The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-11-21

/
are completely oppofed to thofe of the an.
| thor.
COMMUNICATION.
VIEW OF THE CONTINENT OF EuRorE IN
RELATION TO A FOURTH COALITION.
The continent of Europe appears to be once
more on the eve of military convulion. The
profpeets of peace, agitated between France and
Ruflia, are fuccceded by preparations for war
Alexander, the Emperor of Ruiiia, uHmindful
of the generous conduct of Napoleon, at, and
after, the battle of Auftertz, has affirmed the
character OF a military Quixote, and appears
difpofed again to put his fortune upon the
chance of battle. 1t is not yet pofIibe to afcer-
tain what will be the pretcnces for the ap-
preaching war; for, TO fubnauiialcaufe, itisnot
expected, that there is any in exinencc, tho
it is eafy TO PREJUDICE that the Br.ilh policy and
influence have prevaed.-The King of Pruffia,
too, is in battle array--and the public prints
tell us that he is about to draw the fword and
try bis luck againit the victorious and hereto
fore unvincible fortune, Of Napoleon All yet rs
connected with doubt and uncertainty s. we
are, in this fate of things, tempted to ak a We
rY natural and plain queition. Is this the fame
King of Pruflia who food by, with his arms
folded, and patiently faw Napoleon deltroy the
pride of Auitria at Um and the glory OF Rufia
at Autcrlitz?
All who have impar,ialiy examined the itu-
alton of the Rufiian army, after the battle of
Auferlitz, and the then impending fate of the
Emperor Alexander, will either applaud Ma
poleon for his gererolity and clemency, or con-
denim him for the indifcreet confidence which
he gave to the perfonal honor of Alexander. 1t
is true, that Alexander was not actually pri-
foner of war, but fuch was the hclplefs and
diicomfitted lituation oehis army, that it was
not polfibie to have injured his own perfonal
efcape, much lefs the retreat Of his army, as
IT was deprived of cannon, of nsceharies, of
confidence, reduced by death and capture, and
difpirited by the fuddennefs of defeat. 1t de-
pended altogether upon the clemency of the
victor, TO fay what fate fhould be decrerd to
them.-ADd what fate was decreed ?--Were
they maiiacred No--Werc they expofcd
to military deftru6tion No-Were they
compelled to furrender at difcreton? No
Were they degraded by hard and difhonorable
terms Far different was the conduct of the
victorious Napoleon. He was deiirous to make
4 generous imPreion upon the mind of Alex
ander, and therefore permitted him, with the
remains OF his army, to return to their own
country. Yes, this was his conduit, at a time,
when, infead of marching into their own coun-
try, he could have compelled this mighty Ruff
fan holt to march into the interior of France
Ard, thus he could have added fpendor to his
achievements by expoGng the emperor of the
Rufiians as his captive. Not 70 was the mag
unanimous conduct of Napoleon And mark the
ungrateful return
What iecurity, faid Alexander to General
SaVdry, ihall give for the performance of thefe
premIies None, replied the other: The En-
Peror Napoleon aiks only your word. l give
IT, replied Acknowledgement movable is about to
give RrikiRg proof of Rufiian infidelty and
ngratitudc. The fame folders who were thus
liberated and permitted TO return TO their coun
try---the fame Alexander, who owes life, loer-
ty and empire to the clemency of his conquer
or, are about to be employed for the disturbance
OF him, 10 whom they owe every thing, and if
they can, to the deftruetion of their benefae tor.
But what can Alexander do? Nothing,
without the aid of Pru!iia and Auftria. Ought
either of thete powers to enter into quarrel
with Napoleon becaufe Alexander is either
tathleis or ungrateful ? Does not Anftria re-
member that The loft every thing at Ulm and
AulterlitZ--that it was eafy for Napoleon to
have given new dehiny TO that whole en-
pre- And is it likely that the Emperor of
Auftria will fake all that remains-knowinp
how much he owes to the clemency of his con-
queror, againit the peace and fecurity of his
bencfactor?
Let us iuppof- that Francis has forgotten his
late diafters, and finds fufficient inducements
to engage in another war-what are his prof
poets Can he calculate, with the remains of
the fame troops, upon better fortune than, he
lately experienced: Will he forget that Ruff
Tia has been in the courfe of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for
more than century --that Poland was divided /:
Turkey was diiinembered by Catherine, and
that at this moment, Alexander is extending
his power and Empire into the heart of Alta, by
conquefts from the Shah of Periia /?
Francis furely cannot forget that it is the
fame Alexander, who now quarrels with Ma
poleou, who owes his perfonal liberty, AS well
as the preiervation of an immenfe army, to the
clemency of the fame Napoleon.
What madnefs then can tempt him to leo
pardiZe all that remains in a quarrel, the ilIue
of which will depend upon the talents and in
tegrity of one, who has proved himfeli equally
incapable of great deeds--or of generous and
grateful fentments
IF credit were given to the London accounts.
we ihould fuppofe that Napoleon is a moR in
tolerable opprcaor to the Houfe of Aufris,
and that he is now, by piece meal, regaining
all that he 70 lately acquired by war, and vo-
unfairly reitored. But another, and very diff
ierent view may be given to the future dsligns
of thele potcntates.
Aulria, it is true, has loft great deal nle
is entirely cut off from the German fea, from
the Rhine, and from all concerns in the affairs
of the German Empire. Indeed the German
Empire exits no more. Auaria is bounded by