Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

ject of Prize concerns, and stated, that I had learnt, that Mr. Mant was about to make a publication respecting it.I now have that publication before me; and, from its contents, I am persuaded, that it must lead to serious investigation.-From this publication, it appears, that about five years ago (the publication being in point of dates very deficient), Captain Patrick Campbell commanded the Frigate, Unilé, and had also the command of a squadron of cruisers in the Adriatic, and that Mr. Thomas Mant was the surgeon of the Unité.

-It appears that Mr. Mant was sent to the town of Trieste by the Captain to manage the pecuniary matters, relating to prizes; and that the Captain has accused him, and perseveres in accusing him, of peculation, in that management. This charge the publication rebuts, and, as far as the proofs on one side can go, it does, I think, rebut the charge with success.But, this is far from being the most important branch of the subject, which, indeed, would not have required my notice of it, had it not been for that other branch of it, in which the public, in which the interest and honour of the nation, appear to me to be deeply concerned.To enter upon this important matter I must, however, have more room to spare than I have at present. I must, therefore, put it off till my next.

There can now remain no doubt as to the real character of the man, on whose eulogy I have been observing. If any thing were wanting to give to that character a finishing touch, it would be found in the fulsome, the disgusting, the loathsome, the nauseous adulation, which the Memoir says that this "noble-minded, this angelic" man paid to the Emperor of Russia and other princes, enemies of his country.-Reader, behold this man, who once slept on beds made of the colours wrenched from Russia and Austria and Prussia, by his valiant countrymen under his command, and urged on by the cry of liberty; behold this man, this Coriolanus of Grosbois, now ranged on the side of combined kings against the armies of his country, exclaiming, at the first interview with the Emperor of Russia: "Ah! my dear Svinine, what a man is "the Emperor! from this moment I have "contracted the sweet and sacred obligation "of sacrificing my life for that angel of "goodness;" behold this man, rebuking sharply a Russian General for calling the Emperor "the best of princes," instead of calling him "the best of men;" behold this man, this great captain of the republican revolution, who asserted his civism even when in the Temple, discovering, at first sight, in the mind of the Grand Duchess of Oldenburg (the Emperor's sister, I believe) "the Great Catherine her"self, with a genius that astonished and "with manners that captivated all who knew WHY ARE WE AT WAR WITH FRANCE? "her;" behold this man, who, while in This is a question which few people will be the Temple, told Napoleon, that he was at the trouble of asking, and which still vain enough to believe himself entitled to fewer are willing to investigate, even althe hatred and the revenge of England, re- though they could bring their minds to put ciprocating the compliments said to have it to themselves. I am not surprised at been paid him on his death bed by the this reluctance, when I consider how often Duke of Cumberland; to conclude, reader, the enemies of France have changed their behold this man, who owed his renown views, at least pretended to change them, and his fortune to the arms of his valiant respecting that devoted country. To enter countrymen, receiving, while in the ranks into an exposition of all the absurd projects, of the enemy, his death-blow from the and all the different plans laid down, from hands of those countrymen, and using his time to time by the Confederates, as nelast breath in dictating a letter of praise to cessary to be adopted by the French people, his new and "angel" of a sovereign!- before they would acknowledge their indeBehold him thus, for thus the Memoir re-pendence, is a task which I do not intend presents him to us; behold him thus, tak-to impose on myself. It is sufficient for ing into view all the foregoing facts, arguments, and conclusions, and then pronounce decidedly and aloud your judgment upon his conduct and character.

MR. MANT AND CAPT. CAMPBELL.-I, some weeks ago, noticed a very serious dispute, existing between these gentlemen, both resident at Southampton, on the sub

my present purpose to state, that these projects always appeared to me deserving of contempt, and that for the best of all reasons, namely, that France, the party whose interest was more deeply involved in these proposed arrangements than all the other States of Europe, was never consulted respecting them. In one view her importance was regarded by these

bosom of peace. But, no; France had declared herself free: her sons had ascended that proud eminence which nature gave them a right to ascend. This, in the eyes of their oppressors, was treason against their authority; was a crime of the deepest die, which could never be forgiven. Liberty, which had "marshalled her way to

States of sufficient magnitude to satisfy them that it would require the whole of their military strength to bring her to a compliance with their wishes; but, in another view, they would not allow that she deserved any consideration, when the questions came to be discussed,-Who were to be her rulers? What should be the limits of her territory?-But though" renovated France," after she had in vain I do not mean here to illustrate these topics; sought an asylum in other countries, was though I am disposed at present to spare assailed in France by the cry of the despot; these men the mortification, which a re- was here doomed to struggle for existence currence to them would occasion; I think against the united efforts of prejudice, of it may not be amniss to carry them back to superstition: against all which interest, the commencement of the war; and to which intrigue, and which the arm of place before their view a few of those cir- power were capable of accomplishing. cumstances connected with that eventful By a strange infatuation, millions of human period; many of which bear a strong re- beings, who assumed the name of freemen, semblance to the occurrences of the present gave their support to a cause, which its day, and cannot admit of an equivocal con- very partisans openly proclaimed to be instruction. In 1792, the affairs of France imical to the dearest rights of humanity; were at as low an ebb as they are now and actually sacrificed their lives for the represented to be, and then, as at this declared purpose of imposing slavery upon moment, her territory was invaded by the a whole nation born like themselves to be combined forces of Europe.- -A resem- free. It is a fact known to every man in the blance so very striking, naturally carries least acquainted with the history of France, the mind back to the early periods of the that its government previous to the revolu revolution; and if the causes of this simi- tion, was one of the most despotic in Eularity are impartially inquired into, we may rope; that, in contrasting it with the Briperhaps find that the motives which actuate tish constitution, no one hesitated to prothe conduct of the enemies of France in nounce it an absolute tyranny; and that the 1814, and those which influenced them in French people, who lived under it, were 1792, are not materially different. At the base and contemptible slaves. This was latter period, nothing was so much thought the opinion which universally prevailed of, nothing so lou ly talked of, and nothing among Englishmen; it was the theme of so earnestly wished for, as the destruction their public and private conversations; and of the revolutionists of France. The con- it formed the topic of animadversion in sternation, which an event that professed every publication which contained any alto carry with it so many terrors to the op- lusion to France. It cannot be supposed pressor; which promised emancipation to that this frequent recurrence to a subject so the enslaved, and ultimately to deliver distressing, proceeded from envy, or that Europe from the grasp of civil and religious any man who reflected upon it, could be so despotism, was well calculated to arouse destitute of all generous feelings as to wish from their lethargy those who felt interested this state of vassalage to be perpetuated. in the continuance of established systems. No; the sensation which universally preWhatever may be said of the enormities vailed, proceeded from the interest which which stained the early part of the French every one took in the degraded condition of Revolution, or of the extravagant views of the people of France, and from a sincere many of those who figured in that extraor- desire to assist them in liberating themselves dinary scene, it cannot now be denied that, from so disgraceful a bondage. Accordif the people of France had been left to ingly, the moment it was known here, themselves, the furor with which they that attempts at freedom were making in were then agitated, and which is, per France, the event was hailed by a vast haps, inseparable from great political majority of the people, and by many of convulsions, would have exhausted itself the higher ranks, as propitious to the hap and subsided into a calm; that all the blood-piness of nations. Frenchmen had done no shed, which has since desolated the earth, would have been prevented; and, instead of the torch of war blazing among civilized nations, mankind might have been universally cultivating the arts and sciences in the

more than had been done by Englishmen. The latter had accomplished, by revolu tionary means, the establishment of a constitution which imposed limits, and re strictions upon the power of the crown:

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

66

In

the former had established a limited mo- tection to the emigrants. Instead of comnarchy in France. What could be more plying with this request, he augmented his desirable, what more congenial with the armies on the frontiers of France, which wishes of the inhabitants of Britain? rendered it no longer doubtful that he meWe shall very soon, however, find that ditated an invasion of the country. a party existed in this country, who these circumstances the National Assembly were enemies to the rights of the peo- brought matters to an issue by a Declaraple; who censured all attempts at amelio- tion of War against Austria, in which, rating their condition. But as the fa- after enumerating her causes of complaint, vourable opinion entertained here of it was stated, "that the French nation, the French revolution, prevented its op"faithful to the principles of its constituposers for some time from declaring them- “tion, which forbid it every kind of conselves, let us direct our attention for a quest, and from arming against the liberty little to the conduct pursued by the coa- "of any people, is now arming only for its lesced powers. It has been already obIt has been already ob-" own freedom, its independence and its served, that an event of such magnitude as sovereignty." Had the Confederation the revolution in France, was well calcu- been disposed to admit the justice of the lated to alarm some other governments, principle, that no nation has a right to arm particularly those in its immediate vicinity. itself against the liberties of another people, Among these the Emperor of Germany was Louis the XVIth might yet have been alive; not the last who evinced his fears. Under the throne secured in the family of the pretence of maintaining the inviolability of Bourbons, and the war which has desolated the crown of France; dissatisfied with the Europe for more than twenty years, been restrictions imposed by the people upon the averted. But the Allied Sovereigns, forexercise of the sovereign power; stimulated getting that the happiness of a people alone by the clergy to insist for indemnity for the constitutes a monarch's greatness, regarded losses they had sustained by the new order the recognition of these principles as a new of things; and afraid lest the example of crime committed by France; and because France should have an effect upon his own the government which she had chosen for subjects; the head of the Electorate pre- herself, had resolved on defending her tervailed upon the German Princes to enterritory; this was held as a sufficient reason into his views, and to make common cause against France, for the purpose of restoring the ancient government. At the very moment this resolution was adopted, the French people were peaceably engaged in forming for themselves a constitution, in which the right of the Bourbons to continue the sovereignty was unequivocally recognized. Louis the XVIth had no doubt incurred the displeasure of his subjects by attempting to escape from France, a circumstance, considering the state of the public mind, no way calculated to remove the suspicions entertained by many, that he was in secret correspondence with the ene mies of his country, and approved of their measures. But the nation were willing to overlook this. Their earnest desire was to see their country restored to liberty; and although they had received innumerable and repeated insults from surrounding states, they were inclined to submit even to these injuries, rather than give up the advantages which they promised themselves in a state of liberty and of peace. The Confederation which had reared its formidable head against them, was, however, resolved to oppose this. Application had been made in vain to the Emperor of Germany to withdraw from the league, and refuse his pro

for inflicting the severest punishment that
could be devised on all who had patriotism
enough to give it their support. What in
every age of the world was esteemed the
highest virtue; what in this country was
so recently, and so strenuously recommend.
ed by our own government, by the senate,
and from the pulpit, as the first of duties;
the taking up arms to defend us from in-
vasion; was considered in the French peo-
ple a crime so enormous as to merit utter
extermination. This threat was conveyed to
the French nation, in a Manifesto of the Duke
of Brunswick, as Generalissimo of the Allied
Armies, dated Coblentz, 25th July, 1792.
As this extraordinary and celebrated docu.
ment serves more to lay open the views and
designs of the coalition than any other part
of their proceedings, and as I will after-
wards have frequent occasion to notice its
contents, I shall here give it at length, be
fore proceeding any farther in my remarks.

"Declaration of his Serene Highness the
reigning Duke of Brunswick and Lunen-
burgh, Commander of the Combined
Armies of their Majesties the Emperor
and the King of Prussia, addressed to
the Inhabitants of France.
"Their majesties the emperor and the

king of Prussia, having intrusted me with is with this view that I, the underwritten, the command of the combined armies, as-general commandant in chief of the two sembled on the frontiers of France, I think armies, do declare, it my duty to inform the inhabitants of that kingdom of the motives which have influenced the conduct of the two sovereigns, and of the principles by which they are guided.

"After arbitrarily suppressing the rights, and invading the possessions of the German princes in Alsace and Lorrain; after having disturbed and overthrown in the interior part of the kingdom all order and lawful government; after having been guilty of the most daring attacks, and having had recourse to the most violent measures, which are still daily renewed against the sacred person of the king, and against his august family-those who have seized on the reins of government have, at length, filled the measure of their guilt, by declaring an unjust war against his majesty the emperor, and by invading his provinces of the Low Countries. Some of the possessions belonging to the German empire have been equally exposed to the same oppression, and many others have only avoided the danger by yielding to the imperious threats of the domineering party and of their emissaries. His majesty the king of Prussia, united with his imperial majesty in the bands of the strictest defensive alliance, and as a preponderant member himself of the Germanic body, could not refuse marching to the assistance of his ally and of his coestates. It is under this double relation, that he undertakes the defence of that monarch and of Germany.

"To these high interests is added another important object, and which both the sovereigns have most cordially in view; which is, to put an end to that anarchy which prevails in the interior parts of France, to put a stop to the attacks made on the throne and the altar, to restore the king to his legitimate power, lo liberty, and to safely, of which he is now deprived, and to place him in such a situation, that he may exercise that legitimate authority to which he is entitled.

"1st, That, drawn into the present war by irresistible circumstances, the two allied courts have no other object in view than the welfare of France, without any pretence to enrich themselves by making conquests.

"2d, That they do not mean to meddle with the internal government of France, but that they simply intend to deliver the king, the queen, and the royal family, from their captivity, and to ensure to his most Christian majesty that safety which is necessary for his making, without danger and without obstacles, such convocations as he shall judge proper, and for endeavouring to ensure the welfare of his subjects, according to his promises, and to the utmost of his power.

"3dly, That the combined armies shall protect the towns, bourgs and villages, as well as the persons and property of all those who shall submit to the king; and that they will concur in the immediate restoration of order and police throughout all France.

"4thly, That the national guards are called upon to preserve, provisionally, tranquillity in towns and in the country, to provide for the personal safety and property of all Frenchmen until the arrival of the troops belonging to their imperial and royal majesties, or until orders be given to the contrary,-on pain of being personally responsible: that, on the contrary, such national guards as shall fight against the troops of the two allied courts, and who shall be taken with arms in their hands, shall be treated as enemies, and punished as rebels to their king, and as disturbers of the public peace.

66

5thly, That the general officers, the subalterns, and soldiers of the regular French troops, are equally called upon to return to their former allegiance, and to submit immediately to the king, their legitimate sovereign.

"6thly, That the members of departments, districts, and municipalities shall be equally responsible, on pain of losing their heads and estates, for their crimes, all the conflagrations, all the murders, and the pillage which they shall suffer to take place, and which they shall not have, in a public manner, attempted to prevent within their respective territories; that they shall also be obliged to continue their functions, until his most Christian majesty, when set It ❘ at full liberty, shall make further arrange

"Convinced that the sober part of the nation detest the excesses of a faction which has enslaved them, and that the majority of the inhabitants wait with impatience the moment when succours shall arrive, to declare themselves openly against the odious enterprises of their oppressors; his majesty, the emperor, and his majesty the king of Prussia, earnestly invite them to return without delay into the paths of reason and of justice, of order and peace.

ments, or until further orders be given in his name.

"7thly, That the inhabitants of towns, bourgs, and villages, who shall dare to defend themselves against the troops of their imperial and royal majesties, and to fire upon them, either in open country, or through half open doors or windows of their houses, shall be punished instantly, according to the rigorous rules of war, or their houses shall be demolished or burned. On the contrary, all the inhabitants of the said towns, bourgs, and villages, who shall readily submit to their king, by opening their gates to the troops belonging to their majesties, shall be immediately under their safe-guard and protection; and estates, their property, and their persons shall be secured by the laws, and each and all of them shall be in full safety.

"8thly, The city of Paris and all its inhabitants, without distinction, shall be called upon to submit instantly and without delay to the king, to set that prince at full liberty, and to ensure to his and to all royal persons that inviolability and respect which are due, by the laws of nature and of nations, to sovereigns: their imperial and royal majesties, making personally responsible for all events-on pain of losing their heads pursuant to military Irials, without hopes of pardon, all the members of the national assembly, of the department, of the district, of the municipality, and of the national guards of Paris, justices of the peace, and others whom it may concern; and their imperial and royal majesties further declare, on their faith and word of emperor and king, that if the palace of the Thuilleries be forced or insulted, if the least violence be offered, the least outrage done to their majesties, the king, queen, and the royal family, if they be not immediately placed in safety and set at liberty, they will inflict on those who shall deserve it, the most exemplary and ever-memorable avenging punishments, by giving up the city of Paris to military execution, and exposing it to total destruction, and the rebels who shall be guilly of illegal resistance, shall suffer the punishments which they shall have deserved. Their imperial and royal majesties promise, on the contrary, to all the inhabitants of the city of Paris, to emply their good offices with his most Christian majesty, to obtain for them a pardon for their insults and errors, and to adopt the most vigorous measures for the security of their persons

and property, provided they speedily and strictly conform to the above injunctions.

:

"Finally, Their majesties, not being at liberly to acknowledge any other laws in France except those which shall be derived from the king, when at full liberty, protest beforehand against the authenticity of all kinds of declarations which may be issued in the name of the king, so long as his sacred person, and that of the queen, and the princes, of the whole royal family, shall not be in full safety and with this view, their imperial and royal majesties invite and entreat his most Christian majesty to name a town in his kingdom, nearest to the frontiers, to which he would wish to remove, together with the queen, and the royal family, under a strong and safe escort, which shall be sent for that purpose; so that his most Christian majesty may, in perfect safety, send for such ministers and counsellors as he shall be pleased to name, order such convocation as he shall think proper, and provide for the restoration of order and the regular administration of his kingdom.

66

In fine, I declare and promise in my own individual name, and in my above quality, to cause to be observed, every where, by the troops under my command, good and strict discipline, promising to treat with mildness and moderation, those well disposed subjects who shall submit peaceably and quietly, and to employ force against those only who shall be guilty of resistance or of manifest evil intentions.

"I therefore call upon and expect all the inhabitants of the kingdom, in the most earnest and forcible manner, not to make any opposition to the troops under my command, but rather to suffer them every where to enter the kingdom freely, and to afford them all the assistance, and show them all the benevolence which circumstances may require.

"Given at General Quarters at Coblentz, July 25, 1792.

"CHARLES GUILLAUME FERDINAND, Duc DE BRUNSWICK LUNENBOURG."

Such was the conciliating language held out to France by the Sovereigns of Europe: such the prospect which was presented to the people of that devoted country, if they dared to defend themselves against an army which threatened to occupy the kingdom, and to destroy every vestige of liberty: such the punishments denounced against all persons whatsoever, not merely for their own supposed offences, but for all events

« ZurückWeiter »