.posed chiefly of individuals, whose much impaired. Disorders of this actions and opinious fluctuate with kind never fail to commit dreadful the tide and currents which are gene- havoc on the happiness of those who rated by the petty politics of uniyer; possess any degree of sensibility; this sity factions, is neither well calcu- consequence, however, always disaplated for the improvement of our pears when the bodily affections are moral or intellectual faculties. A removed. But if you increase their constant warfare among the contend- power by conjoining with them that ing interests, who seem to dispense race of ills which humankind raise the honours and emoluments of aca- up among themselves," the horrid off demical preferment, not as the re- spring of malevolence and slander," yards of superior attaininents, not the result is highly deplorable, as the, as incitements to study and exertion, causes are beyond the reach of the but as engines to perpetuate the exertions of any individual, The lapower and maintain the superiority of mentations and sorrows of a virtuous a party, must be hostile to science, if character are beheld with derision and not subversive of the most valuable contempt, and those who occasion his principles of our nature. No man sufferings and his pains treat them as who is not the humble servant of oc- visionary, or, with equal wisdom and casion, is well suited for a society of humanity, ascribe them to the creative this kind, as he must either surrender powers of a diseased imagination: such some portion of his integrity, or fore- was nearly the state of Mr. Barron go much of his enjoyment in life. for several years before his death. The His best directed efforts to introduce sympathies of his family were insuf a more liberal policy, his most per- ficient to support him under the causes severing struggles to support the by which he was depressed. His fair fading interests of philosophy, must est prospects were blasted, his hapultimately be overpowered, and his piness was destroyed, and his literary Consequence in the eyes of his asso- character in some measure sacrificed ciates will probably be diminished, in to forward the views of a vicious and proportion to the extent and sincerity interested policy. of his previous exertions. On the 25th of Dec. 1803, the sympA strong physical constitution and toms of a disorder with which he had puremitting attention to study, put been some time affected, began to asMr. B. for a long time beyond the sume an alarming appearance, and influence of causes of this kind. He put a period to his existence in less carried on his investigations with suc- than three days. cess, and looked forward with satis- We must now conclude this notice faction to that day when he should by simply stating, that nearly twenty enjoy the sweets of his toil, and se- years of the time that he lived at St. cure to himself a lasting and wide Andrews, were dedicated to the comextended reputation, equally removed position of a "History of the Gofrom the attacks of calumny and envy, vernment, Situation, and Philosophy But for several years before his death of Rome." This work and his "Lecthings began to assume a very diffe- tures" he had determined soon to subrent aspect. From his inordinate mit to the press. The latter have application to literary pursuits, his already been in the hands of the pub, digestive organ had become very lic for two years. T STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. HE courts of France and Spain possession of the throne of Spain, and have been transferred to Bay- seat the Bourbon dynasty in the Escupune. On that spot are the eyes of rial! The Bourbons are now suing Europe now fixed, and there the so- to a Corsican-to a man whose ancesyereign of France sits arbiter on the tors were not known in the time of destinies of Spain. What a contrast Louis XIV.-they are suing to him to to the scenes of former times when determine which is to be a king; he the ancestor of the royal competi- is to decide between the father and the tors for the crown lef: Paris to take son, and his word will be the faw. Whether he will condescend to let a Without a head, without any person Bourbon reign, or if he does, which in whom they can confide, what can he will choose, time must determine. the people do? Despotism never sees The real fact is, that whichever again its folly till too late. This is suffi assuines the title of king, it is of little ciently exemplified in the two great consequence, for ueither will enjoy in kingdoms of France and Spain. The future real kingly power; that is now Bourbon family, in two of its branches, vested in Bonaparte, and the nominal had the possession of these kingdoms, king of Spain will in fact be only the and they obtained the great object of deputy of the French emperor. their ambition-absolute rule, withAt the court of Bonaparte, at Bay- out the intervention of the constituonne, are not only the old king and tional authorities, so wisely placed queen of Spain, with their son (the under them in France; the assembly new king), but also the late fallen of the three estates in Spain, the minister the Prince of the Peace; all Cortez. What did the Bourbon fathree important personages at the mily gain by this conquest over their present time, and all three to be made own subjects? the disgust of the use of by the puissant emperor as oc- middle ranks, and an apathy to their casion may require. It was expected that Bonaparte would have gone to Madrid to settle the difference, but he prefers the safer situation for a time, and his armies are arranging matters, if necessary for his pre sence. interests, except in those who were paid to support them. The destruction of the family was brought about by different modes in the two kingdoms: in the one by the people themselves rising against their sovereign, in the other by the people sitting tamely by, whilst a foreign army was taking possession of the kingdom. Despots will not learn by these examples, but continue in the usual progress, they will exasperate the people till they turn with rage or indignation against their masters, or they will so break their spirits, that it is indifferent to them who is their master. Thus Providence teaches mankind, that go they who will not study its duties merit to be hurled from their thrones, and to be made an example to the world. We may extend our pity to suffering individuals, but for the sake of a few, the interests of the many are not to be sacrificed. The points in dispute between the two kings are the nature of the abdication of the father, and the right of the son to assume the reins of government. If the abdication was an act of force and violence, the right of the younger must fail to the ground, and the discussion on these cases may be prolonged by Bonaparte at will. What the Prince of the Peace has to do there it is not easy to determine. If vernment is of high import, and that the rights of sovereigns can be tried by an emperor, the right or the crimes of a subject are cognizable only by his own lord, and his fate will depend on that of his master. If the old king is restored, he will return, but his unpopularity is such, that this measure will scarcely be adopted. His abdica It is a curious question whether Botion will probably be deemed valid, naparte will now go to Madrid. He and the young king's claim will not will not do it unless he has secured soon be settled. It is said, however, the country completely by his troops. that the latter has expressed a degree At present the Spanish army must be of contritice for his conduct, and it is completely weakened, the officers even asserted that he has resigned his scarcely knowing of whom they hold crown. Nothing is improbable in this their commissions. Many reforms case. Both father and son are weak must take place in the kingdom, and men, both incapable of ruling a na- those will proceed as a boon from the tion in troublesome times. French emperor, not from a Spanish Disturbances have prevailed in monarch. The enlightened mind of Madrid, and risen to such an height the former will know how to turn as to require vigorous exertions on every thing to his own advantage, and the part of the French. Blood has it will not be difficult for him to been shed on both sides, but the Spa- appear in the light of a benefactor. niards were brought into order. Nothing has as yet transpired of his intentions, and it is probable that Sweden. If it retreats, the Russians every thing has been determined upon will place themselves in security in at Bayonne, before it is read in the the ports on the east of the gulph of Privy Council of Spain. Very pro- Bothnia, ready to transport thembably Gibraltar will be an object of selves into Sweden, and attack the his military plans, and if we can keep north, whilst the French are invading the French and Spanish forces em- the south of that kingdom. If the ployed, as we did in a preceding war, Finland army should be reinforced, it may be some satisfaction to us, that then the strength of the interior of his entry into Spain has not met with Sweden will be diminished, and great complete success. danger is to be apprehended from the Danes and French. In Portugal every thing follows his will. The late reigning family had It is most probable that Finland is no interest in the minds of the bulk left to its fate, and the next accounts of their subjects, and their departure will be, that the greatest part of the is not regretted but by those whose Swedish army in Finland has shared property is in danger from the rapa- the fate of the fortress of Sweaborg. city of the French. These persons Still Sweden is not conquered. The are daily endeavouring to get away, news of the loss of this fortress has and thus affording new pretexts for not damped the ardour of the chivalplunder to the 'ruling powers. Very rous king. On receiving the news, severe edicts have been issued, and he immediately broke the commandgreat care is taken to prevent a cor- ing officer and all the officers in counrespondence with our fleets. The cil with him, who had not protested scarcity of provisions is, however, by against the convention. We do not no means of that nature as was at first imagine that this is the best way to represented. Some articles are dear, reinvigorate his army. He might have but the country is very far from being stopped till a court-martial had been under any apprehension of famine. holden on the conduct of the officers, Our accounts, however, from the in- and their guilt had been completely terior of that country are so scanty, ascertained. General Whitelocke was that its real state is hardly to be ascertained. not dismissed from the service till after a trial; and we should have From the South of Europe our at thought it very strange if the Duke of tention is called to the North, and York had been cashiered, when he the King of Sweden claims the re- saved himself and army by his articles spect due to his spirit of chivalry. of convention with a French geHe has manfully thrown down the neral. gauntlet to his two great antagonists, In the convention at Sweaborg a Russia and Denmark, and as yet the very extraordinary article has been French troops have not assailed him. introduced, and evidently with the It is to be hoped that our squadrons design of bringing the conduct of the will be able to prevent a landing of English at Copenhagen into contempt. the French in Sweden, and also, by The article runs thus-"The flotilla cruising in the Baltic, to prevent a shall be restored to Sweden, according Russian armament from convoying its to the particular return made thereof, troops over the gulph of Bothnia. As after the conclusion of peace, in case. yet the war has been to the disadvan- that England should also restore to tage of the King of Sweden. The Denmark the fleet which she took Russians may be said to be at this mo- last year." Now there seems to be no ment masters of Finland; they have analogy between the two cases. Rustaken Sweaborg, the Gibraltar of the sia, by fair war, and after a declaraNorth, and with this important for- tion of war, takes a fortress and a tress have possessed themselves of flotilla; England, without a declaragreat quantities of naval and military tion of war, and in time of professed Stores, and the Swedish flotilla in the peace and amity, seizes the fleet of harbour of Sweabourg This is a sad its friend, and sets on fire his capital.. blow to the king; for his army in There is no comparison in the values Fiuland must now either retreat, or be of the fleet and the flotilla, and it is supported by a considerable army from evident this article can be introduced. with a view only of acting upon the ment by taking possession of the town. minds of the Swedish nation, and If their successors, the French, had a particularly upon that part of it which similar permission, we should dread holds our conduct at Copenhagen in a similar fate for the Turkish metroindignation. This is to shew, that polis. But whether the French are the war is not so much with the Swe- permitted or not to pass by this road, dish nation as the Swedish king, and the fall of Constantinople seems to that the ground of it is his adherence be near at hand. This will be a good to the cause of England. If the pretext for the French, and as soon as French can make a landing in Sweden, Boñaparte has settled matters in Spain they will avail themselves of similar and Portugal, he will avail himself of artifices, and the chivalrous king must it to make a division of the Turkish be as much upon his guard against the dominions in Europe. treachery of his own subjects as the sword of his enemy. In this case little difficulty is to be apprehended. The moment the How far the attack upon Norway French enter Greece, they will find has succeeded we cannot tell. It is the native Greeks prepared to receive astonishing how imperfect our ac- them, and the Turks, divided among counts are from the countries which themselves, able to make very little are still open to us. But we cannot resistance. As they approach the conceive that the King of Sweden capital, the strength of the Tuls will derive any great advantage from will be more concentrated, but the this attack. If it requires many troops, united strength of Austria and France they will be carried too far from hoine must overpower them. Constantiat the time they are most needed. As we have sent off a grand expedition, if it is directed to the south of his kingdom, it may with our fleet be very efficacious to his relief, and Bonaparte may wait another summer before he receives dispatches from Bernadotte, dated at Stockholm. Indeed, if we consider the state of the two countries, Sweden and Denmark, and our superiority at sea, it seems impossible that the French should be able to land an army in Sweden, without very great mismanagement. The next report will set us at ease on this head, and then Sweden has to fear only the attack of Russia, an attack which it is completely competent to ward off, unless the king has lost the confidence of his subjects. Many of the Swedes are far from being satisfied with the inroads made on their constitution in (late reigns. nople will again become an European capital, and the activity and energy of the French will give new life to the desponding Greeks. Degraded for so many years by abject slavery and a most wretched superstition, they may still revive, and the Turks themselves, leaving the fooleries of their Koran, may become capable of better civilisation. No one can tell to what éxtent the effects of the French revolution will reach, but if this diversion is made by the Turks, it will save for some time longer our possessions in India from an attack, which threatens a complete overthrow of our power in the east. Europe présents us with falling thrones. One sovereign seems to have chosen a better part than the rest, and by quitting a kingdom in which he could only have been the viceroy of Bonaparte, he has made his escape to The east of Europe promises some a great continent, where with comseenes of warfare before the summer mon prudence, he may lay the founis over. The Porte, it is said, has dation of an empire, that may in splen broken with the French, refusing to deur outshine hereafter that of the comply with their request to be per- conqueror of Europe. The news is mitted to pass an army through the confirmed, that the Prince Regent of Turkish dominions to attack us in Portugal is the acknowledged soveIndia Constantinople has given a reign of the Brazils. He has esta sufficient lesson to its possessors to blished his court, and been received beware of such friends. The Franks with acclamations by the natives, who were some ages ago permitted to enter are pleased with being now members its vicinity in their way to the Holy of an independent kingdom. The Land, and they returned the compli sovereign has begun his reign by forming a new order of merit, the tune our readers must determine for Order of Fidelity, which is bestowed themselves, but so it has happened, on the followers of his fortunes. The that the Nuncio of the Pope, who English are to be the favored nation was following the Prince of the Brain the commerce of this new king- zils, has been brought to and is now dom, and they will establish there in England. This may enable the probably factories similar to those in Prince to take some measures for the Portugal. If they follow the same religious establishment of his new plan which was pursued by the Eng- kingdom, and if he is wise enough to lish merchants in Portugal, their trade avail himself of the experience of past will be both honourable and profitable, times, to see the folly of letting a for such was the character of the Eng- kingdom be over-run by lazy, idle, lish merchant in Portugal, that the persecuting priests and friars, he may highest nobility were proud of visiting introduce toleration into his new him, and receiving him at their ta- kingdom, and with it industry, libebles. The laws or rather customs of rality, and civilisation. We must wait the factories forbid the entrance of some time before we can learn the that vulgar and sordid mind, which is frequently a disgrace to persons engaged in trade, who, thinking only of one end, neglect too much those qualities which render life desirable and man respectable. An English merchant in Portugal was generally a man of some education, a man who had travelled in different countries, and who could speak several languages: his mind was thus freed from many vulgar prejudices, and he knew so to adapt him self to the customs of a country in which the inhabitants believed him to be a heretic, that, though they all doomed him to the lower regions after his death, they loved and esteemed him whilst living. spirit of his new government. The Brazils are almost a new world to us. The spirit of the English will soon penetrate into the interior of this new kingdom, and we shall know its state. The Brazilians, we are informed, are not so contemptible a race as the priest-ridden natives of Portugal. The Americans continue their embargo, but the prospect of a rupture between us and them is, we are happy to say, growing daily more and more remote. There is work enough for us and our manufacturers, and trade with the United States and the Brazils, if we could but content ourselves with the easy mode of enriching this coun try, and it might be sufficient comfort for us to think, that if we were entirely excluded from the continent of Europe, sufficient space is open for our exertions as long as we can keep the command of the seas. Before the summer is over, the usual inter course of trade will be opened between us and the United States. Domingo is favouring us, and we are there likely to have an extensive trade. In short, there is reason to believe, that if we never had again an ambassador on the continent of Europe, nor suffered a soldier to be embarked, or a subsidy to be paid to any sovereign for its deliverance, we should be a happier people. In confidence of the establishment of the prince in the Brazils, vast orders have been executed in this Country for the new empire. The houses of the Portuguese ambassador, consul, and principal merchants, have been illuminated. Regulations have been made to secure the property of the Brazilians and loyal Portuguese taken upon the seas. In short, there is every reason to believe, that a solid friendship will be established for the benefit of both countries. Madeira, and the other islands of which we have taken possession, are given up to the Brazilian sovereign, and in a short time we may expect to see the Brazilian flag floating upon the At- At home not many things have exlantic. The new sovereign will begin cited much attention. The landed his course most probably by forming interest has beeen roused by an atan army, and attacking his neigh- tempt to introduce the distillery of bours, and we may expect to hear of spirits from sugar instead of barley, wars and battles to the south of La and many absurd arguments have Plata and the west of the Andes. been battled about upon this occasion. They are afraid, it seems, that they 8 H Whether it is a good or a bad for- |