The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-05-28
THE ENQUIRER.
RiCK-H0ND, Ju.4Y IS.
PEACE OR WAR?
ABROAD, AND AT HOME 4?


In times past when BOnaparte marched
at the head of the Ncteraa Troons of
France, when Coalitions were fooselv &c
men'ed aud ally fell after ally in rapid de-
tachments, when his designs were charac
teriSed by prudence in Council and velocity
in the field, it was easy for any one to be-
come a Prophet. Victory seemed chained
70 his car and he was the best Prophet
who predicted the most brilliant results to
tie campaigns Of France.
But the age OF prophecy has past. The
wonderful Revolutions, which have been
disclosed by the last eighteen months, ex
cite all our astonishment and battle all our
calculations. The French III Moscow--the
Russians in Paris !-Che Chieftain who
Conducted the mass Of Europe iato the
wilda Of Russia. is now chase into his own
country, and the crown of France totters on
ms brow !-Amidst these even:ful times
who will set up for prophet Who VIII
say to the Wheel of Fortune thus f.
shalt thou so and no farther ?" Who will
venture to predict, with any degrse of as
surdnce, what are the next tdipgs which
the hrst Eastern wind may wat. to our
shores !-lf the transactions &C Europe we're
indeed conducted by steady and invariabe
laws, the conclusion would not be so diff
cult 20 be surmiscd but when the very
ny OF bonaparte, &. therefore, Of France, -
divided in its purposes. when the Cabinet of
Austria is balancing between the size Of his
crown or the safety Of his head. the gloom
becomes tenfoid greater, and all before US is
doubt and conjecture.
We re eTve it for other politicians to
weave their rash and arrogant specutations /;
but for our own parts, we approach this nys
ferrous subject with humility and awe. Yet
we have our Impressions aud we shall state
them with candolr.
Ii boRsparte rests upon himself alone, his
sun OF glory is extjnguished. II the allies
remain firmly united against him, bis DIV =
nasty rs gone for ever. In thie respect, we
Judge OF the future from The past. We Judge
OF him IN the days OF his adversely by t'4c very
same rules which we applied u him in the
career of victory by the map. IN the ear
ly part of March he was at 7royes-to.
wards the close of it, we find him TO the
SOUTH OF Paris, excluded from his own ca
pitai by victorious enemy. In February
he is triumphant over Blucher-In March.
Butcher is reinforced by Winzingerode
whose united forces. are euabied to With
stand and to repel series The most vi
gorous cnsets on his part. : Re is foiled at
Laon and Corbouc--At Rheims indeed ne
prevails ever Gen. De Priest--but his tri,
umph IS unavaili1g all his efforts to keep
apart the corps vt Butcher and of Schwart-
zenburg are bafaed by their suheri1r nun.
beTs.--Against etthe1 cf them, ms Contests
are notwithstanding. the torrent becomes
+ Irresistible. The junction. is at length ac-
compshed and the first use, which they
make Of It, IS to march their iro Us trium-
phantlY TO Paris. IL then Bonaparte ha,
been unable to save his Capitol, With all
/ the inducements WHICH he has had 70 save
| 1t, how is it to be expected that hr zpW ex
pei them from is walls or that he Will b.
able 20 resist the rolling torrenti
Hut u 1t be sad, .hat France is still nm
sabdued though her metrop lis IS taken
that reinforce ments VIII rush to the camu O
her Emper or, sod s"ien thou,4nd swcrd
I will leap from their sCabbards 70 aVenVe'
the invasion os her Soil must be rccoi
lected, that there are considerable draw
backs to this fuHd Of reinforcement. 10
napar,e has enemies. I re White lille is 81
ready raised independently If these de
ducttns, the icUy IN mgsse IN many par,
OF arce IS kept down by the presence ,
ithe enemy. Few reniorcements eau reac
him FROM the south, as Bordeaux is in tn