icia? of Germany, and leaving him, in fact, have no desire to diminişir tlie mariline master of Holland ; and, by what rule of weans of Napoleon, especially as she so morality, are the Allies to refrain from well knows how Holland will stand with making peace with him now? Why are regard to us. Our increased maritime they to consult us, who never consulted power will, in her opinion, perhaps, stand them at Amiens ? -As to what this in need of sormething to balance it. That writer, says about selling Austria al defi- balance is not to be found in Holland, ance, it is little better than the dream of a where we have an arnay, and where we upaniac. She is to be first combated in bave so close a connexion with the rulers. council; hut, if that fails, the other of the Austria and Russia too may, therefore, not Allies are to reject her policy in the field; wish to destroy or to eripple the navy.of that is to say, they are to fight her; for France; but, rather to see it rise to some there can be no other meaning in the words. thing like a match for ours. In this case, They are to fight her in order to compet the fleet in the Scheldt will not be destroyher to continue fighting against France ! In ed, even supposing the Allies to have the other words, a new war is to commence, pouver of destroying it. There is no in which France and Austria and Naples doubt that our government will endeavour are to fight against Russia, Prussia, Sweden, to procure such terms of peace as shall and us; for, as to Holland, the work is drive the French across the Rhine and out.. sol yet above half done in that country. of the Brabants; but, it requires a larger: If this were to take effect, we should view of things than we have been, of late, see the French at Berlin again in two accuştoined to, take, in order to be able to months, and much sooner than that at Am- judge, with any chance of correctness, what sterdam, What can these writers mean, is likely to be the result of the measures. shen, by thys, abusing and insultiug Aus- and projects, now on foot ;, buty at any rate; -One would imagine, that they it is impossible that it can be wise in us.co. meant to do all the mischief in their power. abuse the Austrian governmetit, who has They do, in one respect, for they wish to so much in ies power as to the making of prevent. peace at any price. But,, their ef peace., :,!! ! forts must be unavailing if the Emperors of Austria and France agree upon the basis of INVASION OF FRANCE. -France is, at: peace. These livo powers may dictate a last, actually invaded by a large army, and peace to the Continent; and, as they have the Emperor Napoleon appeals to the French both the saine jnterests with regard to people, and calls on them lo rally round Russia and Prussia, I think, that there can him. We shall now liave complete proof, be no doubt of peace taking place. in a very few weeks, upon the most inteRussia, owing to the connivance of France, resting of all points : namely, whether the has poked her nose a good distance into the people of France be really for or against system of Europe. It has always been the him. They will now, if they wish to cast policy of the Court of Vienna to keep her him, off, have the power to do it with back. This policy will now revive, and safety; and, if they do not do it, we must will more easily adinit of being enlorced. take it, for granted, that they desire not to Austria will no longer stand in need of the change. -As to the act of invasion it is aid of Russia or Prassia. In short, every nothing in itself. It is only walking across thing seems to me to combine to render an undefended boundary, which boundary peace between France and Austria a work is of no other nature, than that between of facility and of cordiality:A general Middlesex, and Essex. If Napoleon has an peace must be the consequence, unless ş, we army of any, thing like the numerical force out; and, if we stick out, we shall of the invaders, he will, if the people be u. have a war of the most irksome, and, very on his side, assuredly,ibeat these invaders ; soon, of the most unpopular kind, tą sus- and, one battle lost by them will lose them tain. -The lerms, which have heen the half of what they have gained. talked of, seem not likely to have been Perhaps the invasion has proceeded upon proposed but, I think it probable, that, the supposition that in France the invaders : the boundary of France will extend to the will find friends. It is not impassible that Rhine, Austria receiving an indemnity they may; but, in such a case, disappointelsewhere. If this be the case, Antsverk ment will be deach. The measure which will remain in the hands of Napoleon; and, Napoleon has adopted of sending Extraor. ! indeed, if Austria abandons all pretensions dinary Commissioners into the several to her territories in that quarter, she can countries menaced by the enemy puts one : 1 stick 1 66 1 66 1 i in mind of the Conmissaries, sent into the such should be the effect of otir pushing on departments, during the revolutions and, the war, we shall yet have to thank those it certainly shows, that he thinks great pre- who are urging it forward. There is cautions to be necessary. Yet, the lan-bne passage in the Report of the Count de guage of himself and that of the Reporter Fontanes, which is truly diabolicat. After from the Gommittee do not discover fear of blaming the Allies for appealing to the peo. the result. There is no attenipe made to ple, in the Declaration from Frankfort, he disguise any thing from the people and proceeds thus ; May not this exainthis, to me, is a sign, that he has ple be fatal?: Should it be given, espea. confidence in them. We are not cially at this period, when people's told what particular, preparations are made," minds, agitated by all the diseases of or are making, to receive the enemy and pride, aresd aversé to bending under the to repulse him; but, we are not to con: "authority which protects them, while it clude from that, that very great prepara-" represses their audacity? And against tions are not made; and, it is by no ineans" whom is this indirect attack; aimed? impossible, that Napoleon may wish to Against a great man, who merited the suffer, the enemy to penetrate to a certain gratitude of all kings, because by redistance before he gives him battlestAll" establishing the throne of France, he has this, however, is merely conjecture. A closed up the crater of the volcano which .. few weeks, or a few days, may furnish us threalend them all.! This is, perwith facts. In the mean white, our haps, one of the most wicked, as well as newspapers are publishing and re-publish- one of the most impudent paragraphs that: ing, day after day, the Proclamation of ever dropped from the tips of mortal man. , Louis XVIII. and giving their readers te This is really making a merit of one's understand, that it is our object to push shame, It was enough, one would have: on the war, till the Bourbons are on the thought, for the people of France to know, throne. It must be very encouraging to that their sacrifices for freedend, had been the French people to see that this procla made almost in vain, without being insultmation is patronised by those, who scrapleed in this style, and being told, that their not to designate the whole French nation as ruler,; who now calls upon them to bleed worthy of punishment for their past sins, afresh, had beep the cause of their failure, and, at other times, to urge the necessity and that he gloried in it. Let us hope that of crippling France for the good of man- this is not a fair translation. If it be kind in general. If these benevolent Mr. Fontanes deserves to be tossed down i persons should live to see their wislies fut into the deepese well in Patis. What : filled, we may save ourselves the trouble have the inapudence to tell the people of of pitying the French; for, certainly, they France, that it is a merit in Buonaparté to will deserve po pity. They tell us, that have prevented them from destroying all if the Bourbons were restored, there would thosė, by whom their country is now inno fear of the ancient abuses being vadedI should not be sorry if this para6 re-established,” which is confessing, at graph were to be crammed down the throat once, that the French did right in getting of Monsieur de Fontanes at the point of a rid of the Old Government, though these Cossack's spear. But, what have the people would have them punished for so Antijacobins i to say against it? It is in doing.--- Napoleon is to fall, it is not their style and mander, and breathes their beyond the compass, of hope, that the Re- sentiments. They went ito'war against the public may revive; or, at least, that a French people, in part, because they apsomething will arise, that will give a little pealed to the people against their govern new energy to-the minds of med. It is ofd ment. This was one of our alleged grounds far less consequence who rules in France, of the war. The famous decree of N02! than that France, the finest part of the vember 1792 was alleged by us as a ground world, should contain the elements før put- of war againse the French; and, therefore; ting the rest of Europe ia- nuotion. No those who approved of that war, cannot thing is so much to be dreaded as a find fault with the sentiments of Monsieur quiet, calm despotism, let who will be the de Fontaucs, Monsieur de Fontanes despole Who knows, that; out of all speaks of the Proclamation of the Duke'of" this a state of things may not arise, in Brunswick, and i of the indigharit 'spirit which men may not again, from the press which that roused in the Frenchie But, of Paris, utter wholesome truths, without Monsieux de Bontanes; a word in your ear, tlje fear of being killed, for so doing? It The French people were not then told by a 1 ? 1 7 their government, that " their minds were consequences so decisive of the happiness, " agitated by all the diseases of pride, and and of the misery of the human race, where " that they ought to bend under the author is the individual who can regard with in"rity that repressed their audacily." No: difference the discussion of topics which they were then called upon to deliver their involve concerns of so vast a magnitude ? country from the invasion of despots; that --Who is the man that can put his hand they were going to meet death or secure upon his heart, and say," I am no way. liberty. They were not told; that it was interested in the fate of Religion ?"? for thrones that they were to ''slied their These reflections, Mr. Cobbert, have bloods and, accordingly, they met, at once, arisen in my mind, on observing that the and defeated the foe. It was the people doctrines of Christianity of that religion who were then directly appealed to on both which all Europe - acknowledges to be sides. There were no committees, making divine, have been lately attacked in a most reports to Emperor's, and Emperors making unprecedented manner and which, in iny speeches to committees. The call was di-"| humble apprehension; is calculated to over: rect and plain, and it was answered by the throw our national -faith, if an antidote is volantary march of hundreds of thousands not provided against so terrible an evil. This speech, or rather this part of the That I am not now writing at random, but speech of Monsieur de Fontanes, is niore from a deep conviction of the truth of what offensivei than any thing I ever read as I say, will appear when you consider the coming from the goveroment of France. It following facts ! I have now almost reached indicates almost as great a contempt of the my fiftieth year. I was brought up with a people as the sentiments which we some strict and pious regard, for all the obsertimes hear ultered by pampered insolent vances of the Church; and; I think, Iren! nen: in this country ; sentiments, the urter-iltertained- as sincere a i belief of its more ance of which I thought would not have essential doctrines as any of my neighbours. been endured in any country but our town! In fact, till within these few montlis; it never orice entered into my mind, that it The BOURBONS-Insolent, however, was possible to doubt the truth of any part : as' is 'Monsieur de Fontanes, we must not of a religion, which had been professed, in putithe 'sway of Napoleon in comparison, this quarter of the globe, for so many ages' for a moment, with the horrible' govern + which had been warmly cherished by the ment of the Bourbons. Our newvs-papers learned, whose province it is to judge of have published, for the third time, a Prothese matters and adopted by men cele 1 clamation of Louis XVII; and, in my brated in every country for their probity next Number, 'I will, in behalf of the French and talents. A circumstance, however, has people, give an answer to this Proclamation occurred, which has somewhat shaken thige 1:9.6116 11 iwi. COBBETT. 37 conviction. I am a constant reader of your Register, in which I have recently observed - Laminate frequent allusioni made to a work, entitled; this: 9:30, siis 46 Ecce Homo," written, it appears, for the ECCE HOMO. bukse express purpose of bringing the Christian Mr. COBBETT. I trust I shall not incur Religion into discredit: Unaccustomed as the charge of dogmatism when I state, that I had been to stookt into works of that de there is nothing regarded amongst mankind scription, it will not be supposed, considera! in general of greater importance than reli- ing my state of mine, thato I was very gion. It is by instilling its mysterious curious about this dangerous production. doctrines, into the minds cof youthi , that Indeed, I felt no desire to see it; and, pro character is formed its it is by unceasingly bably, I would have continued equally indif.. inculcating these tenets, during their riper ferent respecting it, lrad-you, Mr. Cobbett; years, they are, tutored to fill that place in not come forward, and given' importance to society to which they are destined; it is in the book by candidly acknowledging that a the execution of all their after projects! perusal of its pages had staggered your faith; through lite, that religion is allowed to or at least had created considerable doubts in exercise its imposing influence; and finally, your mind as to some of the leading points: when death approaches to close this mortal of our religion. This avowal led me imscene, it is then that the aid of Religion is 4 mediately to purchase Ecce Homo, which sought for, above all things, to encourage I have since perused with a mind as much the wretched, and to console thelyistuous. divested of prejudice as could be expected Arbiter of the fate of nations : fraught within my situation. In that work I have found! : 1 much to shock my feelings, but more to Austria, had the goodness to communicate confound my understanding. Its perusal to him. Its perusal to him. When their Majesties the King has in fact had the same effect upon me that of Prussia and the Emperor of Russia hastit had upon you: "it has given rise to 'so ened to accept the mediation of the Court many difficulties in my mind, that I find it of Vienna, and thereby proving both their the assistance which you also are in want of. and their deference for his 'Imperial and Most córdially, therefore, do I concur' in Royal Austrian Majesty, they might have your intention to submit your doubts to the supposed that their adversary would have head of the Church, because, in doing that,' equally respected this 'mediation, and that there is a chance of my difficulties, and the they would have been safe from seeing so difficulties of thousands more, who have false and injurious an interpretation given read Ecce Homo; being removed by the to their intentions. The Note which has splendid talents which are so very conspicu- been just communicated to the undersigned ous in the whole body of the clergy. proves, that this expectation was illusory. It is particularly gratifying to find, that The conduct of the French Plenipotentiaries the prosecution which was commenced is deficient in all the respect due to the meagainst the publisher of Ecce Homo, has diating Court; and destroys at once all been abandoned. I trust I shall not be hopes of peace, by gratuitously supposing, disappointed in regarding this as a pledge in the Allied Courts, views contrary to its of the intention of the secular power to re-establishment; and they pervert, instead combat the reasonings of the writer by of answering; in a plain and natural manreason rather than by the sword. Ecce ner; the Notes of the Mediator; so that, Homo might no doubt be easily suppressed, throughotit, there has not been one reprebut this would not convince any one of the sented in its true light, or was presented on falsehood of its doctrines : on the contrary, its proper day. The undersigned abstains it would tend to confirm their doubts,' and from analyzing the passages which regards give to the arguments of the author greater the mediation of Vienna.“ To repeat its weight than they' probubly deserve ; whereas words, would be to hurt the sentiments candid and open discussion must expose his which his Court has continually professed errors, if he has committed any, and finally towards his Majesty the Emperor of Ausensure the triumph of-truth over falsehood tria. The most simple notions of mediaand infidelity.--I am respectfully yours, tion, and the mere perusál of the Conven - A Lover or TRUTH. tion of the 30th of June, will be sufficient London, Jan. 6, 1814. to enable us to form a judgment upon it. The form of the negociations could not be agreed upon separately at Dresden beOFFICIAL PAPERS. 7,13,1 tween the mediating Court and the French Government. The unlimited conhdence of FRENCH DOCUMENTS. the Allied Courts at the first rendered all Continued from Vol. XXIV, page 832.) further explanation useless on this point. ders the questions of the moment in their The French Plenipotentiaries, therefore, consequences towards her, because his con- cannot be astonished at not seeing the conduct during the continuation of his residence ferences opened, which, according to the at Prague has been irrevocably regulated proposal for the form of the transactions in by the obligation of his Court towards that writing, could not take place. But the unwhose mediation she had accepted. dersigned might have expressed his just He avails himself of this occasion, &c. surprise at the delay in the arrival of the (Signed) D'ANSTETT. French Plenipotentiaries; and the length Prague, July 26 (Aug. 7), 1813. into which the negociation was protracted, if it had not been the resolution of his Court Copy of a Note from M. De Humboldt to to refer whatever concerned this negociation his Excellency Count de Mellernich. solely to the mediating Power: --- It was The undersigned Minister of State, and his regard for the benevolent mediation of Plenipotentiary from his Majesty the King his Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, of Prussia, yesterday received the Note of which alone could cause his Majesty the the French Plenipotentiaries, which his Ex- King of Prussia to condescend to suffer his cellency Count de Mettertiich, Minister of Minister to wait during fifteen days to no State and for Foreign Affairs, and Plenipo- purpose, for the French Plenipotentiaries ; tentiary from his Majesty the Emperor of and his Excellency Count 'de Metternich would certainly feel it natural, chat without moments which the repose of arms offered the same sentiments, the undersigned should for the work of pacification; of whether it deem it his duty not to continue his abode is the Government which, after having dehere until the actual moment, nor expose ferred, without any plausible pretext, the himself to see a false, light throwu by commencement of the negociations, and France on the pure, upright, and benevolent after having followed up one delay by anintentions of the allied Courts.The other, does not hesitate in causing to be form of negociation proposed in the note of sent, four days before the expiration of the the French Plenipotentiaries may be judged armistice, a note similar to that which the by i sell. An union of the two opposite undersigned has just examined, not without forms of transaction by writing, and con- a lively and deep sense of pain, in seeing ferences, was not possible, unless by so de- those questions on which the welfare and priving the former of the advantages which tranquillity of pations, depend treated in caused it to be proposed, that they could such a manner. The undersigned has only be preserved to appearance: therefore, the honour, &c. it would not have been useful in any man, (Signed) HUMBOLDT. ner; and the undersigned thinks it almost Prague, August 7, 1813. superfluous to say, that he ought to continue on insisting on the form proposed by No. XXXVII.--Note from his Excellency his Excellency the Count de Metteruich, Count de Metlernich to the Plenipolen and which has served for the basis to a liaries of France. known and memorable peace. Although The undersigned Minister of State and the nate of the French Plenipotentiaries for Foreign Affairs to his Imperial and affects to apply solely to the conduct and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Plenipotentiary the views of the Court of Russia (an af- from the Mediating Court, at the same fectation which is extended to the Ministers time that he discharges bimself of the comof the two Courts), whilst the steps of munication of the official paper, dated tha Prussia and Russia, as likewise those of 7th, from the Plenipotentiaries of Russia their agents, have constantly presented the and Prussia, thinks it his duty to reply on most perfect concordance, the undersigned his part to the note which their Excellencies has no need to say, that his Majesty the the Duke of Vicenza and the Count de King, his master, can but doubly resent Narbonne, Plenipotentiaries from his Mathat passage in it which concerns his august jesty the Emperor of the French, King of ally; and that it is impossible to apply to Italy, did him the honour to address to it the name which it deserves. It would him the day before yesterday. As a be beneath all dignity to vouchsafe a reply negociator of the convention of the 30th of to it. The people cannot be mistaken as to June, he never consented to the two points the authors of their evils. The Sovereign anterior to the signature of the Act of who, after having repulsed the inost unjust which meution is made in their Excellenaggressions, and after having succeeded, by cies' note. To demonstrate the error which the efforts of his faithful subjects, in de has dictated this assertion, it will be sufstroying an army which had dared to in- ficient to assure, that it would have been vade his empire, has professed the inost contrary to the dignity of his august Court, pure and the most noble desire of re-esta- to enter into an engagement of being imblishing a stable and solid peace, is not the partial, as that of not binding itself by any one that should ever be charged with the convention, even eventual, during the newish of putting it off, or of prolonging the gociation ; and the parts of Mediator and miseries of war.- -The great and iin- Arbitrator are too widely differeru, for portant question in the present transaction Austria in charging itself with the former, is, without doubt, that of peace; and Eur with the consent of the Powers interested, rope and posterity will easily judge, which ever to think of arrogating to herself the of the two parties has opposed itself to its attributes of the other. Neither can the prompt re-establishment; whether it be undersigned admit that he has detained his the allied Courts, which, as well as the Excellency , the Duke of Bassano, by the mediating Courts, have, by departing from form of the conferences to be adopted in the grand principle, to which they will the negociation.my Tle particular arcenever remain faithful, of restoring a state of tion which the two Gourts of Russia and good order, and the general balance of Prussia might, with a regand to their pos power to Earope, have done every thing litical attitude, find themselves inclined to not to lose a single instapt of those precious abserve, relative to the choice of that forma |