Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-14
REFLECTIONS ON THE AUSTRIAN
WAR.


published, it appears that the sceptre
lot Austria is broken to pieces and
that period has been put to the
greatness OF the house of Lorraine !:
that her armies have been slaughtered
and Dispersed; and that Bonaparte
had only to appear to ensure victory.
When we reject on the thousands
slain and the privations and niseries
that are consequent even upon neces-
lsary wars, how great reason have we
ito rejoice in our situation, which ex-
lenpts US from the calamit,es OF victo-
ries and defeats, wherein perish num-
tbers that equal the population of one
iof our states
Until the middle Of the last century,
the house of Austria was considered
as the natural barrier Of Europe against
the Turk on the one side, and the am
bition OF France on the other. Whilst
the inSuencc of the house OF Bourbon
extended from the Rhine to the south
ern extremities of Naples and Spain !;
England and the princes of the north
were generally In alliance with Aus
ltria. R:chlieu was the first who had
the address to attach Sweden to the
Interests of his country, and thus pro-
mote a diversion on the northern IRON
tier of the empire. Russia and Prus-
STA hitherto were considered below the
rank of secondary powers; but now
their physical resources became MANI
fest, and they were called into action
on the theatre of Europe: and Pros
STA and the empire OF the north became
successful opponents Of Austria.
! Yet Austria had never found herself
SO powerful as after the peace of Her
lbertsburg in 1868. She had gained the
lsHections of her subjects ia Hungary
and Bohemia and towards the close.
Iol the war of '56, her arms had been
every where victorious. The natural
resources OF the empire were in them
lselyes the greatest In Europe but
these from the perpexed and discor.
Iant principles OF the Cermanic consti-
ltution, could seldom be called into ac.
zion. From the numberof petty prin-
ces who composed the Germanic body,
and their separate interests, foreign
courts had always an opportunity OF
Poteriering in its councils, OF retardinp
their operation, and sometimes of rem.
dering them entirely abortive. q per.
son from calculating the numbers Of it,
subjects and from review of the mi.
!: litary levies OF its dies, might be indu.
ced TO think highly of its political
t strength. But this consisted solely
in appearance Ike the dropsical man
1t had the body oil q giant, with the fee
; bleness OF a child. Its existence there
fore essentially depended upon opini
on for its projection: IN the hopes anc
venerstIon Of the electors for the i'm
perIal dignity. And causes arose
shortly after, which blasted the ina j
ence OF those prejudices and prepared
the way for It's present state Of humi
, liation.
] The treaty Of the partition Of POLAND
in i772 between Austria, Prussia ant
Russia, first opened the eyes of tn,
princes OF the empire and Of Europe
}, That the three greatest powers OF tn,
world should agree to lay aside thei
, mutual jealousies < take advantages o
the internal connections of neigh
/. boring power which was their ally
was phenomenon that never had beer
before exhibited in the history of 30
,, litics. An appearance of justice is ne
cessary to be observed in the transac
lions of princes with each other: an,
this is the reason of those hollow ma
niiestoes that every day issue from
the cabinets of Europe. To give thes
effects, some shadow ofright is requir
ed, to blind the eyes of their subjects
OF whom few have leisure, aud fewe
still have capacity to see through tn
lelusion but when in open violation
oftreaties and the most solemn assur
noes, the courts of Vienna, Peters
Jurg and Berlin, sent their armies in
0 Poland there was no prince or cleo
OF OF the empire who had not cause 4
read that his dominions must success
rvely fall sacrifice to that ambition