[end of page #76] was not lost, but it was badly directed, which is
nearly the same thing; at least, it is equally dangerous.

Why, it may be asked, did not the other powers of Europe interfere?
To this, indeed, it would be difficult to give a satisfactory answer.
Those who did not interfere, probably, may have cause to repent their
indifference. It was an infraction of that sort of federation of nations,
which had been found necessary to prevent a repetition of conquests
like those of Alexander, or of the Romans; yet, still there is a way of
accounting for their conduct, though it cannot be vindicated.

In the first place, Poland lays =sic= remote from those powerful
nations that have had the greatest sway in modern times. It was not
very easy to interfere with great efficacy; besides, as Poland was
previously under foreign influence, the essential evil was done. The
example of partitions, indeed, was not given, but it is not impossible
that some powers on the continent, though they got no share, might
not be sorry to see such an example. Britain and Spain certainly could
not wish for the example, but others might, and others probably did
wish for it.

The first division was, besides, only a beginning; some degree of
moderation was preserved, and Poland was only mutilated; it was not
destroyed. The case was not entirely new, nor without example.

The second and last division took place at a time when the nations
whose interest it was, and whose wish it might have been to interfere,
had not the means of doing so. It was when the republican frenzy in
France was at its most desperate height, and whom =sic= the whole of
civilized Europe appeared to be in danger.

There is one more excuse to be found. The aspect of affairs in Poland
resembled, with regard to its revolutions, those of France so much,
that those, who at another time would have probably interfered, were
rather inclined to co-operate in stifling a rising flame in the north,
similar to that which had endangered the whole of the south of
Europe.

In all this, the thing the most difficult to be accounted for, is the
conduct of the Polish nation; but an inquiry into the causes of that
would be quite foreign to the present subject: this is, however, an
instance of the danger arising from not keeping pace with other
nations [end of page #77] in those arts of government, and internal
policy, which constitute the power of nations in the general order of
things,