The National Register.
London, England, 1814-01-16 00:00:00

JAN. 16.

globe ? Wlsat was the object of France when victorious, unless to
renew, and to fix upon a solid basis, the maritime system which Rns-
tia had conceived ? What %vas the most important stipulation of
tat Treaty of Tilsit,---the engagement entered into by Russia to
complete, in conjunction with us, that she had herself begun, and
what she fur a long time considered as her fairest title to glory ?
Can Europe have forgotten the solemn proclamations of the Em-
peror Alexander, in which he declared, that for the happiness of
people, anti for the happiness of the world, he had agreed with the
Emperor Napoleon on the means of maintaining the Continental
St and of forcing the English to recognise the rights of neutral
Powers? Did be not solemnly engage to revenge the crime coin.
;nutted at Conenh igen? Did he nut declare war against England?
and, when AllSsiet afterwards tome in pieces the treaties to which
she hail sworn, did not Prussia, Austria, Kivalia, and all Germany,
fight under our banners to maintain the Continental System which
they had so often proclaimed?
Certainly, when the Emperor Napoleon marched at the head of
the ConteJerated Kings against Russia, then the only ally that Eng-
land nal on the Continent, he exercised an enormous phponderaore
beyond the limits of the empire; but the elements declared against
him. His allies successively forsake him, join their armies to those
of his enemies, and march themselves against France, which has re-
tired within its natural boundaries! Has not this preponderance
changed hand.- r and if it is exercised at this moment by :My Power,
is it slot by that which drags with it all the nations of Europe, and
leads tlient against a people who have now nu wish but that of de-
fending tbeie rt'wn icErittlr% ?

Thu: Russia, wine% within a century has by turns crushed Swe-
den, partitioned Poland, devoured the Crimea, threatened Caucasus,
and coveted the throne of Constantine; it ussia, which at this mo-
ment governs Saxony, domineers over Prussia, and perhaps over
aq Germany ; Russia, which pours into France her ,4siatir legions ;
Rnssia declares that she mikes war against the preponderance of
the Emperor Napoleon in Europe !
She proelaim,, hot vt ithstamlimf, that the views of the Allied
tower:, have fur their object the iodepend owe of all Slimes; that
these iiews are just, generous, liberal, encouraging-for all, honourable,
fin. each. Why, then, do not these pawl Es express themselves in a
precise manner ! %Why, in this new system eat speaking to the na-
tion, do not they say clearly what they propose? Why do not they
point out, without evasion, the bases of the pacification! They

wish " that Fraoce should be strong and powerlul,—that the art;
ohou there they confirm to her " a greater extent of
to rritory than she ever (brew under her kings." Well, :lien, why do
not they formally fix this extent ? With this es.gue manner of ex-
pression they may otter us Poreotruy, which we did not possess
• tinder ow kings. Amhigions phrases do not indicate sincere
inten-
tions; perspicuity is the best sign of good faith. But the Allies had
good reasons for wrapping themselves up in mysterious terms. If
they ii,ad published the real proposals which they have made to
France, the Emperor replied 66 I have accepted them." Thus the
war would be finished, and peace made. But we are sorry to- spy
it, every thing seems to indicate that such was not the wish of the
powers, or at least of sotne of them.
Let us be allowed to ask the authors of the proclamation, if it is
any proof of a sincere w isle, inr the independence of the French Em-
pire, to invade its Natural bditmdaries? if we can fully confide in the
good faith of Ihe Allies, when they pass the Rhine, atter having
pub!icly declared last year, that they took tip arms only to repulse
the French beyond that river t when they occupy the Swiss terri-
tory. after having announced to Europe that their armies would not
ems it ?

The %Mies desire that the att. should nourish in France : but

their mum:►meats every where strike our eyes. Do not our mu-
seums, our capital, I mi. towns, our public places, present incessant
wonders, which have, as one may say, wearied admiration? Which
of the wined-Powers is it, then, which desires to make the arts
tlanrisit again in France? Can it be %pada, which allures our
labourers, seduces our mannfacturets, and entraps our a: lists? It
must be allowed, that it is curious to see the North invade the
South, in order to make arts and eiviiization flourish there.
The powers speak of a just balance ; but do they ensure to En-
rope that one them will n►►t won exerci‘e a fatal preponderance,
--and that, finding the French Empire too powerful, it will not
soon be desirous of putti►►g itself in a situation to tear no farther
obstacle to its agguandi•ement ? They speak of a just partition of
/I"%ver,—of natural liants.—and that at a time when Sweden desires
to pass the Alps which separate it from Norway, when England pre-
tends to keep some of the principal ports of the Continent.
Let us not fear to say it : what the-Allies profess is in contrasiles
Von with what they design ; Holt promises arc as insecure as their

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

2+ •

reproaches are unjust. 'they incessantly trumpet forth their m9de-
ration : but their actions void: more intelligibly than their word;.
WhLile their declaration breathes only peace and happiness, their
invasion brings devas.fition and death. France has had her days of
ci,od fortune.. Let us remember her attitude in.the midst of her
triumphs ; let us contrast what she has often granted, with what is
now required of her : and let us determine then, which side displayed
good faith, tusuleration,—and we venture to say so,—moderation in
victory. Let as begin with Au'tria.
Within these twenty years, France has concluded four treaties
of peace with this power, at Campo Formio, at Limeville, at
Pre,hurg, and at Vienna. At Campo Formic, theTyrot was comities ;
the Emperor, at the head of that invincible -army; before which
Italy had fillen, was w ithin thi: ty leagnes of the capital. 'l4e
French arms, of the Rhine wa• penetrating to the heart of the
monarchy. *Hungary, in a ferment, threatened to eptrate from the
cspital The victLrs otfr peace. What were the 'conditions ;
A usti is ceded Belgium and Lombardy, which were conquered ?
but she received in exeliauge, Istria, D.,linatia, the Venetian islands
in the Archipelago, Cattaro, Venice, and the provinces of that
republic on the lett of the Adige.

liens Austria, though vanquished,-..Austria invaded on all siA,s,
finind herself, after all her diiasters, with a territory mole consi-
derahle in extent, and more advantageously situated ter Lee. Yet in
1800, she again gave the signal for battle! IV:, march; sic:ory
leads hs again to the gates of Vienna. What conditions does 114
Emperor Napoleon impose on bet ?—the peace of Lmieville. The
treaty of Campo Foe int) is nearly confirmed : anti France, always
timniphaut. is never weary of being magnanimous. Who does nut
remember that in this memorable campaign, the Emperor Napoleon,
after the victory at Marengb, honouring conrage and inisf,rtone,
granted to de Melia a capitulation, by virtue ut which ror,ou.
Austrians passed with their arms and baggage through the middle ut
the French army ? Assmed:y be was not i7norant that these troops
were going to reinfOrce the Austrian army on the Adige; and yet
they retreated across Italy without any obatack , Let us compare
rho evitatation of Alexandria with that of Drevich?—the tie 4
M. ii+c 3ielas with that of 51arshal St Cyr.—and we shall see which
party has llCWllllloderatiOn ice victory, and kielity to its treaties.
t us proceed. After the treaty a Luneville the Cotainen;
seemed likely to enjoy a long peace. France, eng:4;ed in its Irani-
One preparations, had no forces on the batik,' of the Rhine ; all our
troops were on the heights of Boulegue, the vessels for their em-
barkation were collected, the expedition was ready, the signal fur
depattare was going to sound, when Austria suddenly gave the hilt.
Hat for battle. The armies threaten our frontiers, we march with
the rapidity of lighting, the tempeat bursts at Ulin,—Vies na
and Austerlitz &diverts the m hole Empire into our I soda. 1f our
enclitics hail been in our place, what would they have dune ?We
knows nut : but the treaty of Prelburgh tells us what the Emperor

The. house of Austria, which might have been said to exist only
in some of its eastern provin-es, recovers alt its possessions, except
the Tyrol, the part of the Venetian Orate ceded by the treazies of
Campo Formio, and Limevilro, and some other detached pieces of
territory, but which were compensated for by the cession of Salz-
burg and flerchtuldsoben-
Lastly in t 809, while the Emperor was beating at Astorga, the
English army of Cieneral Ikloure,—an aggression still more unjust
than in IBo9,—an aggression, the avowed purpose of which wa• to
iavude France, again provoked the French legions. All the wester!'
and Ismaili provinces of Austria are compere-11: the capital is f:br
the second time in the hands of the victors; Hungary beholds the
stench eagles‘ on the ramparts of its cities ; an ever memorable. bate
Ile puts the mho!. monarchy at the disposal of the emit-Inver ; the
Russian armies, then our allies, threatened Eastern Gallicia ; the
House of Hapsburg might have ceased to exist : the tresty of
Vienna restored the House of Austria to the rin,k of a Power of
the first order.
Snell has been the generous and noble conduct of the Emperor of
the Fiends towards owe of the belligerent Powers. Austria, after
jour successive wars, unfortiniate for he r, iu which she sate her ex-
istence four times in danger, loses only a few provinces. Ah! if she
had obtained over us all the advantage 'which we have gals ed over
her ; if in three years she had twice occupied Paris, should we tie
as powe fail as. she is now ? Should we have the influence which she
exercises in Europe ? It seems that we may be allowed to
Let us proceed to Prossia.
In 1806, Prussia without provocation, made her armiel
towards the Mime; the French legions .go to meet them
battle or Jena, putting an end to this mdd contest, render
quernr) afrt tits end 91 A math, puispir of the Prussian

~ ' >

• o doubt it.
es advance
on, and the
.rs the eon-
ow:iatt:by.