[45] Ex. Doc. No. 271, H. of R., 28 cong., 1st sess. p. 48, _et seq_:--In an interview between Lord Aberdeen and Mr. Everett, in November, 1843, the secretary of foreign affairs told him that England had long been pledged to encourage the abolition of the slave trade _and of slavery_, as far as her influence extended and in every proper way, but had no wish to interfere with the _internal_ concerns of governments. In reference to Texas, he said that "the suggestion that England had made or intended to make the abolition of slavery the _condition_ of any treaty arrangement with her was wholly without foundation."--id. page 38. The _direct_ interference of England in the _internal_ affairs of other governments has often been very distinctly manifested notwithstanding Lord Aberdeen's disavowal. There is scarcely a country in Europe which has been unvisited by her arms or her diplomacy, either when it became her interest to do so, or when she had the necessary force to make success unquestionable. Her policy is, perhaps, not so much one of ambition as of avarice or necessity. She must feed her multitudes at home; and an extension of her wide spread commerce, with co-extensive privileges in new countries, will open new sources of wealth to her people. Nations are not to be blamed for seeking such advantages; but the nearer neighbor should be equally blameless for grasping, if possible, the benefit for herself, so as to keep off a dangerous rival and secure the revenues which otherwise would flow into that rival's coffers. The excursive _philanthropy_ of England was admirably depicted by the Frenchman, who, according to the London Times remarked that: "Your Englishman knows all about Timbuctoo, or Hindoostan, or the frozen regions about the North Pole; but ask him about Ireland, the country lying next his own, and he is perfectly innocent of any information on the subject. Africa he investigates--Ireland he neglects. He weeps for the suffering of the negro, but allows his Irish fellow subject to live in ignorance and filth, and often to die of starvation." [46] Ex. Doc. No. 271, H. of R., 28th cong., 1st sess. p. 101, _et seq._ [47] Id.--p. 70. Letter of Mr. Van Zandt to Mr. Webster. [48] Id.--p. 100. Washington, 24th January, 1843. [49] See Lord Brougham's speech, _ut antea_. [50] Any one who is familiar with the condition of our Canadian frontier will understand the ease with which smuggling in British fabrics is carried on between the countries. An extensive business has, doubtless, always been sustained; and it is not unusual even for the ladies of certain towns along the frontier, to _shop_ in Canada, with the understanding that their purchases are to be _delivered at the risk of the British vender, on the other side of the American line_! [51] Executive document, 271, H. of R., 28th cong., 1st sess. Letter of Mr. Allen to Hon. R. J. Walker, and other letters copied on pages 103 and 105 of the same document.