In the early part of 1816, Mr. Brougham brought forward a motion
for preserving and extending the liberty of the press, for which the
ministers, particularly Lord Castlereagh (who knew well how to use
"the delicious essence,") passed on him the highest encomiums; and
miscalculating the firmness of the bepraised, some persons thought the
minister's eulogy a lure for the member's vote; but the result proved
that Mr. Brougham was above all temptation. In the same year he made a
tour on the continent: in France he was the object of much attention;
and he afterwards visited the residence of the Princess of Wales, in
Italy, as was supposed, on a mission of some importance.

In this year also, Mr. Brougham delivered two speeches in parliament,
which are memorable for the truth of their prospective results. In
one of them, on the treaty of the Holy Alliance, occurs the following
almost prophetic passage: "I always think there is something
suspicious in what a French writer calls, '_les abouchemens des
rois_.' When crowned heads meet, the result of their united councils
is not always favourable to the interest of humanity. It is not the
first time that Austria, Russia, and Prussia have laid their heads
together. On a former occasion, after professing a vast regard for
truth, religion and justice, they adopted a course which brought
such misery on their own subjects, as well as those of a neighbouring
state--they made war against that unoffending country, which
found little reason to felicitate itself on its conquerors being
distinguished by Christian feelings. The war against Poland, and
the subsequent partition of that devoted country, were prefaced by
language very similar to that which this treaty contains; and the
proclamation of the Empress Catherine, which wound up that fatal
tragedy, had almost the very same words."--The second speech to