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 ¬mention of the King's good offices could be of no use, unless they were desired by all parties in- terested. ¬" Now, bringing down this proceeding from the high forms of diplomacy, what was it? ¬" The surrounding sovereigns, and even those remotely distant, were preparing to invade Ca- petia, then grievously and dangerously con- vulsed ; but making an effort through her still- existing sovereign to tranquillize herself by entering into solemn engagements for the tran- quillity of other nations, and Armata was fixed upon as the most powerful amongst them all, to take the lead in this sublime object of morals and policy when a storm was gathering which threatened almost to deluge our world with blood. ¬" It may be admitted that there might never- theless have been reasons for Armata, though thus invoked, to pause upon the proposition ¬made ¬