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 from recovering the prestige of 1814, or giving the same impression of secure stability as before.

In 1824, however, a great step was made in this direction. The military conspiracies had come to an end, the Army was loyal and faithful, the prestige of the nation abroad had considerably increased, and it was about to see the reign of Louis XVIII. close and that of Charles X. begin in peace — an object-lesson not repeated in the course of the century. This happy state of things which restored France to her former high rank among the nations was mainly due to the recent Spanish War.

The foreign policy of the Restoration has been the object of many bitter criticisms. To be sure, the Congresses of Aix-la-Chapelle (1818), of Troppau (1820), of Laybach (1821), and Verona (1822) were organised by Metternich and the Emperor Alexander (who was becoming more and more disgusted with his former Liberalism and more and more inclined to an understanding with Metternich) with an intention directly hostile to the emancipation of the people : and France took her part in each Congress without adopting an attitude