The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-05-01 00:00:00

To THE EDITOR OF THE S7'.4TESMAN.

sig,—On the altered mind of NAPOLEON depends
the happiness or misery of many succeeding years to
patio and to Europe. If he only alters his con-
itact and conforms himself to circumstances it is
„cosh for the world, for no man has a right to en-
-sire into another's motives, any more than as a
obj,et of speculation. Whenever it becomes evi-
dent that BONAPARTE has returned to his old system
oserement, that he is determined to rule France
in terror rather than by justice, and to violate the
'dependence of other nations, then it will be time
enough for the Allied Powers to commence their at-
tack, and to exterminate a Government whose exist-
ence is incompatible with the safety of all others.
In the mean time let us reflect on the terrible re-
s:,onsibility which attaches to those who wish to
recipitate us into a war, to which all other wars
r,Ast deld the palm for its tremendous importance
;111 uncertain event. Should the Allies be victo-
rious, in the intoxication of victory they may forget
she rights of nations and establish by force the
principles of despotism in every country in Europe,
Being there will be nothing to oppose them, no
single pager to keep them in awe. When the sword
has goiaed that %%hicks the pen has in vain attempted
to establish, vii. the hereditary right of Kings, what
sccutity is there for the rights of the People? To
what end have so ninny millions fought and suffered
in the cause of Freedom, if the cause of Kings is
victorious? If the present war is to be only a new
mode against liberty, if the coalition of Kings is
t be renewed on the same principles, and is ulti-
rot-ly victorious, all the advantages gained by the
trench Revolution, will be lost to mankind, and
the world must again return under the yoke of de-
spotism. It is not for BostrApature that I wish suc-
toss, and it was only because he was a tyrant that
lever adhered to the cause of his enemies, because I
rase in them less of ty ninny, and less danger to man-
kind, than in the success of an avowed despot.—
Ilte if BoNAPArrx has profited by his short period
of adversity more than the BOURBONS by their twenty
sears of exile and calamity, and will support the
iitwdoin and independence of France against all
Curse who attack it, I will be glad to forget all his
past iniquities, and rejoice to see the cause of Iran-
s;oat triumph under his protection. It is not the
non but the principle that I admire—a principle
for which alone I value my existence, and for
%chick alone I should rejoice to surrender it ; for
there only where freedom is can there be hap.'
lines,. and without it all the other goods of life
toe bet gilded misery.-1 cannot bring myself to be-
hove that-either BONAPARTE, or any one of his op-
i•messis, is so much in love with liberty, as to take
up arms purely and disinterestedly in its defence; but
it .0 happens that it is the interest of all of them to
profess it, and he who acts according to his pro.
tos:ions, must he supported without regarding his
natives. By which ever side the rights of nations
and of individuals are most likely to be defended, to
t!sat side I incline; and it is my firm belief and
opinion, that from an extraordinary change of cir.
rurastances, BoNaraftTE is more interested in defend.
iog the cause of liberty than any one of the Allied
Posers. And must we not expect, from the success
ac his arms, the overthrow of spiritual and ecclesi-
retical tyranny in Italy and Spain ? 'Who then will
not rejoice at such a consummation, and hail the re-
turn of NAPOLEON as the commencement of a new
era, or rather as the completion of that which was
begun twenty-five years ago ; for the French Retro.
lution has now nearly returned to the point from
whence it set out ; and, as all gr. at changes of
opinion among mankind require a long time to be
established, we need not wonder if it should be
some years longer Wore those great principles of
Government, which comprise the rights of the
people, are consolidated and established. The Re-
formation of religion was not even partially com-
pleted, till after more than thirty years of bloodshed
sod calamity ; and are we to suppose that a reforms-
tioa in Government, a thing which much more
feelingly affects our interests, can be settled in a
iint-ter time ? I doubt not, and much as I wish
to think otherwise, I cannot avoid seeing, that the
contest in which we are about to engage is not
toetely against BONAPARTE, as an individual, but as
tie supporter of that system which is the avowed
enemy of corruption and tyranny. Circumstances
have changed, and the tables are turned. When
Ilasaea st re was a tyrant, it sins Ini,lotll. and policy
to support the cause of the Bouenoss, as the means
of overthrowing his tyranny, and establishing a
inure moderate Government; but since the Bot,st-
Buss have been tried, and have shown themselves
ti„ advocates of the old sy stem, BONAPARTE wisely
tuking advantage of their folly, and submitting him-
to the (roe Republicans of France, has placed
Litnstli in a better situation than even they were be-
fore their return, and has ensured the support of every
true ft iend to the liberty and indepetlence of France,
11l even of all Europe, and let him only adhere to
these principles and forget his old principles of ty-
re:any, and he will yet be the greatest man the
w"1111 ever saw. A few months will bring him to the
test. We are in a tremendous crisis, and had our
Government acted with moderation and temper, we
:alight have grit through it with safety ; but I doubt
they hove committed us for years of bloodshed and
6er)• By going so hastily to war, they have put
BONAPARTE into that situation which they pretend
that he wishes to put himself in ; they put it in his
Power, nay, they actually force him, if he is vic-
torious, to aim at the subversion of Isis enemies,
%Nth he could have no pretence for doing if they
were lint the aggressors; whereas if they had *is-
loom to act merely on the defensive, to be on their
guard against any attack, and to watch his disposi-
li9n and conduct, they might be equally able to de-
feat his schemes,
,should he again attempt the sub-
version of Europe. A littie time will develop what
it is at present almost rash to conjecture; but, for
tuY owe part, I has. little doubt on which side the
b.lance will preponderate ; great talents always
i'"es and I believe always wilr prevail, even when
tot employed in aid of good principles.
I re:, ail), &C.
Welhesh stnaet. Cavrtilli.h,yetre,
Aptil`.ls,

W. B.