" It is
quite true (how silly it would be to INVENT anything so witless!),
and yet I think I could satisfy the mind of a "reasonable man" that
it is false. Many of the older monks must have been in Europe at
the time when the Italy and the Spain from which they came were in
act of taking their French lessons, or had parted so lately with
their teachers, that not to know of "the Emperor" was impossible,
and these men could scarcely, therefore, have failed to bring with
them some tidings of Napoleon's career. Yet I say that that which
I have written is true--the one who believes because I have said it
will be right (she always is), whilst poor Mr. "reasonable man,"
who is convinced by the weight of my argument, will be completely
deceived.
In Spanish politics, however, the monks are better instructed. The
revenues of the monasteries, which had been principally supplied by
the bounty of their most Catholic majesties, have been withheld
since Ferdinand's death, and the interests of these establishments
being thus closely involved in the destinies of Spain, it is not
wonderful that the brethren should be a little more knowing in
Spanish affairs than in other branches of history.
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