The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-18
But isiit neeefIary to appeaito treaties to form

and had not France fpcrtcd with the fanctity of
an oath, the aet of anexamplcd defpotifm would
exafperate every mind. To deprive princes
who had never offended France and TO rcnder
them the vafals of others, themfelves the vafials
of the French government--to abolifh with a
'Eroke of the pen, contribution of thoufand
years duration-which long habit, the remem-
hsance of 70 many luxurious periods and 70 ma
nv various and mutHal relations, had rendered
dear to fuch a number of princes-which had
70 often been guaranteed by all the European
powers, and even by France hcrfelf-to lay con-
tributiors On the cities and towns in the midi
OF profound peace, and leave the new po!ieiiions
only an exhauftcd ikeleton--to abolifh this con.
ftitution without confulting the emperor of
Germany, from whom crown was wrcaed, or
Rsfia, 70 lately became the guarantee of the
German league, or PrufIia, interefed intimately
in that league thus arbitrarily dfiolved. Num-
bers of wars and continued victories have fome-
times produced great and remarkable cataltro-
Plies; but fuch an example in times of peace
was never before given to tue world.
The king commifieratcd the unfortunate
princes who fufered by thefe transactions but
he pitied not lefs thofe who had fuffered them
feves to be lured by the hope of gain and he
would reproach himief, ihould he increaie their
unhap2inefs by judging them with too great
feverity. Deluded by the reward of their COM
piiance probably forced to obey commands
which admitted of no oppofition, or, if fu?prifed
into content, fufiiciently puniihed BY their ac-
quistions, and by being reduced to a fate of
s=aalage, as harih and degrading as their reati-
ons were hoaorabic, they deterve not to be
treated by Germany with the utmoit rgour.-.
Perhaps, when the magnanmous nation TO
which they formerly belonged, aries around
them on every hde to contend for their indie
pendence, they may lilten to the voice of graft
tude and honor, and, at leaf, abhor their chains,
when they find they muft be famed with the
blood of their brethren.
1t was not enough that thefc defpotc acts
were Immediately injurious to Pruiiia. The en-
peror of France was intent on rendering them
feniibc to the perfon of the King in all his
itates. The .exifence of the Prince of Orange
was under the common guarantee of the two
powers for the king had acknowledged the
political changes in Holland only under this con-
dtion. For feveral years this prince had ex-
peeled that his claims, fecurcd By the mutual
POPULATIONS of Pruiia and France, -illoud DC fa-
tished. The Batavian republic had been willing
to enter in an accommodation, but the emperor
Napoleon forbade it. Neither the recollection
OF the circumhance, nor the confederation of the
ties Of blood which united his majcty TO the
prince, nor the declaration, twenty times re-
peated, that the king could not deftrt the rights
added to the heap of victims. He was the firlt
who was deprived of paternal property. Eight
days before, he had received from the emperor
aletter, condoing with him in the cultomary
forms, on the death of his father, and whining
him Joy on his unditarbed fuccelion to the
Rates of his houfe. None of thele circumitan-
ceS are unimportant each throws light on the
whole.
Cleves had been allotted to Prince Murat-
Scarcely become fovereign, he wiGsed iikcwifc
to he conqueror. HIS troops took potie iiion of
the Abbiesof Efien, Werden and Eften. under
the pretext that they appertained to the Dutchy
of Cleves, though they were entirely territories
newly acquired, and there was not the ihadow
of connex'on between them and the coded
province. Great labor was employed, in vain,
to give even color 10 this outrage.
Weiel was to belong to the new duke, not TO
the emperor Napoleon. The king had never re-
folved, TO give up the laft fortrefs on the Rhine
into the power of France. Without word
by way of explanation, Weiel was annexed to
French department..
The exiting fate of the Auarian monarchy,
and OF the Porte, had been mutually guaranteed.
The emperor Napoleon certainly wilhed that
Pruiiia ihouid be bound by this gu rantcc; for in
his bands it was an inerument which he might
employ as fuited bis politics, pretext for de-
manding facrificcs in a contcf which his amhi-
ton might occafon. re himfclf, however, did
not obicrye it longer than it contributed to his
intereit. Raguts, though under the protection
otthe Porte, was taken poGeiTon of by his
troops. Gradilka and Aquileta were wrefted
from Auitria, under nearly the fame pretexts
which had been employed when the French
feized the Three Abbies.
In all political proceedings it was natural
iy taken for granted, that the new States forrie
by France, were States in the proper fenGe of
the term, aud not French provinces But II con
the cabinet of St. Cloud only word to deprive
them of their independence. The appclla:ion
Tx Great EMPIRE, was invented, and that en-
pre was imD ediately iurrounded with ysffags
Thusthcre was no trace of the treaty left, and
Prniiia proceeded to flIut her ports againft Eng
land, and till conidered hcrfelf as having obi
cations to fulfil.
The emperor, az length, Informed HE maies-
ty that it was his pleafurc TO difolye the German
empire, and form confederation of the Rhine.
and be recommended TO the king to eftabll, a
fn1ilar confederation in the North of Germany.
This was according to his cuftomary policy A
policy which had long been crowned with fuc.
ceis; at the moment of the birthday of anv
nrw proJeet to throw out a lure TO thole courts
winch might occaGon difficulties in the exccu
ton OF iuch ptoject. The king adopted the idea
q idcb confederation, not that the advice he
received made the Leaf imprei1ion on him, bnt
becauie, IN fact, 1t was rendered necelIary by
circumstances; and becaufe, aft err the fuocefion
OF the Princes who had acceded to the confede-
I@,'0n OF tbe Kline, cloie union between tbofe