Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-08-08

when they resolved to risk every thing,
rather than permit the barrier in the low
countries 10 be thrown down. With
prophetic presage, they calculated the
consequence Of such an event.
One hundred and thirty-six years are
elapsed since sir William Temple, in
one Of his dispatches from the Hague,
aserted, that, !" within two years after
France were wei possessed Of that little
spot Of ground, I doubt no prince or
state ID christendom would pretend to
dispute any more with him then. The
accuracy Of that able fegociator's judge
ment has been, unhappily, justi6ed BY
the event; for, until these puny times, Il
was obvious % evely one who studied
the political geography Of the continent,
thar France once possessed of the
Netherlands would become the dictator
Of Holland. What Piedmont was TO the
rest Of Italy, the Nethcrlands Were 70
Holland and the northern states out.
works that checked the First progress Of
the enemy, until the great powers could
collect and bring their fofces into the
field. In another letter from Holland,
sir. William Temple has detailed with
prophetical precision the probable state
ofthe continent and Of this country. from
the loss Of that barrier. !, 81 go. j
=. II, SAYS he, the French shall car.
~ Flinders, As they very vell may. in
smother campaign, by the weakness and
disorder IN the government here, the
Dutch are sensible that they mast fall 70
Be q asarifime prooince Of France, upon
the best terms they can. The empire
win expect to see them soon al tts Rhine,
and thereby stasters Of fur eteetors; and
1phaf q condition Eng iand tVil Be lrf1 IN
81 such an accession ef maritine forces,
q rveH a. provinces, 70 such q posper AZ
France II already, is 6nf too easy and
tee melancholy q yseectioa. Easy and
melancholy il is indeed! for wehave NOT
only lived 20 see il realised, but also to
,breathe in constant perturbation from its
effects. In the midst Of our embarra.s.
ments and distresses, arising from il,
there Il some consideration however, in
looking back 70 the wisdom, penetrate
on and good sense ofour forefathers Il
Is gratilying to the mind and refreshing
to the detected spirit, to contemplate
those characters, who Thought and act
ed like Englishmen and who, raising far
above the sTovelling pr.judiees and self.
ish policy Of the day, extended their ge-
Ierous views in behalf Of posterity. =
Happy would ithave been forthe tran
guilty Of mankind, that posterity had
Pro6ted by their advice and example
Bot, alas a ruinous indifference to the
Balance Of power took possession Of the
public mind at the close ofthe war ). and,
Ike an epidemic .contagion, spread It's
malignity from Great Britain over all
Europe. Our derilietion Of the interests
OF the continent was enough to make our
departed fathers break from their earthly
prison, to reproach our selfish and mis-
taken politics. The renewal Of the war
has happily removed this deadly distem.
per. and there are solid grounds for be-
lieving that the shades Of Temple, 4
Godolphin, and ! Marlborough. may vet
be aPpeased. But il Is right we should
smart TOR our stupour and IL 10 equally
proper that We should be continually re-
minden Of is effects.
- - WALsINGHAM.