( 112 )
¬convincing" proof that our apparent destinies may generally be referred to ourselves. — In the earliest and most flourishing periods of his astonishing career, he was (in my opinion) more sinned against than sinning, and even when he was pushing on his legions to the most distant territories, I was for a while in spirit on his side, because I thought there was a conspiracy of governments against him, inconsistent with the principles of our own. — Some have thought he was so weak as not to see that there was no security for his own sovereignty whilst the sovereigns combined against him had an un- limited power over the persons and resources of their subjects; but my belief is that he foresaw this danger though he upheld their governments, because he feared a worse in their subversion. — He had seated himself upon an imperial throne with a mock and servile representation, and trembled at the influence of free constitutions. — . This was the rock on which he split. — If by politic and moral conventions when the sword was in his hand to enforce them, instead of by ¬a sys- ¬
