Balancing System-Russia-Austria-Prussia-England-FranceMinor European Powers-French Revolution-Napoleon Bonaparte -Made First Consul-Proposal of Peace-His Successes-Condition of England-Mr. Pitt-Sedition-Financial Difficulty-MutinyIrish Rebellion-The Royal Family-Landowners - TradesmenFarmers Agricultural Improvement - Cotton Manufacture Operatives-Woollen Manufacture-Silk-Hardware-Condition of Middle Class-Of Industrial Classes-Military Liabilities-Severity of the Law-Health-Ireland-The Union-Temper of the Times1800.
BEFORE the nineteenth century opened, the inhabitants of Europe had entered upon a new period in the history of mankind; a period which must be a conspicuous one to students of History through all future ages. During the greater part of the eighteenth century, the potentates of Europe, and the higher order of their subjects with whom they associated, had been satisfied that the height of political civilization had been reached, by such an adjustment of the Balance of Power as had never before been attained. The system appeared to be brought very near perfection. The solar system hardly seemed safer. The smaller States of Europe lived and moved among the larger as freely and securely as the lesser planets in their orbits, protected from absorption by the larger, by the balancing principle which kept all in their places. It is