regard to the possession of Oregon alone remained in
suspense. Sir Robert Peel and Lord Aberdeen had
thus, in three years, without any infraction of peace,
without any serious perturbation of friendly relations
between powers, but on the contrary by maintaining
or restoring a good understanding everywhere, settled
all the questions of foreign policy which they found
pending when they took the direction of affairs, and
all those which had arisen during their administration.
And they had themselves provoked none: they had
sought to obtain strength or distinction for their
power, in no premature event, in no factitious compli-
cation. They had sufficed for all that they found, and
had originated none. This is the true character, the
sensible and moral character, of good foreign policy.
It does not consider peoples as instruments which it
may use to win success for its own inventions, and the
combinations of its own ambitious or restless spirit; it
transacts their business with foreign powers as it
arises in natural course, and calls for a necessary
solution; ever regarding peace as its object, and right
as its law. It was the happy condition of France and
England at this period that their two Governments
were animated by the same spirit, and loyally lent
each other a mutual support, in order to make it prevail.

-184-