The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-07
REVIEW OF HISTORY, &c, 81.

The So 0ad period opens with the question Oh "o
Austrian succession which gave rise TO the oontinen-
lsl war of 740 OH the death of The emperor Charles
Vi, and 10 the years war; 10 which fnEDthiok'
called the great, acting in fragrant contradiction 10
the Just aud benevolent maxims he had so ably eA-
pounded in bis .1ni-naohiapei, finally succeeded III
stripping Austria OF OF her farest provinces, and
ad vanced Prussia to the rank Of first rate European
power Among the public jursts of this period, The
author enumerates the German philosopher Wolf,
" the slumber of whose once celebrated work, IN
nine pondorous tones, probably not now often dis
turbed by the student Of public law, all that Is
really valuable in its contents has been incorporated
into the lighter and elegant treatise Of VArrEL,
dlfuse unseienli6c and superficial, but clear and
beral writer, whose work still maintains its place as
the most convenient abridgement OF branch oil
know ledge which calls for the skill o new builder
This work, whatever may be its defects, must ever
be priced, like the treatise Of Beccaria on Grimes
and Punshments, as having first thrown clear and
steady light upon the respective sciences oil which
they treat But the most accomplished public Jurht
of this period, according TO Mr.. W., was BYsKER-
Shock, whose treases the laws Of war and on
the rights of ambassadors are, in his opinion, above
all praise. Holland, which had laid the foundations
OF this science under Grotus, who united the cha
pher, is also entitled to the credit of completing the
structure under the greatest Of her civilians, Bynker-
shock. Our author here resumes his historical de-
duction OF the progress Of the maritime law Of ma
lions, and gives full account of the celebrated con-
roversy between Great Britain and Prussia respect
ing the Silesa loan, which gave occasion for the
sertion by Frederick H. Of those principles of
trail navigation and commerce which subsequently,
formed the groundwork of the Armed Neutrality Of
the northern powers during the war Of the American
Revolution He then reviews the history of the
rights Of embassy, going back to the essay of Abe
RUS Gentlis' de Lsgatonibus, and concluding with
minute analysis OF Bynkershoek's treatise de Foro
Legaiorum. This period is closed by notice of the
well meant but visionary project of the Able de St
Pierre for realizing the phianthropic dream Of per-
petua peace, which he, by sort Of pous fraud, at
ribued Henry w. and his minister Suly, the real
object of whose policy the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
France at the expense of the house Of Austria. This
project afterwards CLOSED by the eloquence
of ROUSSEAU, and republished in l76l, under the
modest title Of Extracts from the Project of Per-
petua Peace, by the Able St PIERRE" but which is
strongly marked with the seal Of the original and Pc
culiar genius or the Genevan philosopher.
The third period opens with what the author justly
terms the most fragrant violation of the principles
I of natural justice and public law which has
red since Europe emerged from baIbarsm, the
first partition of Poland in l772. Not that this trans
action the earliest example Of similar attempts
in the his ory Of modern Europe 10 dismember great
State, and to divide its different people among the
neighboringpowers without regard to their welfare
wishes, Charles II of Spain had seen the domlni-
ons of the Spanish monarchy parceed out whilst
he was yet living, among those who coveted rich
possessions and il was resentment for this audacious
act, which induced him make will IN favor Of the
Duke d'Anjou, leaving the entire inheritance 10 this
grand of Louis XIV similar attempt was
made after the death of Charles VI, Emperor Of
Germany, the last male descendant of the house Of
flapsburg, whose famous pragmatc sanction in
Of his daughter, Maria Theresa had been guaranteed
by nearly all the powers Of Europe. But these great
political crimes were consummaed. The Aus
tran and Spanish monsrchies survived these attempts
on their integrity. Circumstances connected with
the antecedent history OF Poland, the peculiar cha
racier of lis people, and the geographical position OF
that country with relation 10 the three great military
monarches, by which il was surrounded, favored
their designs against its independence THE perpe-
tralon of this great political crime was facilitated
says MIR w, "by the obstinate adherence Of the
Poles to the radical defects Of their national consti-
lution by their blind intolerance in religious matters
and iactious dissentons in political concerns" The
absurd and barbarous institution Of the Hbenm reio,
which legalized anarchy, could only be CT cckcd by
exercising the right OF confederation, which legal
ized rebellion These faults rendered them an easy
prey 10 the powerful military monarchies by which
they were surrounded but far from excusng this
original act Of violence, which has been consumma-
ted in times by the t,tal extinction Of Polish
independence John Casimir, the last King of Po-
land of the house Of Wasa predicted the consequent
ccs OF the internal dissensions by which the nation
was distracted IN his Time In speech addressed to
the National Dict in 1861 he said In tie midst of
our internal Discussions have TO fear the invasion
and disme mbernent of Tie republic. The Musco-
vites, God grant that may prove false prophe, y
will subdue the peop'e who speak their language the
Grand Duchy Of Luihuania, Great Poland, and Prrs-
STA, will fall into the hands Of the house of Brandon
burg; and Austria will not forget herself in the gen
eral devastation her share. will be Cracow and the
surrounding territory
1.-The time was come" continues MIR w, " when
lhese prophetic words were to be fulfilled Stanis-
laus Ponatowsky had been raised TO the throne OF
Poland, in l76i by the influence Of Catherine H. Of
Russia The non-Catholic subjects Of the Rpublic--
both Greeks aud Protestsnis-clamed her powerful
protection against the oppression Of the dominant
church. Frederick II. Of Prussia, who was then len
without single ally against his inveterate enemy,
the house of Austria, formed secret convention
with the Empress Of Russia, by which he engaged to
sustain her measures in favor Of the Confederation
which the dissidents had formed against the Nation
al Diet Prussian army occnniad pai--i, -'s a
uos,y -. aInancc was concluded in l768, between