Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-25
Virginia Argus.

WEDNESDAY. May IS, 1914.


o. We continue our observations upon the re-
cent interesting news from France.
The French revolution, after performing the
tour ofthe European continent, has returned Ia the
theatre of ITS commencement. "A system OF gov
ernmen', cone.ve,liy wise men, aud con oii1sC
by great talents, IS about 10 be tied b., and
unexpected political shock. What cause has Jro't
to so important trial The invasion OF Spain
No The conquest of Prussial No. The inva-
sion OF Russia, No. All the losses which these
produced might have been surmounted, and tic
territory of France have stll remained uutrodtlen
BY a hostile foot. IL is the marriage of Napoleon
with daughter Of the house OF Austria, that has
occasioncd this last aud terrible misfortune 10 the
French empire We do not in this, follow tho hui
NOR OF Mr.. Cobbett, and a'lelge that Bonaparte's
reverses have been the effect sf his matrimonial
connection with one of the old race of kings. His
abilities were sufficient TO overbalance the stupidity
which such alliance would introduce into his IA
miy. But this marriage induced mistaken conf
dence in the emperor of Austria, without which
Napoleon would never have ventured on his Rus
sian campaign. That confidence, so misplaced,
now threatens to be personally fatal to him. We
have seem that after his return from Russia, whst
Austria remained neutral, Bonaparte easily made
head against the batiaons of Prussia aud Russia.
The battles OF Lu,zcn aud Bautzeu sufficiently
test this tact. Too much confidence 10 the
egn OF Austria, therefore, produced by the family
oonnexion, has been the true cause OF all the Gala
mites which Napoleon has experienced, and which
France herself is still likely to experience. A
| midst adversely, however, this extraordinary man
still attracts admiration. It's at this moment that
his individual qualities fix attention more than
ever. His empire invaded aud desolated in three
frontiers-from the side of Spain, of Italy, and of
eermany-his capital taken, rival family OF high
ancestry and with legitimate royal claims TO the
throne arrayed against him, Generals whom he had
| raised to kingdoms anil principaltes opposing him
in arms, and his life sought with deadly luminosity
and mplacabie thirst of,eyenge BY the government
Of Great Britain under all these disadvantages aud
pers, he sustans the reputation OF great Captain
and appears the hero OF France Environed by
more difficulties than Frederick the Great of Plus
sis ever was, and combating them mt the head of
armies, composed. in great measure, of
t, Al he tails IN the sanguinary conflict, sword in
hand, he will nave fulfilled the expectations Of the
| world. and have died with great consistency of
| character. So far from being disheartened, il row
appears that he treated with disdain the attempts
OF the allies to disiionor him at Chatilion. Faith
tul to his friends he insisted the Kingdom of tia
~ Tor eugene Beauharnois This young prince, son
OF the divorced Josephine, in the most critical and
alarming circumstances, has displayed the highest
lmasaanimity. Bonaparte, moreover, would not
yield the natural limits OF France OH the Rhine and
even insisted on the line of the Waai which branch
es on southwardly from the Rhine, and would ena-
| BILE him to ovcr-awe Holland. In the refusal to
him OF the line Of the WAL, and in the demand by
the allies the surrender OF Antwerp, may be per-
ceived the genius and policy Of the British minis.
ter Castereagh and OF has government. 1t is known
that marriage IS contemplated between the prin-
cess Charlotte, heess, alter the Prince Regent, TO
the English throne, and the son OF the Prince of
| Orange. IL has seen generally considered that the
shutting up OF the Scieidt, and the occlusion of
/ commerce ct Antwerp, 10 ccessary TO tho prospe
rity OF Holland When Philip ~. of Spain ac.
knowledsed the independence Of that country in
io47, he ceded the sovereignty of the Seheldt, and
stipulated that no large ship should go TO Antwerp,
hut should unlade IN Holland. In the wear I785
he emperor OF Germany, Joseph Ii. quest toned the
Validity ~ this s,rdlstnn in practical manner
tltc Dutch resstetl, and would have ensued
\ All ON ls.s4a
Dutch have made atonc,hent. Antwerp fell into
tho hands of the French in 1899, when they OPEN
Cd the navigation OF the SeheIdt, and the British
made that act the principal ostensibIe cause of de
claring war against France in 1898, although the
true reason was the pregres. of the of the
French revolution. In the union contemplated be-
ween the English princess and the Stockholders
on, Great Britain no doubt foresees nm ultimate
union between the two countries, and from that
view OF things is led TO regard the Interests of Ho
land as IL they were her own The same views
penetrated by Napoleon, would naturally induce
him to insist I'm the sovereignty of the ScheIdt and
the line of the WAL. In doing so he certainly con-
suited the future welfare of France; and every re-
hectng FrencIman will see his conduct in that
light. In addition, the London papers assert that
| he demanded indemnities for his brothers Josepb
/ Louis, aud Jerome; which is proof either that
he suspected that the Allies were triing with him.
that he is resolved to perish nobly on the field OF
battle rather than allow his family to be disgraced,
or that he Ens the greatest confidence in his re-
sources and in the attachment of the French peo-
| pie. In either case, he will have acted like man
| Of spirit; deserving, f not meeting with success
| We confess that we have hitherto considered Bo.
| napartc more as the active enemy OF England, and
| the formidable opposer Of her schemes of uniyer-
| sal commercial monopoly, than as the mere soyer-
| eign of France We have felt for the man and for
| his fortunes, nothing more than a w;sl, that he
might so far prosper as TO succeed IN carbing the
exorbitant power OF nation, which had offered so
many insults and done so much injury to citizens of
| the Uniled States and their properly. But nors
| NOW, we frankly owB, that look at him in
| much more interesting point OF view. We regard
him as a great military chief, fighting for the indie
pendence and reasonable rights of his empire--snj
as early obstacle which stands in the way Of Great
Britain to the accomplishments by the corruption of
gold or the force of arms, of universal dominion
Tho prospect is frightfuI--and il is impossible for
the American patriot, whilst he waits to ascertain
the current OF destiny, rot 10 be filed with fearful
approximations for the future condition OF the world
IL rs some consolation 70 know, that the Rour-
bon9 have not met with that rBanmity IN the south
OF France, which can alone insure their success
Already the compottcrs OF revolution lave
divided in opinion and separated. This incipient
distraction is but foretas,c OF what the French
will experience il the Bonapartean dynasty is put
aside: Civil war, assassviations, and rivers OF
blood, viii DC the sad and awful consequences of
such nm event. II is only by adhering to Napoleon
that France avert such heart-rcnd ny vsitati-
ons. Perhaps the emperor of Austria may yet hold
his hand iroai the final act OF destruction to hiss
{ son-in-laY. But, the more we reflect upon the
conduct Of that monarch, the less reliance we have
, on his political wisdom. tie appears 20 be indeci
siye aud imbeciie and is, perhaps, swayed by his
ministers, who most Undoubtedly paid by Eng
. / land ff,I lead their IN IN We