The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-28 00:00:00

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isigiesirs.wiliatia_.„‘ •

Much the pea -er of Trarce we gave to fear,
as the possibility o- n.hability; or, AS some
woall say, the certainty, that France will nse L'r
raver to oppress the other states of Europe. I
sheuld hive, therefore, that the friendly mediatims
of the Vrtsperor of Hussia would have the effect of
arranging, with the Flint:es of Europe, and the
Irecch Republic and this Country, a system which
might be fa. the ialvantage All parties. I would
ask, what power is there, or was dr r" ever any
power in-a situation that has so Hi- a ri!7ht to strive
to iti peace. to .Europe as the Emperor of Russia,
at this moment his ? The Emperor of Russia
may have strong language to hold to both
powers ; the Emperor of Russia had a .dispnte
in concurrence With the Northern Powers of this
country. • That dispute is-settled to the satisfadion
of this cistintry ;'bat I should suppose there is no
man Vhci can irnagine, that howevei the Emperor of
• Russia niay aepear satisfied at the mauler in which
that dispute IVAS settlel, that he must not f.el a wish
that it alma's: hare been settlesi is a diirtrent man-,
tier, Trie..Eireerm of Russia-has zle.ritiire ground
for saying to boil France and Fnglaild, there wrist
frany poiets unsettled been you at the .1 reaty of
Amiens, but recoiled that for the sake el pc ice 1 ac-
sit/km:et; in a Treaty which was attended with some
iunsati,,faa,iry circumstances; and theretore if there
sae tiOlUe UlliatiSti•lalny CI CUIVIStAmxs in the 'cleats,
of Ansietta with regard to you, sou ought, for the
sake of-peaee, to AdiAti to the terms of toe
Treaty it is reported, theughl :grant that the re-
- p,irt is founded un the supposition that there leis
b directly or indireialy, or covertly, an insinua-
li in on the part of France to Russia, to form some
resolution with a view to the dissolution of the
Turki h Empire ; that this is so, there is strong rea-
s,.n to believe, for his Majesty's declaration gives co-
lour to the existence of the fad. The Emperor of
Russia then stands on the best possible ground
as a mediator. He may say that he possesses
the means of dissolving that power which is his
most natural enemy, of dismembering the Turkish
empire, and of aggrandizing himself by that
which would be the greatest possible acquis.rion
to dominions. The Eropero; of Russia,. de-
clihinß adopt such a measure, has the greatest
right to recommend the same forbearance to other
poweis. He is enabled to speak in a commanding
tone ; he may say, if I ant supposed to be the power
who weld,' gain most by the dissolution of the
Turkish Empire--if lam a prince who have suc-
ceeded princes a&uated by an hereditary desire of
obtaining possession of that country, and I ;abstain
from attacking it, you are bound to abstain from
attacking powers in aiiiance with you ; he has a
right to say, if I abstain from attacking other
powers, do you so also. Perhaps he might go fur-
t!-2r, and interpose it as a fundamental article, that
no power in Europe should intermeddle with the
Turkish empire. He might join in a proposition
for the general safety of those powers, with regard
to whom there is the greatest danger the French
will exercise oppression over them. We all know
that there is a .desire on the part of the French to
avoid war, or to put an end to it I or, as some
would say, to postpone the period of it. If you
lake advantage of that desire of on the
part of France, and appeal to the mediation of the
Emperor of Russia, it is impossible that it-should not
• be attempted on the part of France. It may be said,
that the letter of a treaty may be written, but that
. the conduct of France will afterwards be different
from the spirit of it. To this I reply, that in inch
case there must be an end of all.alliance afterwards.
if a treaty is entered into with the French Govern-
silent, to which England and, Russia make a part,
and that treaty is afterwards disregarded by
France, it is not then with Great Britain only
that France will go to war, but with Great Bri-
tain and Russia. Now with respell to the system of
continental connections, I know our ancestors used
them, and used them wisely. We feel now that
. if there is a necessity for continuing the war with
France, %shit any hope of diminishing her power-
it is not to be done without the aid of the Princes
• of the Continent. I take it, therefore, for grant-
ed, that for the purpose of procuring a favour,
able result to any contest we may enter into
with France, to reduce her power, a continental
connection is necessary, and with that view the in-
terest of the Emperor of Russia is the most desir-
able, and would be the most advantageous of any
we could resort to. Then I ask you, whether
a better chance of gaining that interest and al-
liance can exist than upon an occasion which
affords a pretence for his mediation—for an object
he is equally desirous of attaining ? I think it is
an happy opportunity, though produced by circum-
stances unfortunate in tbemselves ; and I think if

• his mediation is ex:sted, there will not be much dif-

ficulty. Now, Sir, I would ask any man, who has
' attended to the present state of Europe, whether he
does not believe, that, whatever might be the ambi-
tion of the French Republic, if he saw Russia and
Great Britain united, that it tt-could not make the
boldest Government of France hesitate, before it
drew upon them those two powers ? What
the consequence would be every man must
foresee, without my entering into detail of the
comparative strength of those powers. It would
be idle to suppose that the preponderance
• of one of those powers would not make the balance
unfavourable to the other. The only circumstance
by which such an alliance would not be of import-
auce would be in an event which is hardly possible
- to exist—l mean Austria and Prussia joining cor-
• dially with France. I will not enter into the condua
of Prussia, but I will only observe, that from her
• general condull she seems anxious for the preserva-
tion of peace. With respell. to Austria, I believe
the same opinion is pretty general ; the exertions of
. Austria in the last war, and the circumstances
. of that war, leave no room to doubt that it is
. the wish of Austria to preserve peace • the pre-
valence of the sentiments of the Archdale Charles
in favour of peace is. an assurance of the wish
of Austria to avoid.• the renewal of war,
• that Prince having gained • immortal glory by-
the war (Mar ! Hear *-,as great a degree of glory
as it was possible. for him to.' have gained, is said to
bat considered-Out opportunity of obtaining glory
as the strongest reason for urging him to recom-
mend pea.te, 'With regard•to the
,Court of Peters-
burshe you may iosure with certainty its co-opera-
tion for obtaining peace and 'tranquillity. in the
event of a war. with France, yoicwill have the good
wishes 9f the rest of Europe, -which if nut so valu-
abler,mint; In a
as their assistance, is at least important,
war between two such nations as France and Eng-
land, the good wishes of mankind'are material.—

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