The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-07-21 00:00:00

be the more &art, my heart, from the happy 15°'
went in which the. Imperial dignity has been de-

dared hered:tary in your august family, and in
which I see consolidated.and.guarante.ed, those sa-
lutary institutions so intimately connected with the
well-being and safety of my own territories."
In all times the capital has been the seat of re-
ports (on di/J. Every day brings forth some news
which the next day proves to be false. Although
we have recently remarked more aaivity, and a cer-
tain direftion in the reports (ot (lit), with which the
credulity of the idle amuses itself, one might be
disposed to leave them to time, and to think that
silence is, of all answers that could be made, the best
and the most sensible.

Besides, where is tire sensible Frenchman who,
taking an interest in the discovery of truth, must
not immediately perceive, in the reports that are
spread, the result of a malice more or less interested
in propagating them ? In a country in which so
many men know what is, and are able to judge what
is not, if any one think; to find in report, sub-

inn, of real inquietude; if his credulous confidence
leads him astray, his error is not of long continn-
ancl ; or if he is not soon set right, it is for want of
reflection —But foreigners, persons attached to di-
plomric missions, having neither the same means

of form; g their jikiginents, nor the same knowledge
of -'•.? • -ii i!re, ire frequently abused ; although they
't for a Ling time an opportunity of observ-
hig. w . .vhat uniforn certainty events belie the re-
t nett eirridate, they do not propagate them the
leis in f reign countries, and their accounts produce

false i ..f France. We believe, in consequence,
tint it is not unappropriate to say in this Journal a
few words upon the report.: (4e on alit).—lt it said,
that the Emperor is going to unite under his go-
vernment, the Italian Republic, the Ligurian Re-
public. the Republic of Lucca,, the Kingdom of
Etruria, the States of his Holiness, ant, by neces-
sary consequence, Naples and Sicily. It it said, that
Switzerland and Holland will share the same fate.
It is mid, that the country of Hanover will afford to
the Emperor, by its anion, the means GC becoming
a Member of the Germanic Body.
We draw several consequences from these sup-
positions, and the first that presents itself is, that
the Pope will abdicate, and that •Cardinal Feche,
or Cardinal Rufo, will occupy the Pontifical
Throne.

We have already said, and we repeat, that if
France were to influence changes relating to the
H y See, at would be rather to encrease the hap-
pi .ess of His Holiness, and to add to the consider-
-I.Jon ani the dominions of the Holy See, instead of
diminishing them.
As to the Kingdom of Naples, the aggressions of
't4. Acton, and his uniform system of hostility, for-
merly gave to France sufficiently legitimate mo-
tives to make war, which she never undertook with
the design of uniting the Two iicilies to the French
Empire.

The Italian and Ligurian Republics, and the
Kingdom of Etruria, will not cease to exist as inde-
pendest states ; and, it is assuredly improbable, that
the Emperor should despise, at the same time, the
&ides attached to the power which Las flowed from
the Committees of Lyons, and the personal glory
which he has Acquired in giving independence twice
to states which be had twice conquered.
We may ask, with regard to Switzerland, what
prevented its union with France before the aa of
mediation ? This aft, the result of the cares and
thoughts of the Emperor, has restored tranquility
to the people; and is the security of their inde-
pendence and safety, that they shall not themselves
brea': this JEgis, by substituting, for the elements
of which it is composed, the will of one of the con-
stituted bodies, or of one of the parties.

If France wished to unite Holland, Holland
would have been French like Belgium. If it be an
independent power, it is because France has felt,
in relation to this country, as she felt with respea
to Switzerland, that the localities required an indi-
vidual existence, and a separate organisation.

Hanover is the objc,sl of a sipposition still more
ridiculot s. The union of that province with France
would bt the most fatal present which could be
made to 11 ; and it does not require much refleftion
to perceive this truth. Hanover would become a
subjea of jealousy between the French and that
Prince, wiio shewed himself the ally and friend of
France, at a time when all Europe was in league
against her.

To preserve Hanover, would demand a military
erahlisliment, whose expences would be out of
all proportion with the few millions which con-
stitute the entire of the revenues of that country.
Can a government, which has made sacrifices to
the principle of maintaining a simple and continu•zd
line of frontier, to the very fortifications even cf
Strasbourg and Ments on the right bauk of the
Rhine, can; it be so ill-informed, as to devire the
incorporation of Hanover ? But it is said, that to
this pc:l:session is attached, the advantage of b.ing a