many nations, and
the English name is now feared and respected as once the Roman was in
every part of the world. England has been alike ambitious and
successful. England too is prosperous, and her people are contented and
loyal. But contentment and loyalty have not been universal in the
provinces and dependencies of the English government. The desolation
which has followed English conquest in the East Indies has been lamented
throughout the civilized world. Ireland has been deprived of her
independence without being admitted to an equality with her
sister-island, and discontent has marked the history of her people ever
since the conquest. England has not the magnanimity and generosity of
the Romans. She derives wealth from her dependencies, but lavishes it
upon objects unworthy of herself. She achieves victories with their aid,
but appropriates the spoils and trophies exclusively to herself. For
centuries she refused to commit trusts to Irishmen, or confer privileges
upon them, unless they would abjure the religion of their ancestors.'

Ten years later, in the United States Senate, during the debate upon the
Fisheries dispute, Mr. Seward said, after discussing England's financial
and commercial position: 'England can not wisely desire nor safely dare
a war with the United States. She would find that there would come over
us again that dream of conquest of those colonies which broke upon us
even in the dawn of the Revolution, when we tendered them an invitation
to join their fortunes with ours, and followed it with the sword--that
dream which returned again in 1812, when we attempted to subjugate them
by force; and that now, when we have matured the strength to take them,
we should find the provinces willingly consenting to captivity. A war
about these fisheries would be a war which would result either in the
independence of the British Provinces, or in their annexation to the
United States. I devoutly pray God that _that_ consummation may come;
the sooner the better: but I do not desire it at the cost of war _or of
injustice_. I am content to wait for the ripened fruit which must fall.
I know the wisdom of England too well to believe that she would hazard
shaking that fruit into our hands.'

Another question, now asked,--'Will Mr. Seward exhaust
negotiation?'--may be in like manner answered by himself. In a
succeeding debate on the same 'fisheries' controversy, commenting upon
negotiation, he said: '_Sir, it is the bus