Star.
London, England, 1803-03-21 00:00:00

TROM THE jouacim DU COMMERCE.

" The peace of Europe is the aft of the French
Government. After fo dreadful a war it was, no
doubt, the moll fplendid favour which could ever
be conferred on long fuffering humanity; and co-
temporaries will indubitably. in this refpea, anti-
cipate the judgment both of the hiftorian and of
pollerity at large—it required a confiderable de-
gree of ability to divert PAUL L from his cruel
and long exifling prejudices, and to detach him
from a coalition to which he mull have been the
more devoted, as he was peculiarly influenced by
romantic fentiments of honour and glory; this
was the firft meafure adopted for carrying into
execution a 1-yller:snot lets bold than great, namely,
of urging. (as it were, between France and Ruffle)
the belligerent powers, and compelling them to
make peace, and expedite the execution of former
treaties—wthat conception, which has already prov-
ed fo beneficial in its confequences, was the moll
powerful guarantee which had ever beet; given to
Europe of a folid and permanent peace.
4' England had twice impofed upon us—Lord
CORNWALLIS would have perhaps given us a repe-
tition of the part which Ma Lasses va v had played
—the circle of Popilius was drawn, and the treaty
was concluded.—A meffage from the Kola of
ENGLAND to the Houfe of Commons throws a
dark fhatie over the peace which was fo much
wifhed for, over this peace, which is as neceffary
for his own fubjeas, as for the other nations of
Europe.—Now what does this fame meffage con.
tain ? What relates to heads of nations is to be
fpoken of with great circumfpeaion and refpea—
fuppofing even that ridicule were to attach to their
decrees, a different conduit would be attended
with fertous confequences ; on filch occafionsjolinz
mull be out of the quellion.

" 1 Ile KING of GILLiT BRITAIN thinks it need-
Cary to inform the Houfe of Commons that, on
account of the great preparations carrying on
in the ports of France and Holland, be deems
it expedient to refort to meafures of precaution
for the fafety of his dominions."

We can neither deny nor diffemble the Rate in
which our navy and that of Holland Rood at the
conclufion of the war—a nation &add poffefs a
military power in proportion to the extent of its
territory, and of its commercial relations, as well
as to the force which may eventually be brought
it—the fire care, therefore, of our Govern-
ment ihould have been to reltore our navy. The
13ritith Government did not, to be furs,' confider
it was implied in the 'treaty that it could,. at will,
fet limits to the number of oar (hips, and fend
over a Consmiffary to the port of Dunkirk l—thofe
days are gone by. Why then this uneafinefs with
regarceto a Government which aimed fo cordially
at peace, which negociated it with all its means,
which commanded it with all its power, a peace
which became fo neceffary for all Europe, perifh-
ing by a war, as inveterate as it was unreafonable.
For the better underßanding of this melfage,
we think it will be fuff►cient to traullate it into other
words. What would be fait' of the French Go.
vernment, if it tranfmitted the following =Cage
to the Legiflative Body

i 8 Government deems it needfary to inform the
Legidative Body that, as the Britith Govern-
ment does not burn at lea one half of its navy ;
that as a certain degree of Wale prevails in
the Britifh ports, arfenals, and dock yards ;
and beeaufe it does not execute the treaties, Ike.
it judges it to be prudent to adopt meafures of