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justify its actions by some shew of give peace to the afflicted world, and argument. he must acquiesce in any terms they

The strange war in which the great- choose to prescribe. est powers of Europe are now en- The next state we should be anxious gaged, has not yet obtained a precise to know something of, is that of name. Manifestoes and counter-ma- Portugal; but little can be spoken nifestoes have appeared. The public positively of its present condition. papers are fighting the battles of opi. The emigration from that country is nion, and Paris and London employ of little consequence, and bears but the talents of a certain number of a small proportion to the numbers writers, to invent and to answer argu- that remain behind. Whether the ments. Negociations also, we cannot mass of the people are pleased or not doubt it, have been set on foot: and with the change, we cannot tell: every Austria was the intended mediator be- account gives us reason to believe, tween the contending powers. That that they acquiesce in it: and this she has failed, we presume, from the acquiescence must be expected by hasty retreat of her minister from our every government which does not court: and we should express our study to improve a country, or at sorrow upon this occasion, unless least, which presents obstacles to we greatly feared that the basis of every improvement which is, or can negociation was such as Great Britain be, suggested. An insurrection has could not accept with honour and se- been talked of at Lisbon, but the rucurity. But how can we talk of se- mour died away; and we know from curity now? What security is there experience, with what ease a little for any peace, that shall last even to tumult at a place distant from Enga short number of years, whilst such land, is magnified by the newspaper strange sentiments are entertained on writers in this country, into alarning the rights of individuals and nations; insurrections. We should rather apand when so little regard is paid to prehend, that France is by this time those precepts, by which alone the completely master of Portugal; and peace and good order of mankind can we are curious to know in what manbe maintained. ner it will regulate the affairs of a Shut out as we are from the conti- country, so long kept in ignorance nent, we can have but a very imper- and barbarism by the restrictions on fect view of its state. We cannot the press, the intolerance of the indoubt that misery prevails in Prussia, quisition, and the influence of the and that great part of Poland is la- priesthood. bouring under the wretchedness which As France has eased the house of conflicting armies have brought into Braganza from the toil of governing that country. The storm is over, but its territories on the continent of Euthe waves have not subsided; and the rope, Great Britain, not to be behind rolling of the ship is even greater than hand, has taken upon itself the mawhen carried on by the tempest. nagement of Madeira and its dependen To remedy these evils must be the cies. But it has not taken possession work of time; and the wretched sove- of this country absolutely. It is to be reign who brought them on his coun- evacuated and re-delivered to his royal try, is doomed to witness what he can- highness the Prince Regent of Portunot alleviate, and to hear those cries gal or his heirs, when the free ingress which must wring his heart; and the and egress to the ports of Portugal and more so, from the remembrance of his its colonies shall be re-established as former greatness, and the view of his heretofore; and when the sovereignty present state. Compelled to obey of Portugal shall be emancipated from the dictates of the great conqueror, the controul or influence of France. he has no prospect, that when summer We conceive, that if this part of the opens the Baltic, he shall see his ports treaty is strictly observed, the Prince revisited by industry and commerce. Regent has ceased to have any influIt is a sad blank which is now before ence in Madeira: and he may now him; and he is of no consequence in the scale of Europe. He must wait fill the contending powers choose to

look upon himself as a South American sovereign. There he may expatiate at large: and if change of situ

ation has given wisdom to his cabinet, both government ships and others he may create a powerful empire; will become very good customers, and happy in having left Europe to be a beneficial trade will be afterwards torn to pieces by its barbarous inha- settled on a permanent footing, for bitants. One article in the Madeira the benefit of both countries. treaty particularly struck us. By the If we knew little of Portugal, still sixth article, the free exercise of re- less do we know of the politics of ligious worship is to be maintained Spain. That French troops are there and protected, as at present establish- in great numbers is certain; but it ed. Now we should be glad to know does not appear, that as yet any whether o actual establecimento, the change has been effected in the goestablished church of Madeira, is to vernment. We cannot doubt, that be maintained, and of course it is to the effect of French influence will be the exclusive worship of the island; soon appear; and, when we recollect or whether by the free exercise of that a Bourbon is sitting on its throne, worship, is meant, that the popish it is not difficult to anticipate what for are to be left uninjured, but will be the result of the motion of the protestants may be at liberty to French armies.. The rumour is reenjoy with equal freedom the exercise vived, that the French and Spanich of their religion. We mention this, force united is to attack Gibraltar, because we have observed, that in ali and a much greater number of engi Bonaparte's treaties, the general free- neers is said to be employed, than dom of religion is studiously inserted: could be necessary upon any other and, whatever may be his crimes, and occasier. The mode of attack is even however detested may be his ty ny, foretold, namely, the blowing up of we cannot but look upon this act, the batteries. This is derided by emanating from high authority, to be numbers, who are yet to learn whit of the utmost consequence to man- can be effected by the art of man; kind. It is a public reaching, which and he who transported cannons over it is a disgrace to Christians to have the Alps; in places where such an atrequired force to inculcate upon them: tempt, before that time, was astmed and we cannot doubt that that irto- ridiculous, is equal to the tack of lerance which has subsisted so long astonishing the word, by a dieplay of among Christians, is one of those the prodi Lous force of the expansion cring, sins, which required the aveng- of gunpowder in subleu,nell chaining and of providence. If freedom bers. We do not clear t e mode of of religion is introduced into Madeira, attack ridiculere, or by any means we shall rejoice that it has fallen into imposer cable; and it wit repre the hands of a protestalt power. the atmox in enuity of the defenders It is too early for us to have any to prevent it, provided that ti e use inteligence respec in the fu.itive slants wi Tect the empanse of such.

prince of Portugal: Fe has not ye' a 1d) thing.

heard, mort probably of the loss of trke renisins eruully un' ewa hi. Atlantic territories, nor is it known to us. We The cert.t of tas o here, upor what conditions we stand that Fre chiefluergens urni respecting him. Commerce, how at the

ever, is beginning to extend her aid as the Christing,

Aaro

to the American sovereign; and the something unt actable or t. Brasilian embassador, if he may now able in our councik; dat they prefer be so called, has adjusted measures, the crocica, tyr of en, at we by which our merchants will have all term it, to the Lid a gea le conthe facilities, that the nature of the diet for which G. st Pin is to case at present admits. They seem, renowned. he Grand igator 18 however, to be sufficiently sale: for gradually acquiring st in gth, and it whether the sovereign will admit is not yet eitained that he is to lose them or not, the wares cannot fail ali bi dominions between the Danube of finding their way into the country, and the Mediteranan. We must Ju the interval of settling the new go- give some time for the schemes of vernment, and making regulations, Bonaparte tureelibe. We cannot

64

State of Public Affairs.

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imagine, that he would travel into way or the other.

These mistaken

Italy without producing some effect writers should cast their eyes upon a globe, and observe the extent of the to astonish mankind.

Nec Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus. Russian empire; they will then see,

that Russia can support itself, indeOur information is so imperfect, pendently of Great Britain, and that that we cannot give a tolerable ac- our friendship or enmity cannot excount even of either the state of Italy, cite any perceptible sentiment in a or the nature of the French force in thinly-scattered population, which is Dalmatia and the borders of Greece. scarcely sensible of war or peace, and It is said, that Sardinia is to be added is completely under military control. to the new kingdom of Italy, and its The great thing we have to dread king is to be indemnified elsewhere, from this empire is, that it will unite of that some new king is to be made, heartily in the views of France, and who is to have this island. The king send forth its hordes to depopulate the of Sicily still remains a king, and the fertile plains of Hindostan. On this Pope has not lost his triple crown: account, it would be extremely debut these are trifling circumstances, sirable to have some intelligence from and Great Britain can no mo: alter Persia: but of that country we know any decision respecting them, than if scarcely any thing, and it is some they were regions in the moon.

consolation to hope that, in that part
of the world at least, humanity enjoys
the blessings of peace, and that degree
of civilisation, which makes social life
happiness, to
capable of enjoying a

Austria is combined with France in
the strictest ties. Its offes of media-
tion will doubtless be well paid for,
and from that court we shall learn the
full nature of the proposed system. which the restless European has long
We cannot but sincerely regret, that been a stranger.
its minister should have been recalled

case

In Germany, the confederacy of by this power, as now no hopes remain the Rhine is settling with a firm and of any mediation between the hostile compact power. Holland is making countries. Of the internal state of new arrangements with France, exAustria we know little; and the ad- changing territories in one place for jacent provinces to the east and south- territories in another; but, unfortuward of it, wavering between Turkish, nately for us, giving France ports, Russian, and Austrian supremacy, which extend its line of sea-coast, wait for that doom, in which Great and increase our danger, in Britain has nothing else to do, but to France should, in the midst of a fulook on and acquiesce: for her in- ture peace, attack us á la mode de Cofluence is annihilated on the conti- penhagen. Of Denmark we have no nent, and neither Austrians, Russians, opportunities of hearing any thing. nor Turks give themselves the least Sweden continues our faithful allyconcern about her hopes or her fears. the only one we have, and he is of no We expect to hear in a Of Russia, the papers delight to use to us. teli us, that the court is with the short time, that he has received from French, but the people with the Eng us a good subsidy in hard dollars, and lish. The former article cannot be has lost Finland. This, with the loss doubted: to the latter we are sorry to of Pomerania, may reconcile him to give no credit. But nothing can be that abridged state, in which he permore ridiculous than the language of haps may be permitted to exist a If sovereign; but, unless there is a the papers upon this subject. a numerous meeting in England or speedy peace between the contending Scotland is assembled, either for peace powers, or he joins those of the conor against peace, of how little weight tinent, we still retain our apprehenis it in the scale of polities; it is de- sious for his safety. France persists in its system of exrided in the newspapers according to cluding Great Britain entirely from the parties which they espouse. these papers pretend to talk of the sen- the continent; and, if we are to timents of the Russian nation, as if the believe the French papers, the whole people in that country had expressed country enters into the views of the those sentiments in any public act, or, sovereign, and is perfectly content to in fact, as if they felt any interest one endure all the restraints, and to ferego

Yet

Ε

all the conveniences, which must arise ficult for them to act. But whatever out of such a system. We do not may be the feelings of the governhear of any petitions for peace in that ment, the people are going on in the country; and, in fact, they have not great work of subduing the earth; the reasons to urge, as are supposed and, whilst the folly of Europe is to have great weight with us; for ne- laying waste fertile regions, America cessity is the mother of invention, is more than compensating for the and there is full employment in that loss, by bringing still larger tracts empire for every hand that is capable under the dominion of a better civiliin labour, and is not employed in the sation. If we carry our eyes to the army. That France can subsist inde- southward, we see in Jamaica some pendeat of commerce, that is, foreign cause of uneasiness. The House commerce, cannot be doubted; for of Assembly has passed very strong her internal resources are inexhaust- resolutions, and expressed very great ible, and every effort is made to bring dissatisfaction at our act of parliament them into play. But, if the alienation on the abolition of the slave trade. of mind between the cabinets of Whether those resolutions originated France and England is doomed to in this country or not, we trust, that run its full career, still we may con- our act of parliament will never be gratulate humanity, that national ha- repealed. If the service of Blacks is tred has not conquered, at least in required, Jamaica must find some France, every sentiment worthy of other means of procuring it than those civilised beings. The emperor had of slavery; or, at least, if it cannot, given to the National Institute the England will not carry on so nefarious sum of three thousand livres, to be a traffic, which must be an eternal assigned to him who had, by the best disgrace to a Christian nation. conducted experiments, exemplified We might carry our views to many the Galvanic system. This prize has, other parts of the habitable earth, but by the Institute, been adjudged to an the state of civilisation does not admit Englishman; and our papers, instead of that free intercourse, which might of applauding its impartiality, are be expected from rational beings, and making this act, in which the sove- which is particularly shut up at prereign was not at all concerned, an sent from this island. It is some couopportunity for inveighing most bit- solation, however to think, that many terly against him. We cannot find parts of the world are perfectly indifferwords to reprobate such infamy. ent to the freaks of fancy, which now It is surely praiseworthy in a so- agitate the two greatest nations of vereign to give encouragement to Europe. The greater part of Africa, science, literature, and the arts; the whole empire of China, the vast and surely it is desirable, that plains of Tartary, are perfectly indifthe odious competitions of mankind, ferent as to the regulations by which their beastly turmoils, and their the French and English mutually enhorrid passions, should be kept as far deavour to embarrass each other. as possible from the regions of science. They scarcely know that two such Science, literature, and the arts belong nations exist; their contests appear an to all mankind; and he who encou- idle tale; their pretended superiority rages them, whatever may be his vices, over all other nations to be ridiculous his crimes, or his failings, deserves in affectation and pride. Yet equally idle this respect well of humanity. We quarrels may agitate these countries, should with pleasure see the appro- not blest with the light of that pure priation of a similar sum of money by religion which has produced so little a British parliament to an equally laudable purpose.

What will be the conduct of the American States, on the arrival of our last regulations respecting com merce, cannot yet be anticipated. They will not readily go to war with us, because their ships must fall a prey to us; at the same time it is very dif UNIVERSAL MAG, VOL. IX.

effect amongst us. They have, it is possible, their just and necessary wars, and they have, some of them, writers and others talkers, to compose manifestos, equally fraught with perfect conviction of the righteousness of the cause, on which chance of birth led them to decide and to exaggerate.

But we may moralise on the folly

Ι

and wickedness of the present times as been acting upon a variety of motives, much as we please, still our anxious whilst the conqueror has had one end care returns to our own country. We in view, and has pursued his great would increase its energies, and pal- end by adequate means. liate its faults; and for ourselves, we In Ireland, a petition is drawn up would endeavour to study its best in- for the emancipation of the Catholics, terests, totally indifferent to those and we are happy to see, that many idle factions, whose chief object is Protestants have declared themselves place, the second their country. It in favour of this measure. The quescannot be doubted that, from what- tion will probably be agitated again in ever cause it has arisen, the country the great council of the nation. The has been brought into a critical state, Bank has had a meeting, and come to a from which it cannot be extricated resolution to assist government with: with honour, without great wisdom loans, and a more advantageous mode and integrity. We now know, that of conducting its business. The corwe are esteemed by the continent to poration of London has amused the resemble the Ancient Britons, and to public by a very disgusting speech be hospitibus feri. The continent has to Sir Home Popham, and mortified suffered enough by our interference, every thinking man, by presenting at and will have no more to do with us. the same time a sword to the brave If the war should end with this deter- general, the hero of Maida. But a mination; if this island were really debate has also taken place in the prevented from ever sending its sub- common council, on the subject of sidies and its men, to stir up nation balioting in the city for militia, in against nation; if it were allowed to which an alderman and representative be only a commercial nation, and to of the city did not scruple to declare have free intercourse with every na- publicly, that he had previously contion, without the trouble of diplomacy; sulted the Chancellor of the Exchewhat a happy æra this would be for quer on the line of conduct which he our country and for mankind. Va- was to adopt. But the great feature rious essays have been written to prove, since our last is the opening of the that England can exist without trade: session of parliament on the 21st, we are inclined to believe, that it when a speech was delivered from the can exist much better with trade, and throne by commission. without incessant warfare to prevent our neighbours from enjoying it.

The speech entered into a justification of the measures that had been The effects of our regulations on adopted since the last meeting, was commerce are not yet perceived. The very prolix, and drawn up, we cannot regulations are made, the sanction of say with very great success, with more the legislature will be wanted to bring attention to style than is usual upon the whole into a complete system. these occasions. As it is supposed to The eyes of the nation have been come from the pen of a gentleman who directed towards the parliament; and prides himself upon his powers of previous to its meeting, two great composition, we recommend to him ineetings have been held,-one at not to fall in future into a very vulgar Glasgow, for perseverance in war, the error in the use of the participle. He other at Leeds, for peace. The body makes his majesty talk of the confedeof the people seems very easy on the racy as being directed "either to the subject, and very wisely so; for they entire subjugation of this kingdom, or cannot at present tell in what state the to the imposing upon his majesty an innation really is; what it is fighting secure and ignominious peace." Now for; what are the objects to be gained the preposition "of", is just as neby continuance in war; and what to cessary before the words an insecure be lost by the restoration of peace to and ignominious peace," as before the the world. It is but too visible, that words "this kingdom;" or else the in every object which this country writer should have changed the phrase, has held out to the continent, it has and said, "to impose upon his mabeen baffled; and it is also evident, jesty an insecure and ignominious that, from the beginning of the revo- peace." It would be beyond our purlution to the present moment, we have pose to enter into farther criticism

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