"The vexation of Russian commerce by Great Britain is, in truth, little more than an imaginary grievance. Upon a diligent examination, made by his Majesty's command, of the records of the British Court of Admiralty, there has been discovered only a solitary instance in the course of the present war, of the condemnation of a vessel really Russian : a vessel which had carried naval stores to a port of the common enemy. There are but few instances of Russian vessels detained, and none in which justice has been refused to a party regularly complaining of such detention. It is there It swer to that proposal. And his Majesty fore matter of surprise, as well as of concern to his Majesty, that the Emperor of Russia should have condescended to bring forward a complaint, which, as it cannot be seriously felt by those (7). "Sophistry and hypocrisy add to in whose behalf it is urged, might the sentiment of disgust which is felt at appear to be intended to countenance reading such absurdities. However horthose exaggerated declamations, by which rible the principle of perpetual war may France perseveringly endeavours to in- be, it would be less shameful to avow it: flame the jealousy of other countries, and there is a sort of greatness in boldly proto justify her own inveterate animosity claiming crimes. England says, that she against Great Britain" (6). has not refused the mediation offered by (6). "It is true that the Admiralty the Emperor of Russia; and yet the very Court has only condemned one Russian day that her note appeared in answer to ship, but this argument is not less falla- that offer, her troops entered Copenhagen, cious; more than one hundred Russian declaring, in this manner, war, not only ships have been obliged to change the against Russia, but against Austria, and course of their voyage, have been subject the whole of the Continent. Her answer to odious searches, and been detained in to the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh was read England. Since the Manifesto of the Ca. by the light of the conflagration of Copenbinet of London, more than twelve of hagen. And what was that answer? That those ships which were detained at the England wished to know the bases of the time that the Russians fought for the cause negociation.-How wretched a shift, when of England, have been already condemned. the question involved such important inIt is not then to the Admiralty Court that terests! Lord Yarmouth and Lord Lauapplication ought to have been made to derdale knew those bases: let it be asked verify the occasions of Russia's complaints. of them; whether they believe Fiance It is the registers of the cruizers at sea, wished for peace. The most desirable and of the Commanders of the ports, which basis was disclosed in the notes of Russia, ought to have been cousulted It is a since she offered her mediation for a strange manner of proving that one has just and honourable peace. England dedone no wrong to seck the proofs of those wrongs where they do not exist." manded a guarantee, and the Emperor of Russia offered his. Was there on earth a "His Majesty did not refuse the guarantee more powerful and more aumediation of the Emperor of Russia; gust? As to the communication of the although the offer of it was accompanied Secret Articles concerning you, what right by circumstances of concealment which had you to ask for them, since none such might well have justified his refusal. existed? What was your real intention? The articles of the Treaty of Tilsit were To refuse the mediation. You have renot communicated to his Majesty and fused it; and the hand which signed the specifically that article of the Treaty, refusal was then reeking with the blood in virtue of which the mediation was pre- of Danes, the dearest and oldest of the posed; and which prescribed a limited Allies of Russia.” time for the return of his Majesty's an "The complete abandonment of the interests of the King of Prussia, (who (9). This paragraph contains only had twice rejected proposals of separate false assertions. No new contributions peace, from a strict adherence to his en- have been laid upon the Prussian States; gagements with his Imperial Ally), and but those which had been imposed during the character of those provisions, which the war were to be discharged. All the the Emperor of Russia was contented countries between the Niemen and the to make for his own interests in the ne- Vistula, forming a population of more gociations of Tilsit, presented no encou- than a million, have been evacuated: raging prospect of the result of any the rest has not; and the reason it has not exertions which his Imperial Majesty is, because the Treaty has not fixed the might be disposed to employ in favour period for its evacuation: because the of Great Britain." (8) preliminary arrangements with the King (8). "Prussia had lost all its states: of Prussia are not yet terminated; because Memel was on the point of being taken the expedition to Copenhagen has recently from its Sovereign. The Cabinet of Lon- thrown more uncertainty into the affairs don was one of the causes of this unfor- of the North of Europe; because the tunate situation, since it had been one of Prussian Minister (who, according to the the causes of the war, by insinuating to ancient policy of his Cabinet, has, by perPrussia that France intended to restore fidious communications, given such good Hanover to the King of England. Is it by information to the British Cabinet) is still the assistance of England that the King of in London; because English vessels have Prussia has been extricated from a desperate been received at Memel; because, in short, situation? It was the Emperor of Russia, in the extraordinary circumstances in which who fought for him, and caused the re- the acts of injustice on the part of Great storation of his Crown. This is a strange Britain have placed Europe, Russia and manner of abandoning his Allies. The France must understand each other (ont old Allies of England would be very à s'entendre). As to the death of indihappy, if they had only to complain of being abandoned in the same way. It is certain, that France did twice propose to Prussia a separate peace; but it was well understood, at a time when she had not the generous interposition of Russia in her favour, that the Prussian territory was not to have been evacuated until the English should have made peace." viduals, subjects of his Prussian Majesty, and the surrender of Prussian fortresses which could not be reduced during the war, these assertions are altogether unintelligible. France has, on the contrary, restored two more fortresses to Prussia, Cossel and Gratz. The French make war loyally, and certainly do not put to death the peaceful subjects of conquered countries. They do "It is not, while a French army still not seize the property of individuals; they occupies and lays waste the remain- protect it. People of the Continent, read ing dominions of the King of Prussia, the maritime code of Engiand, and you in spite of the stipulations of the Prus- will see what her code on land would be sian treaty of Tilsit; while contribu- were she as powerful there as she is on tions are arbitrarily exacted by France the ocean. She does not seize merely the from that remnant of the Prussian mo- ships of the Princes with whom she is at narchy, such as, in its entire and most war, but also of merchant vessels which flourishing state, the Prussian Monarchy transport private property. There is no would have been unable to discharge; difference in the eye of equity between while the surrender is demanded, in magazines of merchandize belonging to time of peace, of Prussian fortresses, individuals in conquered countries, and which had not been reduced during the the goods of traders which are stowed in and while the power of France merchant vessels. According to the reis exercised over Prussia with such lations of equity, there is no difference shameless tyranny, as to designate, and between merchant vessels and convoys of demand for instant death, individuals, goods transported by land from Hamburgh subjects of his Prussian Majesty, and to Berlin, or from Trieste to Germany; resident in his dominions, upon a charge and have the French armies been ever of disrespect towards the French Go- known to arrest such convoys? Have we vernment-it is not while all these not seen Lord Keith attempt to seize, at things are done and suffered, under the Genoa, vessels which were in port, and eyes of the Emperor of Russia, and 'goods which were in the possession of the without his interference on behalf of his merchants of that city? He did but apply Ally, that his Majesty can feel himself on land the principles of the maritime code called upon to account to Europe for of England. The Austrians and Prince de having hesitated to repose an unconditi- Von Hohenzollern, who commanded them, onal confidence in the efficacy of his were indignant at such oppression: they Imperial Majesty's mediation." (9). resisted them, and the battle of Marengo war; Of this bringing, a few days afterwards, the French natural trade, and that they do not sensibly into Genoa, also brought back the security feel the sacrifices which they make in withof private property. Whence, then, does drawing so many hands from the cultivaso different a conduct arise? The one is tion of their so fertile soil. In possession the result of the atrabilarious and unjust of a fine country, they wish to addict thempolicy of England, and the other of the selves to the conquests of commerce and liberal policy and civilization of France. industry; but your tyranny will not suffer If, on her part, she were mistress of the them. You have roused a giant, who, seas, she would be seen attacking none having roused, you continue to irritate inbut armed vessels; she would be seen even cessantly. During fifteen years, your inprotecting the property of the subjects of justice has only tended to add to his energy those states with which she might be at and power, which your perseverance in war. If we wish to compare the spirit of your tyranny will still increase. He not liberality and the civilization of the two only will not lay down his arms, but he will nations, we should take as the terms of augment his force until he has conquered this comparison the French code of war the liberty of the seas, which is his first on land, and its application to individuals right, and the patrimony of all nations. If and property, and the maritime code of the afflicting consequences of war are prothe English and its application to the in- tracted, if the French troops continue a dividuals and property that are found on burthen to the territories which they octhe ocean." cupy, you are the cause. All the calami"But what motive could have induced ties which oppress Europe, proceed from the Ministers of London to mention you alone. These great questions are not Prussia in this Manifesto? Is it the inte- to be resolved by diplomatic common-places. rest of Prussia! But if the interest of When you are disposed to make peace, Prussia touched them, they would have France will be ready to make it. accepted the mediation of Russia. Why you cannot be ignorant; you well know do they publish at this hour this indiscreet it. An anecdote generally known may be paragraph, which clearly shews that the quoted in support of this assertion: When spirit which has already caused the Cabinet the Imperial Guard set out for Jena, and it of Berlin to take so many false steps, is yet was known that the Emperor was to join in motion? Is it to be useful to Prussia, the army a few days after, Lord Lauderdale and to conciliate for her the interest of asked M. Champagny, whether, if EngFrance, of which, under the present cir- land made peace, the Emperor Napoleon cumstances, she stands in so great need? would consent to stop and countermand France has evacuated many countries, Eng- the march of his troops against Prussia. Fand not one: and the preliminary basis The Emperor replied in the affirmative. of all these negociations was the uti possi- With one word you could have saved Prusdetis. When the French treat with their sia. By preventing the fall of this power, enemies, they either change the govern- you would have maintained on the Elbe ments guilty of having united with Eng- that barrier so necessary to your dearest inland against the interests of the Continent, terests, the re-establishment of which in or if they evacuate a conquered country, it future is impossible." is in consequence of a durable peace, all the conditions of which are observed; and as they are never seen to attack their allies without a declaration of war, or treacherously surprize their capitals, so they are never seen to quit a fortress before its fate has been determined by negociation. The English attack for the sake of plunder, and retire when they have burnt and pillaged all before them. This war is well suited to them, for it is a war of pirates. When they once entered Copenhagen, they should have remained there until peace was concluded. Nothing could equal the infamy of their attack, but the dishonour of their disgraceful flight. But while the alledged rejection of the Emperor of Russia's mediation be tween Great Britain and France is stated as a just ground of his Imperial Majesty's resentment, his Majesty's request of that mediation, for the re-establishment of peace between Great Britain and Denmark, is represented as an insult which it was beyond the bounds of his Imperial Majesty's moderation to endure." (10.) (10.) The Emperor of Russia must necessarily be offended at the communication that Mr. Canning made to Mr. Ryder (M. Rist,) and in which the English Minister declares himself certain that Russia "But if it were true that the French would guarantee Denmark from the just have exacted a little from their enemies, resentment of France, if after having sufwhy should they not in fact? They have fered its independence to be violated, 800,000 troops, and they are ready to make and its fleet to be carried away, Denmark every sacrifice to double their force, if it should constitute itself into a British proshould be necessary; not that war is their vince. This falsehood had no effect but to irritate the Prince Royal: it could not im- occupy Copenhagen, and that she durst not pose upon any body. England wished do, or to evacuate Copenhagen, the conseRussia to guarantee Denmark from the re- quence of which she knew would be, that sentment of France, at the time when she the Sound would be for ever shut against declared that she offered violence to Den- her. She then had the meanness to have mark only to guarantee herself from the recourse to the mediation of Russia. She secret engagements contracted at Tilsit, by laid open her character; she thought she the Emperor of Russia. It is really hard could impose upon the Emperor Alexto determine which is the most remarkable ander; but she could obtain nothing by a in this instance the bad reasoning, or the proceeding rendered odious by this very immorality, of the Cabinet of London." opinion. Russia replied to her with silence "But, until the Russian Declaration of contempt, and by fortifying Cronstadt was published, his Majesty had no reason and her coasts. This proceeding of Eng-· to suspect that any opinions which the land, then, proves one thing: namely, that Emperor of Russia might entertain of she did not think that Russia had formed the transactions at Copenhagen could be secret engagements at Tilsit, contrary to such as to preclude his Imperial Majesty her interests. This truth, established in from undertaking, at the request of so many ways in these notes, overturns all Great Britain, that same office of medi- the scaffolding of the English Manifesto." ator, which he had assumed with so` much alacrity on the behalf of France. -Nor can his Majesty forget that the first symptoms of reviving confidence, since the peace of Tilsit, the only prospect of success in the endeavours of his Majesty's ambassador to restore the ancient good understanding between Great Britain and Russia, appeared, when the intelligence of the siege of Copenhagen had been recently received at St. Petersburgh." (11.) If (11.) If the Emperor of Russia has shewa England the first symptoms of reviv ing confidence after the Peace of Tilsit, it is not consequently true that he has concluded at Tilsit secret arrangements, which places him at enmity with England. those demonstrations have taken place at the moment when the investment of Copenhagen was known at St. Petersburgh, it was not because the Emperor of Russia felt no resentment; it was because he felt some hopes of softening the ferocity of England by gentle measures; it was because he wished to interfere to save his unfortunate Ally; it was because, ignorant of the causes of the Expedition to Copenhagen, knowing that he had given no pretence for it directly or indirectly, he was able to persuade himself for some time that England had some reasons to induce her to take so important a step. He was, however, better informed by the communications of the Prince Royal, by the communications of England herself, by the Manifesto of the English General, which explained the odious pretensions of his government; and then he demanded that the attack of Copenhagen should cease. England answered hun by setting Copenhagen in flames and carrying away the feet." "The inviolability of the Baltic sea, and the reciprocal guarantees of the powers that border upon it, guarantees said to have been contracted with the knowledge of the British government, are stated as aggravations of his Majesty's proceedings in the Baltic. It cannot be intended to represent his Majesty as having at any time acquiesced in the principles upon which the inviolability of the Baltic is maintained; however his Majesty may, at particular periods, have forborne, for special reasons, influencing his conduct at the time, to act in contradiction to them. Such forbearance never could have applied but to a s'ate of peace and real neutrality in the North; and his Majesty most assuredly could not be expected to recur to it, after France has been suffered to establish herself in undisputed sovereignty along the whole coast of the Baltic sea, from Dantzic to Lube." (12.) (12.) "Why should not England con sent to the inviolability of the Baltic If it be not an enclosed sea, why do the English vessels pay toll at Elsineur!" "Nor can his Majesty conceive, that in proposing to the Prince Royal terms of peace, such as the most successful war on the part of Denmark could hardly have been expected to extort from Great Britain, his Majesty rendered himself liable to the imputation, either of exasperating the resentment, or of outraging the dignity, of Denmark.” (13.) (18.) "Europe will judge whether thesc conditions are such as Denmark could hardly obtain by the most successful war. England required, 1. That the Danish Navy should be given up to her in deposit till peace. "After this operation, the most fatal for 2. That the just indignation produced England of all the enterprizes which she by the attack upon Copenhagen, should has ever undertaken, she had only two give way to friendly sentiments towards courses to pursue either to continue to England. 3. That the Danish Army should take France, Austria, Russia, require, that the part against France, and carry on the war for England. "We should add to all the advantages offered by these fine terms granted by EngIand the loss of the Danish possessions in Germany, which France would have seized, and upon which territories she would have beaten the English, if she allowed them to and there. "We should in vain look for the traces of any calculation, for any appearance of reason in such arguments.-The fact is, that the British Councils are guided by precipitation and ignorance, and that in what the government says, does, or intends, no objects, view, or motive can be discovered." "His Majesty has thus replied to all the different accusations by which the Russian Government labours to justify the rupture of a connexion which has subsisted for ages, with reciprocal advantage to Great Britain and Russia; and attempts to disguise the operation of that external influence by which Russia is driven into unjust hostilities for interests not her own." (14.) Danish fleet should be restored; that reparation should be made to the Prince Royal; that the English people, following the example of the Romans upon a similar occasion, should surrender into the hands of the Prince Royal the person who advised the expedition against Copenhagen; that the houses destroyed in that city should be rebuilt at the expence of England; and finally, that his Britannic Majesty should disavow the outrage offered to all Sovereigns. This is far distant from the proposals made by England." "The requisition of his Imperial Majesty, for the immediate conclusion, by his Majesty, of a Peace with France, is as extraordinary in the substance, as it is offensive in the manner. His Majesty, has at no time declined to treat with France, when France has professed a willingness to treat on an admissible basis. And the Emperor of Russia cannot fail to remember, that the last negociation between Great Britain and France was broken off upon points immediately affecting, not his Majesty's own interests, but those of his Imperial Ally. But his Majesty neither understands, nor will he admit, the pretension of the Emperor of Russia, to dictate the time, or the mode, of his Majesty's pacific negociations with other powers. It never will be endured by his Majesty, that any Government shall indemnify itself for the humiliation of subserviency to France, by the adoption of an insulting and peremptory tone towards Great Britain." (16.) (14.)" So that Russia has no interest in going to war with England; for the interests of commerce and navigation concern not the Russians. They have no interest in the independence of the Baltic; for an order of the English Council has stripped the Baltic of its independence, and another order of the same Council might decide that they had no interest in the navigation of the Neva. The object which all the powers propose to themselves, in re-establishing the liberty of the seas, and restoring peace to Europe, is an object foreign to (16.) “ When a person endeavours to Russia. Russia, for the last hundred years, support a cause which has neither truth has derived such advantages from her con- nor justice in it, he should do it with abinection with England, that she has nothing lity, and there is no ability displayed in the. further to wish for. These great advan- remarkable assertion contained in the foltages consist in a Treaty of Commerce, which has fettered and ruined the industry and commerce of Russia; but since this Treaty has eminently contributed to the pros perity of England, what signifies if it has all the effects upon Russia of a perpetual frost" "The termination of the war with Denmark has been so anxiously sought by his Majesty, that it cannot be necessary for his Majesty to renew any professions upon that subject. But his Majesty is at a loss to reconcile the Emperor of Russia's present anxiety for the completion of such an arrangement, with his Imperial Majesty's recent refusal to contribute his good offices for effecting it." (15.) (15.) His Britannic Majesty labours here under a great embarrassment, and his Council is not fruitful in expedients. lowing paragraph: The last negociation between France and England was broken off upon points immediately affecting, not his Majesty's own interests, but those of his Imperial Ally.' People of Europe, hear this. It was not France which opposed peace; it was not the important interests of England which prevented it; it was Russia alone which then threw obstacles in the way. Well then, when this obstacle no longer exists, why does England object to peace? Why does she, in place of nego ciating, ask upon what basis France is willing to treat? Why does she violate the flag of every nation? Why does she maintain the whole world in that state of irritation and violence which oppresses aй nations, and is a burthen to all sovereigns? Every Englishman should blush at being governed by such men. "We shall make no observations upon |
