The National Register.
London, England, 1814-12-11 00:00:00

No. 358.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

POLITICAL PROGNOSTICS.

Is that peace, so lately concluded and purchased by
so many exertions and sacrifices, likely to prove lasting ?
Or was it a vain dream which the world indulged, when
it hoped for rest and prosperity from the negociatiotts
at Vienna ? A brief time will solve these important ques-
tions. Appearances, however, arc not promising. Too
long a period was suffered to elapse between the triumph
of the Allies and the settlement of Europe. In the first
glow of almost unexpected success and rapturous grati-
tude, self-interest seemed dead. Scarcely trusting their
own fortune, the coalesced Sovereigns felt nothing but
tenderness for mankind. Crowned by the hand of Pro-
vidence with blessings that passed their most sanguine
hopes, they thought themselves bound to renay them to
the world. Hence, instead of the partial treaty of Paris,
had a Congress been immediately assembled to regulate
the grand interests of Europe, they would have been dis-
cussed with true liberality and settled with impartial
justice. But the favourable opportunity was lost : ques-
tions which might have been decided by the single fiat of
the principals, were reserved for distant consideration,
and exposed to all the chicanery and intrigues of diploma-
tists. Time, that weakens, if it does not subdue the firmest
resolves of man, was allowed to interpose between the
good intentions of the monarchs and their fulfilment.
Meanwhile the voice of nations shouted forth their praise.
From a state of thankfulness they rose into one of pride.
The unintentional flattery of millions who lauded them,
more for what they had promised, than fur -.vhat they had
done, caused them to forget that they had acknowledgpd
themselves the agents of a liberating Yvovid?tice, to NI boy)
alone they had attributed their triumphs. They begun
to consider themselves as the real deliverers of mankind.
and to receive the expression of its gratitude and admii a-
4ion, not as a reward, but as a tribute due to their high
deeds. The revival of pride was followed by that of in-
terest. Full of the great services they had rendered the
world, they conceived that the least they could expect in
return was not mere praise.) but substantial
ni aggrandize-
ment. 'fence !! eV( plans were forme, and more re 'ave-
fr 4‘l4c
oainAl for their execution. Dela .-mit ve:l fr
•, . o
Vol VI. No CCCLVIII

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER
.11, 1814.

PRrrn gd.

month, the Congress became, not the solemn tribunal be-
fore which the rights of nations were to be discussed and
defined, acknowledged, and finally settled, hut the
board by which the private arrangements of confidential
Ministers were to be sanctioned. Secret negociations su-
perceded public deliberations, and all effectual opposition
to the pr-gress of ;he intended measures was prevented by
concealing their exact nature and tendency from the world,
under the pretence that the publication of particulars
could not take place till the final arrangement of all the
matters at issue had been closed. Notwithstanding thy
attempt at secrecy, some of the intentions of the most am-
bitious Powers have so far been revealed by the transfer of
the countries which they occupied, and the movements of
their troops, as to excite the doubts which are now generally
entertained of the stability of the present peace. That these
are not chimerical, the preparations of France sufficiently
prove. With an exhausted treasury, and a male popula-
tion which has been represented as almost destroyed by
the repeated wars of her deposed Emperor, it is scarcely
credible that she should once more dare the fate of battles.
But her spirit was only bowed, not broken for much of
that love of war with which Napoleon was justly re-
proached, is chargeable on the French nation. Whatever
be the person at the head of her Government she seems
destined to banish tranquillity from the Continent. If it
be a conqueror, he has only to let loose the warlike pro-
pensities of his people, and Europe will be set in flames.
If it be a pacific monarch, he is hurried into hostilities by
the inilitary ardour of his subjects. This, we fear, is the
l,resent Lituation of Louis XVIII. lie has found the
French irritated, more than humbled, by their reverses.
Fcreed to submit whilst the Allies occupied their territory,
they closed their eyes to the generosity' displayed towards
them, and were vain enough to think themselves spared
through fear, not roagnanimity. Revenge burned silently
within their Feuls, and no sooner had the independence
of their country been recognised and its limits freed fiom
presence of an enemy ; no sooner had their resources
!)een re-organised and their prisoners of war returned,
than, conscious of revil;n4; strength, they openly vented
forth their feelinfo. 15::/illitia.; to ieward hit; benefactors,
the European Princes, with immediate hostility, Louis
Vit* disregarded, or vainly attempted to curb the dis-