The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-14 00:00:00

TP

~,..-

'""'71411

61-{

tiffl

it is abundantly evident that no secret article for the partition
of the Turkish Empire existed. if it be said that he and
Napoleon intended to deceive us into Peace, the more easily to
accomplish their desittns upon Turkey, this is absurd. The
fact is, that a state of War ati'ords many occasions for surprising

a neighbouring state, but a condition of Peace is entirely ad-
verse to it. - When a large force is already on foot it is easy, by
pretending one destination, to accomplish another. But, if
a season of Peace, Europe beheld Russia and France conjointly
arming, and drawing forces towards Turkey, there would he
only one conclusion. it is a verse extraordinary truth, that at
the moment of the Treaty of Tilsit, the Emperors Alexander
and Napoleon, could they have agreed about the partition of
Turkey, possessed advantages for the accomplishment of their
object, which there was no probability they would ever agai►,
obtain. how easy for them would it have been to have int-

posed absolute silence upon Austria, which had no force that
could once have faced them, and have been in possession of Cot:-
ataatinople before a British army could have approached tit.
acene of action ! That they did not act in this manner. at do•
moment of unequalled a !vantage, is demonstrative proof, thl:
the design was laid aside, because the two Monarchs were stir,
they could not amicably settle their pretensions.
In regard to a Northern Confederacy against our maritime
eLzims, and a secret article to this elect in the Treaty of Tilsit,
credulity and prejudice themselves will not believe this after the
Intelligence which we have now received. Vt hat is it !hat his
Imperial Majesty so earnestl:, urges in the conference, we have
previously in-erted, with Lord Hutchinson ?It is Peace. But
a Northern Concderacy required War. With what absarlil-
legations have we been perplexed. Could a Northern Conic*,
racy have accomplished any object w hich they had at heat ,
8b
their business ai to prosecute the War; they would never h ' 1
4pnken of Peace. It is said, however, that the Northern C -
federacy was planned, iu ease we should refine to make Pe
This is truly autusiag. What indication of this do we find it:
the tune or proposals of the Emperor ? What was he to gain-by1
it ? Wino ossible consequence could a N (inherit Confederacy
have p. „ed, but, at the worst, to render the War a little
more expensive on out part ? That it could have had :my such
effect as to force us to renounce oar claims, is absurd. In the
'newt time. Russia must have sustained the expence ora %Ind-
iiak• Wart nal ths amino 10:11 of her commerce. We regard it,

reXu/ating £h. stispansisit of the conflictiog designs of
and France upon the Turkish Etepi re, it C4ll never be centei....•
that oui-interest‘ *ere Mortally wounded by such a convention.
That, if any article in the Treaty of Tilsit related to the Turkish
Empire, it w&.; an article regulating the suspension of the de-
signs of the contracting parties upon that Empire, is absolutely
certain. On no other terms could Peace between them have been
contracted. The designs of Russia upon the Turkish Empire,and
the designs of France, are opposed' to one another. About the
partition of those spoils they never will agree. In that qtteittion
too, Austria is more deeply iuterested than any other Power,
and will, whenever it comes to be decided, risk even her exist-
ence, to turn the decision in her own favour. To have agitated
the question of the partition of the Turkish Empire, was to
kindle anew, instead of extinguishing, the flames of war; and
it was only by a,:reeing to day aside these designs for a season
that Russia and France could have concluded a Peace. Nor is
this the only convincing proof afforded us of this important
point. What rational motive could the Emperor Alexander
have for urging Peace between this country and France, leel
be known that, in conjunction with France, he was about to make
on attack upon the Turkish Empire? Was he not absolute])
certain that we should take arms on such an occasion, if not to
preserve the Turkish Empire, at least to secure to Austria as
large a share of that Empire as possible? Ile could have no
motive, therefore, in urging, with so much earnestness, a Peace
which must immediately be broken ; and from this circumstance

•
j,• •
)191
uL 4110
'F
C-3

.Al-1-lANAtr'

... _~._._.,,~,,,.,a_.._ .. ~

4119

f 4.