The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-08-11
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.


There have been feveral rumors afioat, with
in thete few days, of important intelligence
from Europe, but we Cannot trace them to any
fource: one informed that there had been great
battle, between the grand armies, in which the
Ruiiians were defeated with immenfe lois an
other, that there had been no battle, but that
continental peace and armed neutrality had
been entered into.
Thefe rumors have arifen perhaps, from the
great probability of one or other of the events
having taken place. We have been for foms
time in expectation of hearing fomethng of the
kind, and think it will not be long before
we firall learn either the complete overtime W OF
the Ruiians, or their &C quiefcsnce in the terms
of the conqueror.
We iurprfed, indeed, to find any one
entertaining All expectation OF different ifiue.
The genius of the French chief, his Uniform
{uccefs, The force, enthuiafm & difcipine Of his
army, form ftrking contraf with the nexper-
enced emperor of Rufiia, the divifions among
his generals, the coDitant defeat of his army, &
their inferoity in enthuiiafm and di(cipline.-
i he numbers of the troops on either hde, we
put ont of the quettion and certainly every
advantage of pofi ion, refources and vigor are on
the fide of the French. The lofs of Dantzic,
and of all the actions undertaken for its relief,
NUT have infuied fprit OF confidence into
one army and proportionabiy depreiled the o.
fancss, would be fetting up the imperial crown
of Ruiiia as the prize, to the victor; there would
be no fubfequent action.
Since the battle of Eylau, Bonaparte has kept
his inmenie army in an enemy's country and
fupported by their means, but his inactivity has
been as fatal as his arms would have beeu-he
has had Ielfure TO engage Perfa and Turkey in
his cauie, he has brought thefe immenfe pow
ers upon the unde!ended polefiions of RuiIia,
and he has compelled the emperor of Rufiia To
remain in Poland looking on, inactive, and una.
bic either 10 fight the French or fuccour his pro-
vinces. re may remain inactive, he need not
nrke a blow, and the Turks will do every thing
for him hay Will lay waite the RuAian terri
tory, carry off IT'S inhabitants, aud reicaie from
allegiance the tribes of Tartars aud Others who
rejected the yoke of Gathering, and did not
change under her fuccehors. Madnefs alone
can have induced the emperor of Ruliia to com.
mence battle, and the probability is that Boz
Daparte will not feek one, for he can fecure all
he aims at without it. Whether thofe, who
murdered the father of Alexander, will have
influence enough to drive him to ruin, there is
no potiibility OF knowing, as they always claim
ed victory as Eyiau, they may demand ano-
ther appeal to arms, but If they lhould, the IT,
fue will not be doubtful Bonaparte appears to
have made every Arrangement of Kill and pru-
dence TO ecure iuccefs, and left Iitsle to chance
Befdes harralling Rufiia, without an effort,
Bonaparte has developed another Of his views
upon the north Of Europe, and upon England
lie RATED up a new power on the Baltic, in
the perion Of one of his generals he has laid
the foundation for an influence, which will be
fatal 10 England he has formed kingdom out
of the conquered territories of PrulIia, part of
Pomerauia, aud ancient Poland aud he has
feiZcd by force Of arms, the very territory
which Ruilia and PrufIia had partitioned from
the Poles. This new power will, from its iilu-
alton, neceharly become naval and CONNER
cial one it VIII comprehend the prncial of the
Hadce towns, and poGefS means and advsnta-
ges for commerce and !hip building, Of the at.
NOR coultqGence to France. Future events,
Indeed, viii alone deyelope the founduefs of the
policy, which hAs thus laid tie foundation for
40 great an Influence in The north, and for pac-
ing as it were French province on the yery
IpOt of all others to De dreaded by Britain.
The wiidon cf Denmark has preferred il
from the fate of PrulIia, and from forming 4
= part OF this new power; Szce4sH, VIC iufpctt
will loie her poll, ih1Ds ia Ponerania--if lhs
had been wife q, Denmark, fhe might moi cnly
have prefsryed them, but recovered Livorii
and the other territories wrened from her by
the Ruilan5. We had cxpeGted thai 10 Den
mari, would be added tuffi -lent territory TO en-.
crcofe her weight IN The north but lbe era
biiihmept Oi 4 new power IS preferred. As f,n
PsuhIa L - Cfectual.y at the mercy OF the con
qa.for; aud 1t viii Dsycr be recovered b. Pc
dsTi.; ~ B0aagT,S ia u Il.