The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-08

cauies fsf, al. actual inability to refift the mi
itary force at the diipofal OF the u!uiper; or,
ecoza, a deiire to e-eRablil, the ancient delpo-
tim; o., third, and lat, national Ian
gour, a kind of tedium, awiih for repofs, af-
ter the gigantic fruggles of the revolutionary
contef. The fri fuppoGtion cannot be adj
mitted. However isdyfehSd the French nation
may, al prejch., DC 20 go into fuch an extreme,
they Certainly are not xnGLie, inean.aneoully to
erufh the power of Bonaparte. The throne of
Louis XVI. himfeh the fuccefior of fixty-eight
kings, was fupported BY the veneration of four
teen centuries by the mott numerous, opulent,
and enthuiiattic nobility in Europe, and by large
bodies of devoted mercenaries and loyal troops:
yet when the nation willed it, Louis tumbed
from his height of power. Bonaparte is an up
Fart foreigner, whole reign has juft commenced,
the founder of his own dynalty; unfupported
by, or allied to, any respectable cais of ancient
nobility; and although in point of military force
he exceeds any of the former monarchs of
France, yet if the nation wiled it Napoleon
would have iimilar fate to that of Louis or
man who more reiembles him, Robef1ierre. 1t
may therefore be concluded that the prefent or
der of things is not permitted in France from a.
ny inability in the nation, to r.lit the power of
Bonaparte.
Does it then proceed, in the fecond place,
from their deiire TO re-eftablfh delpotifm This
the hrit contribution; for it was profeGedly in
itituted, to limit and refrain that deipotifm.
Nor was it at the decapitation of Louis XVI;
for then the monarchy was changedintoa repub-
he. 1t fuch then was ever the latent win of
the nation, it would have exhibited itfelf at fome
period of defeat, diaiter, or weakness of the re-
publican government; but the national fpirit
never feemed to be routed 70 high, as when the
republic was in danger. When the Duke of
Bruntwick invaded France, and during the war
OF La Vendee, when the French royalihs had
actually defeated the republican generals in ma
ny pitched battles, and conquered or occupied
many departments, upon the fuppoliton that
the nation had any laundering for its iyR Ioue of
defpotiim, the dormant delire would have been
awakened into action and the Bourbons reRored.
But the republican fprit was never more ardent
than at theie periods. This with then can only
be iuppoied to have manifefted tfelf, at the pre-
TENT epoch, when Bonaparte has afiumed the
imperial purple. This event, however, appears
TO have been effected more by internal apathy,
the confequence of wearifome ftruggles, than a.
ny cordial acquietcence of the French nation.
The Jealoufy and animohty of the neighbour
ing nations, the dread of internal connections,
with ienfe, under fuch circumstances, of the
necefhty of ftrong, military government,-
thefe caufeS have elevated Bonaparte; and
when thefe caufes ceafe to exit, royalty, in
France, will make its quiet exit, along with
them.-Opinions, feelings and paiiions operate
the fame upon thirty millions of individuals, as
they do upon one; and according to every law,
by which opinions, feelings or pafiions are at
iociated together, returning fondnefs for def
potifm would have been connected with re-
newed idolahy towards the Capets. Expert
ence, in aid of theory confirms this truth
When the death of Oliver Cromwell and the
imbecility of his ion Richard awakened the roy
aliits of England to fenfe of their frength, the
re-eftabliihment of kingly government pro-
duced the re-eftablifhment of the Stuarts.
no be eOneLudedin our next.