Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-02
: Prom Mica Wtekiy Register.
Retrospect and Remarks
ON LATE EVENTS IN EUROPE.


only tie tight, but also the duty, OF the editor
OF periodical work, occasionally, 10 give his
own opsnion on things US they occur. And,
possibly, M tins there is more propriety than
some may slightly suppose as il promotes an
acquaiD, snce with his character, and enables
the reater to apprecia his pretensions to NOR
al and political truth ;-n- importantly of his sc.
1ections, and the honesty OF his design.
1t is now about IS or &c years since we began
TO look with wonder II the revolutions and chan
ges,of Europe. The great Kingdom of France,
grosnlng under the unted expressions of the
church and state the people being. in truth Gas
Engilshmen then delighted TO Call them) ma.
ttou of slxyes--vex ed with every abuse that an
incompetent monarchy, owe rgrowa arr stocracy,
and panpered priesthood could iGiict ON a ger
nervous population, reused herself to correct the
evils OF the government, and establish constr
tutm3 that should secure some of the natural
rights of The people, 10 " life, liberty and the
pursuit dkhappiness-" But sooner did the
work of Reformation begin, than treason within
AID danger without, excited the worst passions
ard brought about The most unhappy effects
Wine confederaied kings preseedoa every side
to CHECK the reformation, the base conduct of
mary oil her citizens provoked revelation,
mor, formidable III its operations and more IS"
tonisliing in ns effects than any that history
cords. Ihase always BELIEVED, and vet believe,
ces ami priests against liberty, that the refor-
nation OF The French government had been COM
pleted without revolution; the line of the Bour-
boss retaining the throne ; and Bpnaparte, pos
sib'y, at thus time have been major or col. of
artillery in their service, unknown beyond the
little circle OF his duties. For, at the head OF
affairs at the beginning, were some ofthe grea-
test and best men in France their object WIS.,
to alter not To destroy and they would have
dot hut fnr he IF nod
heads to keep down the spirit o. reform, and
still grind the face of the poor--.hey leagued
TO partition France-they leagued to exiinguish
treedom--tliey r. ised up power that paid them
in their ownIneasure thai justified his rspine
and conquest by the rules they had laid dowa
tor themselves in regard TO France, subdued
b. their nercanaries How great the Pity,
that Tie wrstches who caused all the distresses
OF Europe fer the last 25 years Gas connected
WI Ii tlie Ftegch rsvc,i;tIon) could not them
selves have borne the miseries they brought
upon the people
The mild spirit Of reform thus checked by
power and thwaried by intrigue, burst into re-
volt broke down al the r2mparts of the
church and state beheaded the king and slew
tie priests. The bonds OF society were dis
solved il III: fury of the times--and, while
with one hand, the French buried DESTRUCTION
on tseir foreign foes, they tiger-iise de.pered
prescription & death was the order oI the day
accusation grew into conviction and 10 sup
pose man capable of>a crime was TO lead him
to the block Wearied with anarchy and worn
out by contention, a military adyenturer seizes
the reiiis of tie governmon-he dashes tie
constitution and laws under his feet, or makes
new ones at his will-he becomes consul, con-
sui for life, emperor of France and king of ita-
ly.-All Germany, all Italy, Holland, Prussia,
&pI Il Grr rart. Lore E.et u
vided and disposed ofas the governments Of
those countries had designed 10 have partition
ed France. The tricolored flag Roaed tri-
umphant at Lisbon aud Warsaw Madrid and
Vienna Naples and Berlin; Rome and
Amsterdam. The changes of the state of soci-
ETY. effected by Nimfod, Semifamis or Alexan-
der, or the conquests of Greece and Rome,
with the decline Il fall of their several empires,
produced no incidents more astonishing than
what has happened by the coneuests and fall
OF Napoleon BonaParte---a MAJ whose cliarac-
ter 1t would require volume to describe.
The events that drove him from the throne
belong to history, and are too we'll known at
preseDt to need much remark suffice it to OBJ
serve, That while the power at arms brought
against hun was supetior to any thing that Eu-
rope had beheld since the invasion CT the Per-
sians, the intrigue, treason and corruption of
those in whom lac confde,, was more elHcaci-
GUS to his ruin. Time viii discover the true
cacse OF his falkland Whatever history may cay
Of him, it viii heap iiifamy ON the heads Of those
he had cherished and loaded with riches and
honours, vino deserted him in the hour of peril
We may love the treason but must hate the
traitor.
In this stormy season, Great Britain has ex-
Inhibited phenomena pct less surprising than
France herself produced. We have seen her,
nv at ...,.th
oil Europe, except France She seemed willing
10 ransack the dominions of Satan himself for
support. The cross OF st George and the eres-
lcent of Mahomnet--the British bayonet and
1.-The savage scalping knife, were united to pre-
erye :" the religion and liberties Of the world %
nan stealer and pirate, she filed all cou,.
with intrigues and crimes. With the same
IN to rule at sea that Napoleon aimed ~
land, she pursued it with equal rapacity
Hsss u6iig ontragcs the most violent, or
\3eliberate, she swept off the
DReighbors, and claime1
.egulate at her will,
nIbpt3yies or Deepen.
- 4. Her sci
Ete e,,