h--failure is certain
for the former, success inevitable to the latter.

We give more space to the changes and the condition of the Papal
States than to the circumstances of other kingdoms of Europe, because
the double power exercised there makes any change interesting, and the
extended influence of the spiritual supremacy gives proportionate
consequence to any movement or event that disturbs the dominancy of
the Bishop of Rome. Indeed so deeply interesting is the whole state of
Italy, taking its present movement in connection with its past
history, that a whole article might be profitably devoted to a
consideration of its past grandeur, its present distressed condition,
and its means and hopes of future restoration. We may in some future
number take up the subject.

The peninsula containing the kingdoms of Portugal and Spain has been
in constant agitation for the past year--but so trifling are the
relations of Portugal that very little interest is felt in her
convulsions, and few pause to inquire which party or faction is
uppermost at the latest dates. Spain has had her semi-revolutions, but
as yet they have produced little good to the people beyond the
weakening of the power or influence of the rulers; so that when the
people shall really rise, they will have less weight to keep them
down--less power to resist--less of obstruction to overcome. But the
energies of Spain seem to be on a revival, and there are hopes,
founded on existing recent improvement, that this abundant providence
on behalf of that country will not be much longer neglected by the
people, but that from one effort to another they will rise to that
rank in the scale of nations to which the kingdom is entitled, and of
which the attempt to go beyond deprived her.

Poor Portugal! She will linger yet, and perhaps be absorbed. Her
independent existence is not of sufficient consequence to the world to
induce an effort on her behalf; and England, now that France must
relinquish her claims on Spain, can afford to withdraw her patronage
from Portugal--if, indeed, we may not rather say that in the present
disturbed and crumbling state of European monarchies, neither England
nor any other kingdom will feel that she has much superflux of power
to shake to any decaying state.

Portugal was once an integral portion of Spain, and she may again be
in union with her sister. The mountains that interpose need no longer
make enemies of these two small states, and the