Star.
London, England, 1811-01-02 00:00:00

wresting from her at any future time, rendered the
tlittlt that was committed more evident, and chewed
the full extent of it.
6, An enlightened man,who during the short interval
of the peace of Amiens visited Paris, and had learned
to know France and your Majesty, was put at the head
of affairs in England. This man of genius compre-
hended the situations of the two countries. He per-
ceived, that it was not in the power of ally State to
compel France to retrograde ; and that the true policy
consisted in arresting her progress. He perceived,.
that by the success obtained over the third coalition,
the question was changed ; and that it must no longer
be thought of contesting with France the possessions'
that she acquired by victory; but that it was neces-
sary, by a speedy peace, to prevent those new acqui- '
sitions which the continuation of the war would ren- '
derinevitable. This Minister did not conceal any of
the advantages which France derived from the erro.
neous policy of England; but he had in view those
which she might still acquire. He thought that '
England would gain much if none of the Continen-
tal Powers lost more. Be directed his policy to dis.
arm France, and to have the Confederation of the ,
North of Germany recognized in opposition to the
Confederation of the Rhine. He perceived that
rrussia could only be preserved by peace ; and that
on the tate of that Power depended the system of
Saxony. ofHessia, of Hanover, the fate of the mouths
of the Ems, of the Jade, of the Weser, of the Elbe,
of the Oder, and of the 'Visalia, ports necessary for
the commerce of England. Like a great man, Fox
did not deliver himself up to useless sorrow fur the
rupture if the Treaty of Amiens, and dosses hence-
forth irreparable—he wished to prevent greater, and
lie sent Lord Lauderdale to Paris.
negociations`began, and every thing led
tra:tbat they would have ended happily ; when
Fox died.
From that time they languished. The Ministers
were neither sufficiently enlightened nor temperate to
perceive the necessitr of peace. Prussia, erzcited by
that spirit which England infused into all Europe,
put her troops in mirth. The Imperial Guard re-
ceived orders to set out; Lord Lauderdale appeared
terrified at the consequences of the new events that
were preparing.
gi It was proposed to sign the treaty ; that Prussia
should be included in it, and that the Confederation
Of the North of Germany should be recognised. Your
Majesty, with that spirit of moderation' of which you
have given such frequent examples to Europe, con-
sented. ' The departure ef the Imperial Guard was
delayed for some days but Lord Lauderdale hesi-
tated lie thought it necessary to send a Messenger
to his Court, and that Messenger brought him an or-
der to return (1). .In a few days after Prussia no
longer existed as a preponderating Power.
si Posterity will consider that period as one of the
most decisive in the histories of Englaad and of
France.

• ft The treaty of Tilsit put an end to the fourth
eoalinoti." '
a Two great Sovereigns, lately enemies, united in
offering peace to England ; but that Power, who,
-notwithstanding all the forewarning she had received,
could not bring herself to subscribe to conditions
vrhkb would leave France in a. ;more ai-antagrus
situation than she was after; the treaty of Amiens,
would not enter into a negtictation; the unavoidable
consequence of which would have been to place France
in a situation still more to her advantage (2). We
refused, it was said in England, a treaty which main-
tained the north of Germany, Prussia, Saxony, Hessia,
and Hanover independent of France, and which se-
cured all the outlets of our trade ; how, then, could
we agree at this time to conclude with the Emperor
of the French, when he has extended the Confedera-
tion of the Rhine to the north of Germany, and to
found, on the banks of the Elbe, a French Throne, a
peace, which, by the course of things, whatever the
stipulations might be, would leave under his influence
'Hanover and all the ports of the north, these principal
arteries of our commerce ?

" Those men who coolly took a view of the sitna-
tien of England, replied:—Two coalitions, of which
each ought to have lasted ten years, have been van-
quished in a few months; the new advantages acquired
by France are the result of those events, and England
can no longer oppose them : doubtless the tteaty"of
Amiens met never to have been violated. It was
proper in the next place, to adhere to the policy of
Fox. Let us at least profit by the lessons of expe-
rience, and avoid a third mistake. Instead of
throwing our eyes back on the past, let us turn them
to the future : the Peninsula is still entire, and directed
by a Gavernmen. t secredy hostile to France. Hither is
the weakness of the Spanish Ministers, and the per-
sonal sent;ments of the old King, have retained Spain
in the system of France. • A new 2 eign will unhold
the germs of hatred between the two nations. The
Family compact has beereannihilated, and audit one
of the advantages which England has derived' from
the Revolution. Holland, though governed by a
French Prince, enjoys her independence ; it is her in-
t( rest to remain as the medium of our coximercc with
the Continent, and to favour that contna.ce.fer the
purpose of partaking in its profits. Have we not
Lesson to fear, should the war be continued, that
France may establish her influence in the Peninsula,
and her custom-houses in Holland.?
4 Such was the language cif men Ittefrlntew how
to penetrate into the secrets of. futurity With pakt
they saw the peace rejected, which Was proposed by
Russia. They doubted not tkat the whole flontinent,
*mild wan be ravished fronfEngland; end that an
order of things which it was irnpossible to prevent
would be established in Spain and in Holland.
• ib in the mean whiile, England demanded of the
Honipof &vans*, that it should quit the Peninsula,
and take refuge on oho Brazils. The partisans of the
English ministry sowed feuds among the Princes of
the House oftpaft4 --The reigning dynasty was re-
moved for ever; and, in consequence of the arranle-
*tents *at ileyettne, a new Sovereign, having with
France one common power and origin, was called to
the Government of Spain.
" The interview at Erfurth gave occasion to neve
prepotals f r peace; but they were also rejected ($).
The same spirit which bad broken off the Uegocia-
tions of Lord Lauderdale directed the affairs of Eng-
The fiftli coalition broke out, the new events of
which again turned out cdvantageous to France, the
only ports by which England preserved an avowed
ensurenalcition with the C.9lltillerit, torch!! ‘iitiA