The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-26
VIEWS IN FRANCE.

The reader will find under the head of foreign
intelligence, the lateh foreign news which has
arrived from France. The Editor converted
la'f night with an intelligent Vrginian, who was
pafienger in the Sheffield, and from the few
defultory fketches, which a very rapid CONVEX
fation brought forth, he has every -eafon to be-
lieve that the political condition of France is at
this moment peculiarly unictted, and liable to
the mof important revolutions.
Bonaparte, he fays, is not covered with that
blaze of popularity, by which from the recent
changes IN that country, we lhould fuppof. him
to have been encompafied. Enlightened and
impartial Frencbmen do not helitate TO think
him an unprincpled tyrant and an afIaf1in: &
thefe murmurs fomctimes efcape from their
lips. Even his popularity among the folders
has ITS limits. His political ufurpation is fad to
DE upheld blythe moft penetrating & widespread
fyftem of corruption and Espionage. Mott of
his friends (ffriends they can be called) are at
tached to his government by the perfonal bene-
hts, which it confers upon them. A feat in one
OF the Legislative bodies; higher Office in the
army; poft in the legion of honour, or a feat
among the marihalls of the empire thefe and
considerations like thefe fit before their dazzled
imaginations, and hull to Geep all the generous
fuggeftions of patriotiiin or the cares of diiap-
pointed ambition. His enemies are alarm
ed and kept at bay, by the Glent and lleep-
lets operation of the police. That initru-
ment which only, and which alone is COM
petent to melt into one moving MATS the fenti-
ments of thoufand different minds, to COM
municate and to concentrate the extenlive ener-
gies OF nation, and thus to recover or to fecure
the liberties of the people, this inftrument &c in
whole polithed convex the tyrant will behold
the detormity of his own nature and be turned
into ftone" lin terms like thefe has the Irifh ora
tor portrayed the freedom of the breG) is alto
ravlihed from their hands and proltituted to the
puipoieS of an infamous luft of power. Yet
ihort time ihall elapfe, and my friend feems to
tuppofe, that new revolution will probably
be produced in France. As foon as the people
have recovered in a certain degree from the
fruggles and ruins of the revolution and as
loon fuipicion and the fear of this event ihalI
have multiplied fill further the precautions of
the utrrper, which in their turn will ltill further
exulcerate the wounded fenfbiIities of the natl
on ; and he Teens TO iuppofe that new revoIu-
ton and new modification ofpower will exit
IN that country. This event will evidently de-
dend upon the fate OF the great defgn which
Bonaparte has long fince neditated and which
the whole civilized world have hitherto viewed
with the mott anxious fufpence. The fucccfs-
su invaion ofEng!and will add a new column
of ftrength to his throne. The failure of the at
tempt will evidently endanger his infant and UNI
fettled power.
That this invalion will be really attempted,
was the general opinion in France. Bonaparte
had promiied and the nation expected it. But
IT is not The Emperor himielf, who is to conduct
the expedition. He has very wifely conferred
al the dangers of the oniet upon General An
gere2r- ~ tiiis iaydciUus policy, he wifhes as
much as poiiible to fun all the dangers of the
expedition; the dangers which would menace
MS llt-eitdbliihed power, were he at this mo-
ment 90 leave France the dangers which might
encompass his facred pcrlou were he TO encoun-
ter the gallant navy or the determined army Of
England the dangers which would at once az
fail him, were he to fail in the attempt.-Iis
enemies want only ten 2orary relaxation of his
power to contrve ard to execute plots, for the
accomplishment Of his ruin. Bonaparte, whole
iutpiciOus vigilance has well difcerned their in
tentiCnS, knows too well that his abfence would
relax the arm of authority. His fIDcriutending
genius withdrawn, he knows too well that the
minifter ofthe police and even the polite Tai
leyr1ud himfclf would be wanting IN po,vcrto
reprets all their Vaccinations. Such is one of
the considerations which may tempt him 10 de-
vOlYe the command OF the expedition upon Ge-
neral Angereau-A iCCOud Involvement is TO be
found IN the immediate danger Of the attempt
BOnapdrte knows too well hOv extremely diff
proportional the fleet of Brett is 20 the EnaIilh
navy. re knows too well, that even if his 10
lila of gun-boatS could fucceed in pafIing thro'
the Engliih heet, whether aided by dark night
& a favourable breeze, by an impenetrabie fog,
or even by the cannon Of his own fleet he
knows too well the mighty difficulties of effect
ing landing IN England. At no previous peri
od IN the Engiiih hifory, will he have perceived
4 more intimate combination Of parties and of
ietts, ltronger enthmiafm in the caufe of the
nation, than what that country exhibits AZ the
preient moment. This perilous Oppohtion is
almO6 efficient TO arike a certain dcerep Of ter
rnr infn aXcru Lenri I'll. L.. - -. o. a