at Britain, who so often
combined Europe to resist the petty acquisition by France of territory
less than one of the Mexican States.

It is needless to say that England relies on the United States to
prevent Mexico becoming a French province. Her statesmen have for the
past two years professed the belief that the dismemberment of the United
States is inevitable. In that event, they must know that the United
States would prove no obstacle to the occupation of Mexico by France.
No; the acquiescence of England in this gigantic acquisition of France
can be ascribed to no such assurance of the power of the United States.
It may be said that she has flattered herself that by letting alone
Napoleon, he may possibly, by an alliance with the rebels, secure the
permanent dissolution of the American Union;--that the United States, if
successful in crushing the rebellion, would be to her a greater terror
than Napoleon. We do not believe that she is influenced by such
considerations. She knows that the United States, however powerful by
the recent development of military strength, would hardly attempt the
invasion of the British Islands. But she has no such faith in her crafty
neighbor. She knows that France and the Bonapartes owe her a debt of
vengeance which only the ravage and desolation of the British soil will
ever liquidate. She remembers that the favorite scheme of Napoleon the
First was the invasion of England; and she knows that this scheme is
among the _Idees Napoleon_ of the nephew. She is aware, too, that
Napoleon the Third has the means at his command which will enable him to
place any number of troops on her shores. She is satisfied that upon the
first provocation which she offers, he will gratify the treasured hatred
of the French and of his family, by consummating the darling project of
his uncle. The terror of invasion has induced her to change the nature
of her foreign policy. She will cling to the French alliance until the
French emperor has satiated his national craving for her degradation;
and not until he strikes her a blow, which will resound throughout the
world, will England be prepared to battle with the Gaul. No future
accession of territory would make France more formidable for the
invasion of England than she is now. Her army of five hundred thousand
men, and her steam navy and ironclads are all-sufficient for that
purpose, whenever the French emperor chooses so to employ them. But if
Napoleon devotes th