(BEING THE EIGHTH OF A NEW SERIES.) PART THE FIRST. PRODESSE ET DELECTARE. E PLURIBUS UNUM. By SYLVANUS URBAN, Gent. LONDON: Printed by NICHOLS, SON, and BENTLEY, where LETTERS are particularly requested to be sent, POST-PAID. and by PERTHES and BESSER, Hamburgh. 1815. PREFACE TO THE FIRST PART OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH VOLUME. PERHAPS there is no epoch in the history of mankind, comprehend ing more extraordinary or more momentous events, than have been exhibited in the few short months which have elapsed, since we made our last periodical address to our Friends and Readers.-The tone of the address was exultation, and the language that of cheerfulness, confidence, and hope.-In one dark and gloomy moment the aspect of things was changed, threatening clouds collected, and an awful and destructive tempest once more seemed about to overwhelm the Earth; War and Rapine, and every variety of moral Evil, appearing in its train. The Arch-demon, who doubtless for good and salutary purposes was long permitted to inflict misery on mankind, had, as it should have seemed, been disarmed of his power to do further mischief, had been secluded within a limited area, and became not unwilling to leave the world to recover in repose, from the disasters which his ambition and tyranny had inflicted. Not so.-The tiger having once tasted of blood, becomes more ravenous and ferocious-so was it with Napoleon: Nullus semel ore receptus Pollutas patitur sanguis mansuescere fauces. Once more, in violation of every sacred obligation, the Fiend burst from his recess, to set the world in arms. But, by the blessing of Providence, his arts again have failed; and though torrents of blood, of the noblest blood, have flowed, they have not flowed in vain. The monster is again driven into darkness and concealment, there to lament his wretched discomfiture in anguish and despair.-Short-sighted man! as if his destiny, his fortune, his vain and constant boasting, was to regulate the Order of things, and change the constitution of the world.—Was it consistent with common reason and common sense to imagine, that an obscure adventurer, arriving by a series of bold and daring actions to the enjoyment of unlimited power, should, in defiance of all consistency, and experience, and justice, be suffered to elevate to kingdoms, principalities, and powers, a needy crowd of profligate adventurers like himself-It was not in human nature to endure so strange a metamorphosis. Such a system carried and matured within itself the seeds of its own dissolution; and so the Event has proved, and we trust and believe it will never again manifest to society its vile and abominable image, Let us turn to fair and more enlivening scenes; and here the first object which occurs, in the most glorious and captivating shape, is Victory under the bright form of WELLINGTON.-Merenti gratias agere facile |