Such drawback to national successes in the wild enthusiasm they inspire, it may be well for a prince, on his own personal account, to estimate before he voluntarily engages in a war; in defensive warfare, however, he can have no option, and where upon first assuming the reins 39 of government, he finds the kingdoms of I his rule already engaged up to the very Crisis of a Contest, no alternative remaining but between perseverance in much peril, or submission in lowest degradation,; he has then only to elect whether he will choose to reign over a broken-hearted humbled people, who will never infringe his prerogatives, nor question his rights, nor obstruct his functions, nor presume to insult his person, or whether, dismissing all selfish consideration, at the risk of the throne he sits on, unappalled by the fate of his neighbour kings, then captives or in exile, unintimidated by those at home whose patriotic prudence would suggest more cautious counsels—whether he will, disdaining all compromise of national dignity, rouse the ardour of his empire, and dare to rely upon it.