ABEY. IV.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

225

or any great financial disaster. Why should we thenhave been restored in 1815 ? That we were not, isa merit now ; and ought to he considered so with allwise lovers of regulated liberty, whatever ensue.There are blemishes in all human tilings. An dinjustice must he put up with, until we prove it tobe clearly the interest of the nations to restore us.Nor is it quite easy to point out, how we could berendered useful to mankind. Yet that is the veryfoundation of our order. All without it is vainbuffoonery. We ought never to be seen in theworld but as pre-eminently and practically useful.Until then, better continue our sickly slumber. Butwe can tell in what we cannot be of the least use. Notin an island, nor nautically, nor warring with Turks.A small island; what do then ? Be carried off bypirates ! A fine end for the banner of our gloriousorder ! Then we ought to return to our first em-ployment during above two hundred years, when wehad the name of Equites; because we were horsemenand knew nothing of the sea.

Whatever was done as to the order, during the yearsimmediately folloAving 1815, challenges, perhaps, novery anxious inquiry. Of small importance is it whe-ther reduced to beggary or not, since it confessedly isnot rich enough to do any of its duties; which it can

vol. rv.

Q