Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-14
liz i-2 Gents Singled

men. When by draugi,is from the
! northern frontiers OF france, replaced
by the CONSUMPTION of the last year,
and by troops from Spain, France sin.
gle handed, could bring greater num-
Der into the field, what probable hopes
could she have lett OF success
The Germans at best are slow in
! their movements, and from an heredi-
,tary phlcgm and sullenness of temper,
arc unfit to oppose the inpetuosity OF
the French. With the latter, they
have nothing comparable except their
hungarian cavalry and artillcr, men:
both of which are said To be superior
20 those of the French. But in these
Austria must have suffered severely in
The late wars and as both artillery.
men and horse require the longest
time III their formation and discipline
IL THIS campaign she could by no means
draw mierrnces from the past, in any
manner, applicable to her present mi
lltary situation. In the war of '56.
when the acquisi ,Ior OF campaign
was the taking of town, q corps of
skillful engineers might give tempo
,rary superiority to one oenigrrent over
the other but &C this day, when bat.
ties are won by the light artillery and
the bayonet, when the enemy's forces
are already destroyed, and there is no
army Ill the lield tor the relief OF torti.
fed towns, the conqueror is sure to
hnd towns nothing bul traps TO secure
his enemies.
1t appears $50 that the campaign
was not conducted on the prin, iples of
sound policy. Sixteen years war should
have taught Austria the impoiicy of ag.
gressive efforts that by pitched bat
ties, her armies had be- en- des,royed
that it was only by aching on the uefen-
aivc she could form soldiers, have an
opportunity of disuniting the princes
OF the confederation OF the Rhine, and
finally conquer by delay. Thus, by
giving employment to the arms of
france, she would promote the effects
OF a powerful diversion in Spain; and
lby retarding conqueror used 10 COM
quer at blow; aud by giving him
employment az the two extrelnilies of
AS empire; she might be prepared TO
make use OF any OF the advantages of
fortune.
The attachment Of the soldiers Of
France to Napoleon, is founded in cneir
! admiration OF MS great talents and for
tune and the moment that fortune APP
lpearcd co abandon him that moment
these admirers would have asaDdoned
him also bun the generals Of Austria,
& by pitched battles, have given nm an
opportunity OF gathering fresh iauI els
and have mus only served to coplrm
that authority they would have SUBJ
verted.
| But it is worth the inquiry 10 deve-
lope what were the causes that inf,a.
! enced the cabinet of Vienna TO a mea.
sure, in which she could have little
hopes OF succeeding, and strong sppre.
tensions OF miscarrying. b. peace.
an extensive territory must have aug.
mented her strength both by increas.
ing population and increasing wealth.
The present diversion in Spain could
by no means counterbalance the aug
incubation oil power which she must have
gained by a few years of tranquility
and as the power oil Bonaparte is evil
dently consequent upon his talents and
personal efforts, when the chances a,
gaiDst long life are so many and NJ.
thing could be los, but something
might be gained by Procrastination {:
even though she should at last be obi.
. ged to contend for existence, it would
: have been wise to have protracted the
struggle TO the latest possible moment.
The court OF St. James have sacri j.
; feed successively the different princes
OF Europe to her ambition SAVOY.
Tuscany, Naples, Prussia and Aus
tria. With fresh hopes she has form.
ed new alliances ADD granted fresh snb-
sides. by enormous taxation, She
has deprived the uohappy peasant in
Ireland and Indostar OF bread, to pay
for the armies that have been slaught.
cred on the Rhine, the Elbe, the Vis-
tulS and tho Danube. The blood of