TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.

THE speculations of those persons who in consequence of the

lengthened negociations between France and Austria, were fondly cherishing hopes of the renewal of the war, are at length completely dissipated. The definitive treaty of peace is ratified and published, and whatever may be the feelings of one of the principal parties who wantonly provoked the late contest, and who has experienced that further bumiliation, the natural consequence of his rashness; whatever may be the feelings of the ministers of a nation, who has exhibited herself for these sixteen years past as the grand briber of Europe, and without whose pecuniary assistance, the states on the continent could not have persevered in those broils which have ended in their ruin :---Whatever may be the feelings of the parties who with equal injustice and folly either directly, or indirectly renewed the war, its termination has been hailed by the people of Europe in general; to whom, whilst their respective rulers continue to withhold from them their rights as men and as citizens, and consequently their due share in the government of their country, a change of masters is of little consequence, and their quarrels a matter of comparative indifference. The friends of justice, liberty and humanity, so far from lamenting this indifference must wish its increase. Happy would it be, for mankind were the people in all countries to refuse to engage in offensive wars, or to be led forth to slaughter at the caprice of their rulers, and were they with one voice to insist on a restoration of those rights which would render their country worth defending, and animate them to adopt the patriotic resolution, and to practice it against all tyrants foreign or domestic:-To LIVE FREE OR DIE!

The sentiments expressed in the following paragraph on the conclusion of the peace, extracted from the Moniteur, are we acknowledge, pretty much in unison with our own. Whether the writer

VOL. VI.

be a true or a false prophet the course of events will shortly determine.

"The peace recently concluded has been announced in all the principal cities on the continent, amidst the sound of cannon, and every demonstration of general rejoicing. At Vienna, Munich, Stuttgard, Frankfort, Naples, Rome, Florence, Milan, Madrid, &c. as well as in Paris, illuminations have taken place. A hundred millions of men have taken part in this general festivity, and celebrated it with marks of public satisfaction.

"The British alone regard it with astonishment and conster nation. They have recourse to calumnies against that power, which they have urged nearly to the brink of destruction; and the ministerial papers industriously propagate the notion that the hands of Austria are tied up; that the peace is compulsory, and cannot be of long duration. It will last too long for them. Driven out of Austria, as they have been driven from Italy, they will speedily be expelled from Spain as they have been from Austria !"

By the definitive treaty, the Emperor Francis loses a considerable part of his dominions:-those donrinions which subjects in most countries condescend, in courtesy to their sovereigns, to style hereditary, are ceded to Napoleon, against whom the Austrian Emperor was so ready to declare war, for the purpose of recovering dominions lost in former wars; and to the King of Bavaria whose territories he had invaded, on no other pretence than that the Bavarian monarch was an ally of France. Austria also cedes to Napoleon certain valuable settlements on the Adriatic coast, the possession of which may tend to further his designs against the commercial interests of this country. Our ministers in encouraging Austria to renew the war, may thus read their sin in their punishment. The Emperor of Austria has likewise ceded a considerable tract of country in East Galicia, containing 400,000 of his subjects to the Emperor of Russia, and this with as little ceremony as if they had been so many cattle. We earnestly hope that the Russian Emperor will profit by the signs of the times, and ·set about some effectual measures for the amelioration of the miserable condition of the numerous hordes of vassals in his extensive dominions, the major part of whom are in a state of barbarism, and all of them in a state of slavery. Unless the Russian monarch should adopt some such measures, it cannot be expected that the revolutionary spirit abroad in Europe, and which is arousing nations from that lethargy into which they had sunk for ages, will not ére long reach his territories. The events he has witnessed, the hurling of so many monarchs from their thrones, who were despised or abhorred by those over whom they tyran mized, will it is hoped, teach him the wisdom of securing the

hearts and affections of his subjects, and of thus placing his throne on the only secure and solid basis.

The articles of the treaty, appear to be drawn up with so much care, and descend to such minutiæ, as to prevent any misunderstandings or equivocations in the execution. The Austrian Emperor, whilst surrendering rich provinces, containing valuable mines of salt and quicksilver, and the maritime commerce which was the support of his Hungarian dominions, has been careful to treat for the brushwood of his own forests; and has engaged to consent, not only to the present state of things, but "to any alterations which may be brought about in future by the Emperor of France in Spain, Portugal and Italy; and, professing his desire to "co-ope rate in the restoration of a maritime peace, accedes to the prohi bitory system with respect to England, adopted by France and Russia during the present maritime war. His Imperial Majesty," accordingly, agrees to break off all intercourse with Great Britain."

There are other cessions made to the different allies of France, which of course tend to secure and strengthen the power, and extend the influence of their head and director, the French Emperor. Humiliating as is the state to which the Austrian Emperor is reduced, compared with what it was a few years since, when his dominions were of so much larger extent, and his Imperial Majesty constituted the head of the Germanic states, it is not so humiliating as considering his inability to oppose the farther progress of the French, it might have been. The victor has not executed his threats to the extent denounced at the commencement of the war. Francis, contrary to the expectations of many, is restored to his capital, and permitted to retain his title of Emperor. These circumstances prevented our ministerial writers from sinking into the depths of despondency on the untoward conclusion of a war, by which their sanguine hopes of tlie "deliverance of Europe" appeared to be wholly overclouded. The Editor of the Morning Post on the arrival of intelligence of the treaty being concluded, although its articles were not generally known, endeavoured to keep up the spirits of his readers by the following observations." Although the terms extorted from Austria may be found to bear the character of rigid severity, there is rational ground to presume that the Emperor Francis has by his firmness obtained less humiliating terms than those which have been reported. In the article announcing the conclusion of the peace, he is still called Emperor of Austria; and we may therefore be permitted to hope, that with his title (of which he was threatened to be deprived) he may have succeeded in securing the possession of

the greater part of those countries which constituted his vast em pire. Should this fortunately prove to be the case,-should Austria, though somewhat dismembered, still remain great, commanding a large army, possessing an extensive territory and a numerous and loyal population, the situation of the continent, we repeat, will be far less calamitous than many are induced to imagine; and, those who generously commended this last spirited, though unsuc cessful effort of the house of Austria, in the general cause of European independence, will be afforded not only ample ground of consolation, but some reason to rejoice!"

Now, although the publication of the treaty again lowered the tone of the writer, he still possesses a hope that the Austrian Emperor, notwithstanding his severe humiliation, may, as his dominions are yet of considerable extent, at some future period be able to renew the contest with France! If however, his imperial Majesty possesses the smallest share of common sense, he will not again dream of war with Napoleon. His repeatedly dear bought experience must surely at length convince him, that the remainder of his days had better be spent in improving the condition of his subjects, than in attempting to regain what is for ever out of his reach. If he will attend to his best interests;-If he will be careful to cultivate the blessings of peace, and improve the favourable opportunity by giving his people a free constitution, he may yet have much tranquillity and happiness in store. These are the only means by which he can effectually sscure to himself the enjoyment of the dominions of which by the recent treaty he is permitted to retain possession.

"Those who generously commended" [that is the British cabinet,]" this last spirited, though unsuccessful effort of the house of Austria in the general cause of European independence will be af forded, not only ample ground of consolation but some reason to rejoice!" Let us for a moment examine this" ground of consolation, this reason for rejoicing." No longer ago than the spring of the present year, Austria commenced the campaign, amidst the « commendations and encouragement" of our ministers; their writers held out sanguine hopes that the object so perseveringly, so obstinately pursued for these seventeen years past, the "deliverance of Europe," and which were in turn encouraged by the proud language that characterised the Austrian declaration of war,—that this grand and long wished for object was at length likely, at least in some measure, to be accomplished. What is the result ? During a campaign of four months only, two hundred thousand of our fellow creatures have perished. The general interests of humanity are, however, seldom 'considered as of importance by the authors, and actors in war. Let us then glance at the result as affecting the

Emperor of Austria.-His country overrun by the invading armies; fifty or sixty villages burnt: the Emperor driven from his capital; the most decided success (one drawn battle excepted) uniformly attending the enemy: the loss of one hundred thousand of his subjects all prospect of checking the progress of the foe vanished: total ruin, involving the loss of his crown and kingdom, staring him in the face, and prevented only by an armistice and a treaty, at the price of sacrifices the most humiliating; and at last restored to his mutilated dominions, and his capital by the generosity of his conqueror: compelled to abandon his alliance with Great Britain, and to enter into close alliance with France. This is the result which, as Napoleon did not execute his threats to the fullest extent against Austria, affords to our ministerial writers such “ground of consolation," such “ reason for rejoicing!"

RUSSIA, SWEDEN, AND DENMARK.

The sacrifice of territory which Sweden has been compelled to make to Russia, in consequence of the ruinous war into which she was hurried by the deposed King, although considerable, was absolutely necessary; for had the war continued, the country would, in all probability, have been entirely conquered; and Sweden would not have been permitted to remain in the list of independent nations. Considering all circumstancss the terms are as favourable as might have been expected; and the new sovereign has shewn his wisdom in putting an end to a war which, owing to the folly and obstinacy of his predecessor, had been attended with nothing but calamity and disgrace. By the third article of the definitive treaty," His Majesty the King of Sweden in order to give an evident proof of his "desire to renew the most intimate relations with the august allies "of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, promises to adhere "to the continental system, with such modifications as shall be "more particularly stipulated in the negociation which is about to be opened between Sweden, France, and Denmark. Meanwhile his "Swedish Majesty engages, from the exchange of the ratifications of "the present treaty, to order that the ports of the kingdom shall be closed, both to the ships of war and merchantmen of Great Bri"tain, with the exception of the importation of salt, and colonial "productions which habit has rendered necessary to the people of "Sweden."-Agreeably to the first part of the stipulations of this article, Sweden has since concluded an armistice with Denmark : the treaty now forming between the four powers, we may be assured will be hostile to this country; and whatever may be said respecting France, Russia, and Sweden, it may with perfect verity be affirmed, that if there ever were a just cause for national exaspera