The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-23


it replies to realities by iuppo!itions; itoppofes
doubtful future TO preftnt certainty, and the
pof,ibility of a coalition TO a frank overture,
which if fuch coalition Aid exit, can iniurc
neither the nation nor its emperor, who, con-
queror or conquered, viii! neither increaie or
retrench their pretepGons, nor add TO, or retrad
the conditions Of peace laid down in the treaty
of Amiens.
If in the communication ihe pretended to an
nounce, England had ufed language more wor-
thy of the overture fhe received, peace might
have been renewed.
But lince this fignal location, which would
appear to be an offering from the Lord OF all en-
pires, to efabliih peace throughout the uni
verfe, is neglected by England, all Europe mutt
fee that the cabinet of London alone has wifhed,
fill wifhes, and will alone continue to with for
war.
And if the anfwer by which the king of En-
gland in the year 8, rejected the honorable o.
ventures for peace made by his n,aiefty, is al
ready condemned if in judging the conduct of
the Enelifl at that epoch, the prefent generate
on tands in the relation of poiterity; if one of
the principal caufes of the great PROPERTY of
France, and of the cri6s in which England is in
volved, is the refnlt of her refufal to enter into
a negotiation, Infer, gentlemen, that like caufes
will produce like effects; that freih refufa,
not lefs culpable than the 1rf, will be produc-
tive of new advantages to us, and that, the Pc
rod is not diftant when pofterty, who, in this
frcond intance will Judge the Engh minifter,
fhall pronounce Judgment between the emperor
of France and the king of Great Britain.
On the other hand 70 worthy and honorable
ufe of that power with which the people have
Unveiled Napoleon l, ought to excite through
out the Empire an unanimous fentiment of gra-
titudc and love.
This once at leaf, we ought to give thanks
10 the EngIh cabinet, which by partial pub
Goation given to the mott frank communicate
ons, has necefiarily demanded this folemn ex-
plantation, and this full difclofure of the Emper-
or to his people.
We congratulate France on having acquired
new proof, that in giving the throne to Napole-
OF the citizens have conferred it on father, lea
lous of their happinefs. economical in applying
TIE refources of the fate, and fparing of the
blood oftheir children.
The Proficient replied rs follows:
Gentlemen, oratorsof government, the Tribu-
nate have partaken for long time, in thofe fem
timents ofindignation with which Europe fhould
be infpired, againt the infatiahe cupidity of the
Engliih government, who, without daring to Il
VOW it, in formal manner, have endeavored to
place in the number Of its prerogatives, the alb
io'ute and executive dominion of the feas, and
the right of deltroying the commerce and induf-
try of all nations.
We ought not then to be afoni1led, that it
refuies every kind of pacific overture, that it ac-
cumnlates obfacles, that the mott moderate pro-
petition fhould appear to them inadmiflible, and
that its policy fhould be 70 wavering and uncer-
tain.
The government may ref a1nred, that the
tribunate will exert all its itrength and all its in
6uence, to maintain the dignity of the throne,
and the honor of an injured nation.
The foregoing communications were ordered
to be inherited in the process Der6nl, and printed
A committee was named confang of NJ.
Fabre (de pAude) PRECEDENT of the tribunatc,
Mefrs. Mouricaut and Kock, fecretares, M.
Faure, prefdent Of the fiction of legination, NJ.
Girsrdin, PRECEDENT ofthe fiction ofthe interior,
M. Arnaud, PRECEDENT of the fetton of finance,
and Meiirs. Gnllois, TreviI!e, P6tet and Daccr,
10 draw up report on this communication.
This committee will make their report in
three days in public fitting.
The body then rofe.