DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6095#0307
SICILY AND MALTA. 289
thing; for I don't find that the people any
longer exercise even the form of giving
their votes: so that the very shadow of
liberty has now disappeared as well as the
substance.™You may judge of the situation
of liberty in a kingdom, where all courts
civil and criminal are appointed by regal
authority, and where all offices are con-
ferred only by the will of the sovereign,
and depend entirely upon his caprice.
I own I feel most sincerely for the Sici-
lians, who, I think, are possessed of many
admirable qualities. But the spirit of every
nation must infallibly sink, under an op-
presliveand tyrannical government.—Their
spirit however has in a great measure kept
them free from one branch of tyranny,
the most dreadful of all, that of the inqui-
sition. The kings of Spain wanted to
cstablilh it in its full force ; but the barons,
accustomed to exercise despotic government
thcmsclvcs, could not bear the thoughts
Vol. II. U of
thing; for I don't find that the people any
longer exercise even the form of giving
their votes: so that the very shadow of
liberty has now disappeared as well as the
substance.™You may judge of the situation
of liberty in a kingdom, where all courts
civil and criminal are appointed by regal
authority, and where all offices are con-
ferred only by the will of the sovereign,
and depend entirely upon his caprice.
I own I feel most sincerely for the Sici-
lians, who, I think, are possessed of many
admirable qualities. But the spirit of every
nation must infallibly sink, under an op-
presliveand tyrannical government.—Their
spirit however has in a great measure kept
them free from one branch of tyranny,
the most dreadful of all, that of the inqui-
sition. The kings of Spain wanted to
cstablilh it in its full force ; but the barons,
accustomed to exercise despotic government
thcmsclvcs, could not bear the thoughts
Vol. II. U of