The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-01
aDe Gsnqnlrer.
RICHMOND, Ist NoIEMBrp.
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.

The war has at length commenced in Europe.
few veiiels deitroyed, few lives loft; ports
blockaded and colonies thrown into alarm ar
mics arrayed againft each other without encoun-
tering, and fleets engaged in inoffenfive ikirmih-
rs have hitherto formed its principal
hgures. But the icene is now about to be
reverted. A continental coalition threatens to
aflail the gigantic power of Bonaparte, and in
yofve the moft formidable nations of Europe.
Even now calculating upon the fold in. erefts of
kuifIa and Auftrs, 1ve can fcarcely believe that
they will ruth into to;flit;es; but fhould f,ch
be their determination, who is there bold e.
nough to predict the consequences of the rem
counter?
No doubt the nortb Of Italy will be the prin-
c'pal theatre of the war. 1t is the intereft of
BonaParte to occupy Venice, Tufcany, Ma.
pies, and every point on the coat, which is ac-
ceflble to Rui1ian re-inforcements on the fidc of
the Mediterranean. By this manoeuvre, he will
nearly cut of all thofe advantages, which Ruff
Ia might expect TO gain by the free navigation
or the Black Sea, the command of the Mediter-
ranean, and the occupation of Corfu. The on
~ route which will be coafeqaently left to the
Kniiian armies will be the fame, which they pur-
iued IN SO under Suwarrow; through Poland
and the fates of Auftria. But another obiect
viii mark out Italy as the great theatre of the
war. The defgn of Bonaparte mutt be, to
itriEe terror into the court of Aultria, by
marching towards the gates of Vienna. 1t is
neceiiary therefore. thafAe fhould approach the
capital by the fouth, Whit another French ar
my croHes the Rhine, to facilitate its Operate
ons. In the fame proportion, will it be the in
teref OF Aultria to anticipate its approaches,
contend for every inch of the ground, arreit the
French army before il enters TyroI, and encoun-
ter the torrent on the plains of Lombardy.
Unfortunate Italians to what deplora-
bic deltiny are they conigned For ever ia.
ted from their geographical petition to behold
their country fighting ground for AuRria
and France inofeniive in their own difpoG-
tons, to he the eternal victims of the ambiti
on OF Bonaparte, and the jealoufy of Ferdi
nand. Let the fawning eulogit of Emperor.
and Kings; of monarchical government and
military grandeur; cait his eyes upon the de-
iolated plains of Lombardy, and blufh for his
INTAKES!
Should continental coalition really take
place, we cannot be prefumptuous enough to
predlst all the consequences of the war; II is
PLAN that Great Britain will be difburthened
or calamity, under which all her refources
have, been palied. All fear of an Invaiion will
at once be over. Her troops which have been
idly ftationed on the coat for the purpofes of
defence, may now be fent back to the prof
table employments of peace, or may be diff
patched todiitant fcenes to aet on the offenfive
meanwhile the truth cannot efcape us, that
independently of the expence of fupportiny
her own fleets aud armies, Great Britain has
not failed to advance comfortable fubfdies to
her allies on the continent.
1t is, however fomethipg more than patry
compensation of this kind, that has prompted
the Emperor OF Ruifa to become her alIy. To
what purpoie let us ak is he willing to foreso
the apparent interef3s of bis empire and the fold
advantages OF peace! Is it any thing TO him
whether the Family of the Capets or the Bona
parties hts on the throne of France OF what
mighty coniequerce is it to- him, whether Bo-
napartc extendsh his empire to the gulf of Genoa,
when 70 large fpace of ground ieparates their
two Kingdoms, and when he would himfcif be
ready to pardon the ufurpdtions of France, if
fraace would be willing TO tolerate his own ac-
quifitions! Ruliia has gone into the preCen;
war, for none of thelc purpofes. I, is frmo no
lympathy towards the burthened Inhabitants of
Genoa; it Is from no enlightened regard for the
generalintereds Of Pr.ope but from con-