The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-10

tS Nhpi "OiIu Il Ilc!nOT1DIt mOnurenl
of a deceit that hrinks from nothing however mean,
& an ambition that grafps at every thing however
extravaganza. II the report be true, that lis form of a
federation OF ea.es is about to afume at lat a fet-
tied character ; that he is about to declare himfelf
the" Kwg of TIE Romans p who will henceforth
pretend TO juhify bin who will not juRify every
thing that is at war with the PROPERTY of Eu-
rope?
Remarks concerning The breEnf, and trobektiOus
Htto tbe future fate and devifou Of Europe.
Never until now, did the continent of Europe
exhibit a profpe6t, 70 big with events of the
greatelt magnitude. 1t is inpoGihle TO foretell
what may be the iHue-or TO diintang!e the
mind from hopes, fears or preiudices, 70 far as to
iuggett what may be mott beni6cial for the
preient race-for poferity--for the world.
Much indeed depends upon the will and genius
OF afnghs man. II is this which creates 60 much
fear and uueafinefs. Hiftorians and politicians
cannot pcriuade themfelves that the invincibIe
Bonaparte, whole name and whole deeds are
recorded in the mind of every intellectual be-
ing, has long ago conquered himielf; he has
let bounds to his own matchlefs power ; he
has preicribed his own ne-plus-ultra. He has faid
thus far will go and no furth@r, thefe fhalI be
the boundaries of invincible and maenaninous
france. They cannot, they will not believe
that the rapid, Uninterrupted and unexampled
iucceffes which have elevated him from a pri-
vate cation, will be checked or Hopped by the
Rhine and the feas. They believe that his pro.
mics are meant TO deceive-thcy compare
the preient with the paft. They anticipate the
future from hS pretent power and pait exam
pics. lhey perceive that Bonaparte wieIds
a fe~mi-omnipatent Cvord. They behold his foes
either to link or ny before him. Tiiey know
that powerful and numerous armies have been
deftroyed. They behold enemies converted
into allies and allies trengthened and rewarded.
They perceive that the half of civilized Europe
are influenced either by veneration, by eDthu-
i7fn, or by IN alteration which could only be-
lDtpircd by the belief, that the paf was una
voidabie, that the prefent was neceffary and that
the future will be juf and reafonabIe. );
So much for public opinion, now let us dealin
facts. Let us examine them with the eve ofthe
mott critical f~everity. Let us leave nothing for
COME fure. Let us, endeavor to difcntaneIe
our feelings and our defres from every thing
which belongs to this planet, and examine its
charts, its political, focal and geographical
relations (; aud let our deciGons be fuch as will
be given by an impartial hiforian, a century
hence; or fuch as, one completely in~fulated in
lntereit and feelings from every thing which
belongs TO this prefeUt fate of things, would be
tuppofed to do at the prcfent time.
lhe map of Europe preients to the eve at a
Jingle glance a vaft theatre, which has been for
more than 20 centuries, but little lefs than an
ara of blood and mahacre. One nation has
been overthrown and fubiugared by another {:
one ruler has defroyed or Implanted his pre-
decefIpr. Wars and difputes have been with
out end and frequently without any obieG
which is capable of vindication.
The FRnch re volution alone formed an i'm.
portAnt FRA. If all the nations of Europe had
iupparted a cain and dignifed neutrality. IF
they bad allowed the French people to proceed
without diiturbance in the internal changes
which were meditated, there is much reaCon 70
believe, that France would have paned through
the tumultuary fcenes, without giving caufe
OF complaint to the mot feeble power of all
thofe which exited on the continent of En-
rooe. The crowned heads Of Europe womb
not permit IL. They formed coalitions for
conduet and difmemberinent. They were de-
feIted. One defeat fucceeded another. One
after another they were either overthrown or
Withdrew ; Auftria alone remained, and in the
courie of one year, the Auftrians were driven
with the lots Of feveral armies from the boun-
Diary, between France and Italy, almot to the
gates Of Vienna. They Gued for peace. II was
granted. And vanquilbed Audria was retored
TO rank aud independence. Such were the
achievements, and fuch the clemency of the
victorious Bonaparte.
1t was not long before Aufria f%narting un-
der her lofes and difgraces, meditated ven.
geance in return for the bensfIeions which had
been conferred. The emperor, inRead of re-
le6ting that he was a beneficiary of the kind
nefs Of a element conqueror, began to form
projects, by the means OF the power which he
received from the hand of a generous victor, to
regain his lolIes. He intended to repay genero-
dty with ingratitude I; and to ufe that fword
which he had been permitted to retain sgainh
MS benefaetor. Again Autris was vanquihed.
Again The iued for peace. Again fhe was for