A sweep of the horizon abroad exhibits little that is
of para- mount interest.
The Peninsula is still in its double paroxysm of disorder. Por- tugal, not yet emerged from its Ministerial revolution, is under- going all the disagreeables of that condition,—the clangour of arms, the suppression of public discussion and news, the domi- ciliary prying of a tyrannical police. Spain is still a prey to civil contest ; its present hope lying in the suppression of a revolt too feeble to work out any good, and the undisturbed power of a Government whose very existence degrades the country,—unless it be relieved from that humiliation by the return and the irregular anti vicious energy of Criaisrms. France displays one of her characteristics, in asking more money for the conquest of Algeria, while her sea- captains grasp the fair island of Tahiti ; the pretext for that seizure being, that Queen Postaaz draws back from the intruded "protection's of France. One of the officers in command is styled "Governor of Tahiti": was a Governor sent out ready-appointed, in anticipation of lucky accidents?
Greece is still busy about her constitution; and in the opposite part of the world, Hayti has been engaged on a like task. At one time, "a constitution" was thought to mark an era : here are two brewing, and only a passing thought bestowed upon them. Prussia, which seeks to hold the balance between despotism and freedom, just now inclines to the Russian side of the scale; and, emulating the sweeping edicts of the Great Bear, has decreed a general exile of Polish refugees who have sought an asylum in the territory of the Christian philosopher!
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