The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-11-21
From TIE Paris Arsns Of tie soib Stptemse

Europe now every moment exhibits fpeeta-
Gle more and mere orange to the attention of
obiervers. On whatever fide we turn our eyes,
we find contradictions to explain and problems
to refolve.
England itil teftifes defre of making peace,
and her writers never ceafe preaching a profe-
cution of the war; flle prepares difant militia
ry expeditions, at the very time that ihe keeps
negociator of the frlt diftinttion at Paris.
Rniiia has juit refu!ed the peace fhc had de-
handed and is condemned to ina6tion as long
as The is bereft of field of battle whereon to
feiZe again the advantages and the military re-
nown fhe has loft.
Prula is at war only with Sweden, but their
warfare has more the appearance ola fqua bible
among citizens, than of a conteG between
Kings, And, however, ihe is augmenting her
armies, and making fuch preparations as would
make one think fhe propofes nothing lefS than
to attack the iirft power of Europe.
Whilt thefe three Potentates are feparatey
dfcuiiing their interefts with France, they feem
to be combining common alliance. But they
are among themielves in falfe, uncertain and
wavering petition, before an enemy whole po-
icy is fixed, & whole force depends upon him.
felfalone.
We ihould be lels aftoniihed to behold Ruff
liza and England concerting means of attack a.
gainit an enemy whom they fllould equally
have TO engage.-But can the caufe, the inte-
reits or the principles of Prula, ever agree with
thofe of England and Ruliia? The palt proves
the contrary, and the future will no doubt con-
firm the principles of the palt.
is Pruiiia in a more favorable petition with
regard to thofe with whom ihe wilhes to unite
to-day, and againa the ene::,;; hc: rs n c!,
dare tn affront Does ihe really mean to turn
her arms againit the power who has fupported
IDn he ha
tired, envy and Indignation of all the States of
Europe Does ihe again intend to deceive al
lies by clandeitine engagements, which fhe
means to break, at favorable moment or is
the in her turn falling into fnare which they
are laying for her, TO be revenged of her pat
conduct-?-PubIic opinion has only the alter
native of this double fentiment, until time re-
moves the veil which yet conceals the truth.
In found policy, the refoution for Pruifia, to
be the focus, and the advanced poG of CONT
mental war, teems as dangerous as it is tardy.-
She let out in the war of the revolution by
detection, which from the moment betrayed
hertyitem. AS long as Auitria and France
kept an equilibrium, the quietly reaped the
fruit OF her crooked, avaricious and flueuating
Pohcy But Auttria once conquered, Prui1ia
hecehariy loft the Importance of mediatrix,
whom they equally managed, perhaps at the
lame time that they both equally defpifed her.
In theie principles llie bore no power a fncere
frlendihip and none will doubt but fhe will
again Puriue the fame fyfem, had the fame cir
cumitances again prefented themfelyes. This
fhould ierye asa compass in the negotiations
which any power may embark in with her,
The Pruilian cabinet, although fortunate in
Its fpeculations, has made and fill makes lefs
dnpes than it thinks.-France has paid for its
neutrality in fuch a manner as to fhow it was
hncere; but ihe thought this compliance
more comfortable to her interefts and better
calculated to retore the general peace of Eu-
rope. She did like that Lacedemonian Gene
raj, who feeling corps of young men difpofed
to deliver up poft to the enemy, contepted
himfelf with afiigning them another, where he
took care to have them watched. What other
cabinet could PTulfia deceive is it that of ST.
James's, when, inGead of iharing the Dangers as
ihe ihared the projett of the Iaft war, fhe ftole
into the field of laughter after the battle. TO
carry offthe fruits of the victory, and to flare
the fpoils of the vanquiHled? She fill keeps
Hanover, and yet fhe would mediate an alliance
with England Her ports are Till blockaded
by the Swedes, and yet lhe would call them to
her fnccour She would invoke the frpport
of the Emperor Alexander, who nle is iut after
abandoning in the dangers lhe had promiCed
to flare 1t is difficult fncerely to accord
tho!e who have 70 often deceived and have fIcb
cruel reproacheS to make each other. The
fores are till bleeding. Accordingly the moa
moderate Engliih writers can place no faith in
this mon(trous alliance. The fncconr of PruC
fla appears to them like the wooden horfe
they tremble to receive her benefts.-Tbus
notwithstanding the poltive a1ertions even of
the Berlin papers, we cannot yet believe the
fudden change wrought in PrufIia, becaufe eve.
ry thing points out to her the obligation of at
taching herfef more clofely than ever TO
France. With the friendlhip Of this power fle
might cover the wrongs fhe had done TO the o.
theirs; with her fuccour ihe was to preferve
advantages obtained, without drawing her
WORLDLY taking another road, by difregard-
ing to iuch degree her petition and her inte-
reits, ihe would expofe her exitehce and the
remains OF her glory. Her inevitable fail in an
unequal contcn, might afford favorable COM
peniations at the re-eHabiIhment of general
might faiisfy the refertmcnt of the
betrayed powers, leave great example, and
thew that there are in policy, as in morality,
truths and duties which divine Providence foon-
err or later pushes tie irfraaion Of.
PAsIs, Sept. %.
he Drttn