224 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [bookiv.

roll, rather ascribing to him fine intentions in itsfavour, than any effectual benefits. After his deaththe link of comiexion between Russia and the headsof the order, appears less close. I do not find it atall necessary to stir up what was a turbid period fornearly all continental Europe ; except only France,who at least had military glory as a compensationfor much suffering. And a splendid and tenderlybeloved compensation it will always be to that nationof soldiers. Whatever Buonaparte did, or was inthe intention of doing in favour of our order, fellwith his throne, and died with him. In the congressof 1815 the treatment of the order was of a piecewith the ingratitude displayed in many places, andthe dislike of freedom everywhere and to every feel-ing of independence. Better for the residue of Nor-mans, and the representatives of the heroes foundedby Gerard, and of the illustrious spirits of no smallnumber of ages, that they owe nothing to that meetingof absolute monarchs. Would it have been befittingsuch a government as ours, far more resembling a com-monwealth than absolutism, and where the seeds ofconstitutional freedom had been always preserved ?If the grand masters for a time were misled intosome encroachments, these were sure to he put an endto by the first chapter general; and chapters generalcould not hut he convened in times of signal difficulty,