The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-02
LONDON, Dec. d.

1Hc OeCtWHtION 81 the emperor OF RskSSTd~.-
1t cont;nAs an exposition of every thing but the
real motives of the war with Great Blitain-viz
that Bonaparte had promised 10 assist Russia in
her views against Turkey, if she went to war
with this country. The declaration sets out with
with complaining OF the conduct of the late mi
nisters-of their apathy and supneness-of their
having neglected to make any diversion in favour
OF the Russian and Prussian troops in Poland
OF their having made an attack upon Egypt, in
stead OF having thrown troops into Naples.-Itis
certainly impossible to defend the conduct OF the
late ministers; 1t was most detestable. But we
cannot see upon what grounds the emperor of
Russia considers the cause, for which he took up
arms, more our own than his--he held different
language when he entered into the war with
France. But he has offered to mediate peace
tor us, and we rejected his mediation-that is,
we did not choose TO coniide ourintcrests TO
power, which possessed none of the qualities of
mediator, which had Just accepted part of the
spoils OF her own ally, and having herself solicit
ed the mediation or our enemy to re-establish
peace between her and Turkey, would of course
nave endeavored to propiuate France by the So
crItce OF the interests OF Great-Brtain who had
invested her with the Office Of mediator. But
what Just cause of does this refusal of the
Russian mediation give the emperor Alexander /?
we were precisely to accept or reject it we
thought proper; and a power which makes the
rejection OF her offer OF mediation, ground of
war, only proves to that she would not have con-
ducoed herself with the impartiality that ought
to be the chief characteristic Of mediator The
emperor of Russia himself thus affords usti-
tication OF our conduct III having refused his me-
diation.
Next comes our attack upon Denmark, and
because that IS made 50 prominent charge -
gainst us, the opposition consider the declarati-
on as having verified the statement which tRc,
gave yesterday, and which we arra;gned-and
how does it verify it } No man imagined that
Russia would not, i'll any declarations he publish
ed, state the expedition TO Denmark one OF the
grounds ct war-but We stated, and we state a.
gam, that our conduct TO Denmark is not the re-
Al cause OF the WAL, that Russia would nave gone
to war, whether we had seized the Danish iieet
or not. But how is this opposition statement We
rifSd with respect to Spain ! Our conduct to
Spain was said to have been another cause OF the
dlspteasure OF the emperor of kussIa---but not
word Is sad ag,"St us III the declaration on ac-
count OF our seizure OF the Spanish frgatcs and
yet the declaration seems very careidlly and in.
dusu1ousiy To have collected and concentrated G.
very possible ground of charge and attack
Alter having expressed great Indignation at our
having offered peace TO Denmark under the guar
antce, "a strange cause for Indignation the en-
peror gives RAPID sketch OF the policy which ne
means TO adopt towards us.--There are to be
ynencetorth no relations between the two coun-
tI1es--the emperor abrogates " for every act
hitherto concluded between Great Britain and
III 1901" s. He proclams anew the principles
OF the armed neutrality, that monument OF the
wisdom OF the empress CaC1arIne, and binds him-
self never to recede from that syste m."-Fhe
wisdom Of the empress Catharinel would her
wisdom have threwn her into the arms OF France,
and made her the tool and engine OF the yenge-
ance of Bonaparte would she have made Pc
tersburgh department. of the French empire
the emperor has indeed pronounced his determi-
nation to carry on lntermnabie war against us -
for neyer-no, never can Creat-Bri recognize
those principles from which Sc his imperial ma
Jesty binds himself never to rccede."
His Imperial majesty expects that his Britannia
majesty Will conclude peace with France and
"wien nc shall be satisfied upon all these points,
especially upon that Ola peace between France
and England, his Imperial majesty Will then
willingly return TO tile relations OF amjty with
Great Britain."-Here is an open declaration tliat
the Emperor Alexander has made common cause
with France, dat he llnot return 10 the reati-
ons of family with us, till we have made mari
time peace with France, upon the terms which
BOnaparte has publicly avowod--a peace which
the emperor Alexander declares shall confirm and
establish the principles Of the armed neutrality
peace which BOnapaTtc declares shall restore
the freedom ofthe seas in other words, which
shall ann fatal blow at our naval sovereignty,
and surrender US up TO the views & Vaccinations
Of France. Never! Never can such peace be
made by Great Britain while Sic has ship or a
seamen to navigate the ocean. No---though the
whole continent IS against us, from north TO south,
from east to west-fTom the North Pole TO the
Mediterranesn-thOugh population of fourteen
millions must contend with population of one
hundred millions--No, never can we accept peace
ipon such terms. The very idea of them will
arm all hands, and nerve all hear,s.-The quests
on is new, whether we shall continue the war to
preserve the sovereignty OF the seas, upon which
HI =. ..r Ios,