligible, as soon as these extraordinary favors shall
have purchased her unneccessary assistance.
Her thirty ships of the line, after having been less
useful to us for I don't know what length of time,
than
Identifier: | JB/009/077/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 9.
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copy/fair copy sheet |
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recto |
c5 |
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john flowerdew colls |
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bowring, x, 207ff |
3378 |
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