Star.
London, England, 1802-12-09 00:00:00

th e Right Hon. Gentleman to kop ihott in the
rologium which he was paffi on his Right Hon.ng
Friend (Mr. Pitt),, I mud, Sir, obferve, that it is
not enough for us to have the mere appearance of,
iCcitrity ; for cannot the French Government, at
an times, afcertain the (late of adual preparation
in which we may be ? Our fituation isvery different
from that of France ; and the difference arifes
from the nature of our Conaution. The number
of men voted by this Houle is a fiibjeet of public
notoriety ; and if none are voted, the Government
of France mull know we can have no army : the
:appearance of fecnrity can of courfe be of no
2V.til. But it is Paid that Bonaparte is not defer-
ens to hazard any attempt againft us, becaufe he
has every thing to lofe and nothing to gain ; and it
is urged, that as ;he French have felt the force of
our arms, they will not wantonly attack us. Ts it
,AEL•Ie that we can he fuch (hangers to the work-
ings of mortified pride, efpecially in the bofom of
a man like Boniparte, as to think that he will not
rak every thing to gratify his refentment, more par.
ticularly as hisaggrandifernent mull fupply him with
new and copious means for accomplilhing that
end ? The motives that urge him on, are certain-
ly more imperious that thole which aetuated
the Bourbons to engage in bold and daring enter-
prizes, and conflantly to afpire at univerfal empire.
They had fome regard to hereditary fuccelllon,
and the various relations connefted with it : but
Bonaparte is under the moral and phyfical necef-
fity of coming to an agreement with his fobjeas,
that he will make them Ilfger: of the World, if they
will but content to be hit Slaves. I cannot, as an
inhabitant of this Country, fit quite at my cafe
when I fee him convert Holland into a Province,
when I perceive Pruflia under his influence, Auf-
tiis under his contmul, Spain under his feet, Por-
tugal at his beck, Turkey encompalfed with his
toils, and obferve hint taking pofitions in all quar
ter: of the world, calculated more for the ruin of
onr commerce than for the extenfion of his own.
That is the fort of commercial rivalry in which he
is willing to engage with, us. Amongft other
things we find him at Louifiana for no other pur-
ple but that of deflroying the commerce of Ja-
maica. Thefe 'pofitions are like thefe which hil-
tory inform us was the cafe with.regard to fome
armies, and by fuch manceilvres we may at length
be deprived of all power of refinance,, and com-
pelled to yield without a blow. We have a right
to think that he imagines this the &pack way
to go to work with our domineering cotnmer.-
cial, manufacturing, banking Country. I admit,
indeed, that he might find himfelf difappointed in
the refult, and that all this capital, indttfiry, en
terprize, and wealth, would (brink, or be hidden',
in the bowels of the earth, when under the con-
trol of a defpot ; butthis affords us no ground for
fuppofing that this is not the way and mode in
wh:-.:11 he means to deal with us. What are we
to think of the moderation of the man who cafbiers
with fo little ceremony the King of Etruria, and
fo many other Princes ? Can we doubt that the de-
an:llion of this country is his principal dream at
tight, and firll vifion in the morning—that it is
is latch and moll fervent prayer, whether his
orifons be addreffed to Jupiter or Me;hentft, to the
Mcffiah of the Jews, or to the Goddefs of Reafon?
We have heard, indeed, that Bonaparte is a great
philofopher and a great' philanthropin, and I do
not like him the better for it, particularly, as fuch
crying mifchiefs have already been the effeCt of
the pretended fpirit of philanthropy. I cannot
withhold my admiration at the cant of his Ifdieris
Ceentry, and been only aftonilbed at fuch jar-
gon being fpoken in the prefence of, and ad-
drelfed to one of the molt acute and intelligent
men in the world (Mr. Fox). What folly to fup.
pore that fuch 'phrafes would pats current upon
The King of Etruria bad a (mall (hare in
this new/nation, but not, as it (hould teem, upon
a very folid tenure : for there was a rod kept for
him in the corner, if he did not proceed according
to diretlions, like a little boy in a go-cart. lam
not here dealing in invective, unlefs I am doing
fo by barely telling the truth. The Firft Conttil
has felefted a pleafant family party, fome of
whom he treats with good dinners and entertain-
ments; but what I have to deprecate is, his mak-
jog (;rest Britain one of the family. I (peak not
from any particular information, but from my ap-
prehenfions and my fears, and I therefore do not
fay to you, " Go to War ;" but I exhort you to.
airtime a thong defenfive attitude. lam not in.
different to the fitnefs of men to elercife power.
Every country mutt depend upon its fleets, its ar-
mies, and the integrity of thole who have the ad-
mininration of the Government. Upon thefe the
nation mull always ten for its fafety.—lf what I
have hitherto urged may be thought agreeable to
thole who are contidered as men of war, I am now
about to adminifter a correetive, and do not mean
to deviate from the good humour that has hitherto
prevailed in the debate. I was no: prefent on the
firft day of the Seffion, but I never read any ac-
counts with more regret than I did that of fome of
the late Minifters, who feemed to cry out, "Give
us hack our places." Thefe perfons are divided
into two claffes—one of them thinks a (late of war
preferable to that of peace. I honour fome of
them for their franknefs in warning us of our dan-
ger, but when a Noble Lord (Temple) rays, " re.
(lore us to our places, and we will not go to war'".
I know not which to admire Moll in him, the in.
genoufnefs of youth, or the incaution of inexpe-
:knee. I. alk them, would they go tri war for the
Helvetic Republic f They reply, " No ;" but they
would be more vigorous in their inaaivity ; they
trould at leift make wry faces—they would not
lie Rock Hill, but inllead of laying them down,
they would hold their artnt a &10. Yet I do
:lot know, that while reftraint is put upon ation,
!ouch can be got by_ growling. &limners mutt
have felt the opprellions and encroachments of
France as much as other men, and while they are
tefolved not to fubmit to infult, they knew that
frith a determination may be made know* in mo-
derate expreffions—Some fay," Let thefe incapable
Gentlemen go con." I alit them why fo I Have
they made any threats to France, and if they have
Made aiti, have they afterwards re:rafted them ?
Thee high minded men would not [loop to fo low
a job as that of figning a peace, but they afterwards
Coax and call upon BOsibirs to raga For what ?