Page:Notes ecclesiological and picturesque.djvu/13

vi The more I was thus interested in those countries and those peoples,—

the more I entertain the earnest hope that their prosperity may continue, unattacked by the malice of agitators, or the grasp of ambition. The more I compare the gentle sway of the House of Hapsburg with the cruel tyranny in old times of the Venetian Lion, the more earnestly I pray that the miseries of war proposed to be kindled, of the myriads to be armed against each other in the Littoral, may come to nought. Verily, heavy will be his guilt who shall defile those lovely—and no less happy than lovely—valleys of Dalmatia with the horrors of bloodshed! Nowhere is loyalty more ardent; nowhere is education better carried out; nowhere, as it seems to me, are both Churches, Greek and Latin, more honourably acquitting themselves of their duty.

grant that all may long remain so! and with regard to those nations or monarchs who seek to destroy that present happiness, I think that every English Churchman will echo the old prayer, "Dissipa genres quaæ bella volunt!"

It was only some six years ago, that we, who thought the war with Russia unnecessary and unjust, were regarded by the vast majority of Englishmen as monomaniacs. We have lived to see public opinion on our side. In like manner, I