The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-04


Russia, which resulted from the rccollecM-
OH oftormcr friendship, and from confidence
interrupted but not DESTROYED.
he Declaration of the Emperor of Russia
proves that the OBJECT Of his Malestv's for
bearance and moderation has been attained
1t proves, unhappiiy, that the influence OF
that Power, which isequally and essentially
the enemy both of G.. Britain and Russia, has
acquired decided ascendancy in the coun-
ellis of the Cabinet of St Petersburgh, and
has been able tocxcite a causeless enmitv be-
tween two nations whose ng-established
connexion, and whose mutual interests pre-
sci1bed, the most Intimate union and coo
peration.
MS majesty deeply lamepts the extension
OF thc'calamities of war. But called upon. as
he is, to defend himself against an act of I'M
provoked hostility, his Majesty is anxious to
riefute, in the face of the world, the pretext
Dy which that act is attempted to be iusti-
fed.
The Declaration asserts that his Majesty
the Emperor OF Russia has twice taken up
arms IN cause, in which the interest of q:
britain was more direct than his own: and
POUNDS upon this assertion the charge against
Great Britain of having neglected to second
anu support the military operations of Rus
STA.
HIS Majesty willingly does Justice to the
motives which originally engaged Russia in
the great struggle against France. H. NJ.
AVON with equal readiness the interest which
". Sr1taln has uniformly taken in the fatcs
and tortrnesof the Powers of the Continent.
But 1t would surely be difficult to prove that
U. Britain, who was herself III a state of hos
tiiity with Prussia, when the war broke ont
between Prussia and France, had an interest
ana duty more direct in espdusing the Prus-
sian quarrel, than the Emperor of Russia {:
the Ally OF his Prussian Majesty, the Pro-
tector OF the North of Europe, and the Qua
rantee OF the Gernanic Constitution.
1t is not a public Declaration, that his Ma
Jesty can discuss the policy of having at anv
particular period of the war, effected or omit
ted to effect, disembarkations Of troops on the
Coasts OF Naples. But the instance of the
war with the Porte is still more singuiarly
chosen 70 illustrate the charge against G.
Britain of Indifference to the interests other
Ally; a war undertaken by Great Britain at
the Instigation of Russia, and solely for the
purpose OF maintaining Russian interest "a
Salnst the lnflGcnce of France.
II, however, the Peace of 'Tilsit, is, indeed,
to be considered as the consequence and the
punishment of the imputed inactivity of G..
britain, his Majesty cannot but regret that
the Emperor of Russia should have resorted
20 So Pfecipitatc and fatal q measure, at the
moment when he had received distinct as
surances that his Majesty was making the
most strenuous eXertions to fulfil the wishes
and expectations of his Ally ASSURANCES
which HRS Imperial Majesty received and &C
kno@iedged with apparent confidence and
satisfactorily and when his Majesty was,
IN tact, prepared to employ for the advance
ment OF the common object of the war, those
forces which, after the Peace of Tilsit. he
was under the necessity of employing to dis
concert combination directed against his
own immediate interests and security.
The vexation of Russian commerce by c..
Britain is, in truth, little more than an ina
sinary grievance. Upon diligent exami-
nation, made by his Maesty's command, of
the Records of the British Court of Admiral
~, there has been discovered only solita-
ry instance, in the course of the present war,
oil the condemnation of a vessel, really Rus
sian: vessel which had carried naval stores
to port of the Common Enemy. There arc
but few instances of Russian vessels detain-
ed. and none in which Justice has been re-
fused to party regularly complaining of
such detention. X is therefore matter of sur
prise as well as of concern to his Majesty,
that the Emperor of Russia should have
condescended to bring forward a complain.
which, as it cannot be seriously felt by those
Iii whose behalf it is urged, might appear to
be intended 20 countenance those eXaggerat-
ed declarations, by which France persever-
ingly endeavors TO inhame the jealousy of O.
Their countries, and to justify her own inve-
terate luminosity against G. Britain.
The Peace of Iilsit was followed by an
cficr of Mediation on the part of the Empe-
Tor OF Russia, for the conclusion of Peace
between Great Britain and France, which it
is asserted that his Majesty refused
His Majesty did not refuse the mediation
OF the Emperor of Russia although the of
fer of it was accompanied by crcum stances
Ct concealment which might well have justi-
hed his refusal. The Articles of the Treaty
OF Tilsit were not communicated to his Ma
jesty: and specifically that Article of the
Treaty, in virtue of which the mediation
was proposed; and which prescribed a Ii
mlted time for the return of his Maiestv's
answer to that proposal. And his Majesty
was thus led into an apparent compliance
with limitation SO offensive to the dignity
of an independent Sovereign But the an
swer so returned by his Majesty was not a
refusal. 1t was conditional acceptance
The conditions required by his Majesty were
IA statement of the basis upon which the
enemy were disposed to treat; and com
Tnunication ofthe Articles Of the Peace of Til
. sit.--ihc FIRST Of these conditions was pre-
cisely the same which the Emperor of Rus
STA had himself annexed not fouf months be-
tore to his own acceptance of the rroffered
mediation Of the Emperor of Austria. The
second was one which his Majesty would
have had right TO require even as the Al
" OF his Imperial Majesty buf which !,