Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-06-17
ORIGINAL LETTER.

.aFG
tlemau d estensive Information and ~,
perior talents natD in Europe 1uiu b
found many interesting and instynctfpe
remarks spon the present crisis 81 poi- :
tieai affairs on the other side .eftae II
ltrntic. -.--,<- ~ ~. - :
r Edfnburgh, Aprils, 1905:
EFoRE this lettefis received, / pre-.
ID sumo, you viii have heard that the !
political horizon Of Europe is again dark
ened by clouds which por.eDd the imme-f
'diate revival Of a hesolating war. Ere
the pillows had completely subsidized ofa
storm Of unexanp Ned fury and duration,
we see new tempest arisingwhich threa-
tens still more violently to agitate the
ocean. Curiosity ike yours viii be de
.reeted to ascertain the causes which have
so suddenly operated such important
changes. But the proximate grounds Of
the policy from which they proceed are so
completely snveloped in ministerial Sc.
erecy, that nothing has yet TRANSFERRED,
even from the sdpient conductors ofthe
London prints, except unsatisfactory
eoniectures and contradictory reports.
To heunsettled and Unbalanced state
in which Europe was left by the arrange
ments Of the late treaty ofPeaee, We may,
without hesitation, ascribe the more re-
mote cause ofthese warlike aspects; But
doubtless some subsequent occurrences
have inAauied the irritation which alrea-
dy existed and FASTENED the present ave-
full crisis. II viii be recollected by you,
that the peace was opposed by many Of
the most enlightened statesmen of this
country, on the principle, that the over
grown power and immense aggrandize.
ment Of France totally subverted that
equipoise in the relations of the Europe
an states, on which the soundest policy,
for more than a century past, has placed
theirreeiproeal protection. Even those
who defended the peace did it with aeon
yietion, that many sacrifices were made,
and thar 1t promised only a temporary
continuance. They acted from desire
to terminate war which had been con-
Quoted on principles too subtle and ref
ned to be generally understood, and, con-
sequently,, to receive that nnanimity of
support onwhich success depends. To
oppose the diffusion of French principles
was q motive Of war too equivocaf to be
comprehended or approved BY the mass
ofSthe people. An, however, concur
red in the sentiment that it was impossi.
blepeace could be preserved whilst France
held so disproportionate an influence, and
equally agreed that political wisdom die
tated the renewal Of hostilities for the
purpose Of destroying 50 dangerous an
ascendency, whenevtra favorable oppor-
tunity should occur. l do not say, that
a declaration as explicit was made in
Parliament-but l assert il was the SEN
timent which not only prevailed in that
house, but which pervaded the whole
| nation. In this temper of mind We de-
tect, then, a Predisposition Ihat would
require no very strong provoeation to ex-
cite 70 action. Such q proyocation has
been given, and forbearance not to be
expected has hitherto. preserved tranqui-
lity, for we have seen, "ere the ink was
dry or the wax cold" of the preliminary
stipulations, that they were violated on
the part of the French government, by
the annsxing Of Piedmont and the Isle of
Elba, the acquisition of Louisiana, die
exercise. of a controlling authority over
Holland, by the daring usufpation Of the
supremacy Of the Cisalpine republic by
Bonaparte, and, finally, by his arbitrary
interposition in the affairs Of the virtuous
and unoHending Swiss. Can these pro-
ceedings admit Of any other conclusion
than that an attrocious ambition has pre-
/ naeditated design dangerous to the safe
| ~ and Independence of all Europe and
which all Europei is called upon to resist :
but which this wonderful httle asea.girt"
| spot seems at this time alone, to have the
wisdom and courage to oppose. q.
But though the series Of aggressions
which, have mentioned certainly have
considerably influenced the recent de-.