XXVIII. 1799. HISTORY OF EUROPE. СНАР. that this mighty force was kept up for the mere purpose of an inert and passive defence, and that, by its very constitution, the greater part was disabled from defending us against the enemy by one preventive stroke or one operation of active hostility! What must his reflections be on learning farther, that a fleet of 500 men-of-war, the best appointed that this country ever had upon the sea, was for the greater part employed in the same system of unenterprising defence? What must be the feelings of any one who remembers the former energy of England, when he is given to understand, that these two islands, with their extensive sea-coast, should be considered as a garrisoned sea-town; that its garrison was so feebly commanded as never to make a sally; and that, contrary to all that has been hitherto seen in war, an inferior army, with the shattered relics of an almost annihilated navy, may with safety besiege this superior garrison, and without hazarding the life of a man, ruin the place merely by the menaces and false a Regicide appearances of an attack?" If this was true in 1797, when the indignant statesman wrote these cutting remarks, how much more was it applicable in 1799, when France was reduced to extremities by the forces of Austria and Russia, and the extraordinary energy of the Revolution had exhausted itself? The Archduke Charles indeed has justly observed, that modern history presents few examples of great military operations executed in pursuance of a descent on the sea-coast; and that the difficulties of the passage and the uncertainty of the elements, present the most formidable obstacles in the way of the employArch. Ch. ment of considerable forces in such an enterprise ;* but experience in all ages has demonstrated that they are not insurmountable, and that from military force, 1 Burke on Peace, Works, viii. 374. 2 ii. 165. XXVIII. 1799. thus transported, the greatest results may reasonably CHAP be expected, if sufficient energy is infused into the undertaking. The examples of the overthrow of Hannibal at Zama, of the English at Hastings, of the French at Cressy and Azincour, and of Napoleon in Spain and at Waterloo, prove what can be effected, even by a maritime expedition, if followed up with the requisite vigour. And unquestionably there never was an occasion when greater results might have been anticipated from such an exertion than in this campaign. Had 60,000 native English, constantly fed by fresh supplies from the parent state, been sent to Holland, they would have borne down all opposition, hoisted the Orange flag on all the fortresses of the United Provinces, liberated Flanders, prevented the accumulation of force which enabled Massena to strike his redoubled blows at Zurich, hindered the formation of the army of reserve, and intercepted the thunder of Marengo and Hohenlinden. 1799. 386. The rapid fall of the French military power in 1799 was the natural result of the sudden extension Cause of the of the frontiers of the Republic beyond its strength, the French rapid fall of and affords another example of the truth of the maxim, power in that the more the ambition of a nation in a state of fermentation leads to its extension, the more does it become difficult for it to preserve its conquests.' Such Jom. xii. a state as France then was, with a military power extending from the mouth of the Ems to the shores of Calabria, and no solid foundation for government but the gratification of ambition, has no chance of safety but in constantly advancing to fresh conquests. The least reverse, by destroying the charm of its invincibility, and compelling the separation of its armies to garrison its numerous fortresses, leaves it weak and power СНАР. XXVIII. 1799. HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAP less in the field, and speedily dissolves the splendid fabric. This truth was experienced by the Directory in 1799; it was evinced on a still greater scale, and after still more splendid triumphs, by Napoleon in 1813. It is power slowly acquired and wisely consolidated; authority which brings the blessings of civilisation and protection with its growth; conquests which array the forces of the vanquished states in willing and organized multitudes under the standards of the victor, which alone are durable. Such were the conquests of Rome in the ancient world, such are the conquests of Russia in Europe, and England in India, in modern times. The whirlwinds of Alexander, of Timour, or Napoleon are, ingeneral, as short-lived as the genius which creates them. The conquests flowing from the transient ebullition of popular enthusiasm sink with the decay of the passion from which they spring. Nothing is durable in nature but what has arisen by slow degrees; nothing in the end obtains the mastery of nations but the Power which protects and blesses them. CHAPTER XXIX. FROM THE ACCESSION OF NAPOLEON TO THE OPENING OF NOVEMBER, 1799-MAY, 1800. ARGUMENT. Napoleon's Letter, proposing peace to the British Government-Lord Grenville's answer-M. Talleyrand's reply-Debates on this proposal in Parliament-Arguments of the Opposition for an immediate peace—And of Mr Pitt and the Government for refusing to treat-Parliament resolve to continue the contest-Reflections on this decision of the Legislature—Supplies voted by the British Parliament -Land and sea forces employed-Mr Dundas's India budget-Union with Ireland passes the Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland—Its leading provisions-Views of the leaders on both sides of Parliament on this great change-Great prosperity of the British Empire at this period-Vast change of prices-Statistical details— Bad harvest of 1799, and consequent scarcity in 1800-Great efforts of Government to relieve it, and noble patience of the people-Measures of England and Austria for the prosecution of the war- -Treaties entered into for that purpose with Austria and Bavaria-Military preparations of the Imperialists-Discontented state of the French affiliated Republics-Measures of Napoleon to restore public credit in France-Pacification of La Vendée-Iniquitous execution of Count Lewis Frotte -Napoleon effects a reconciliation with the Emperor Paul-His energetic military measures-Revival of the military spirit in France-His steps to suppress the revolutionary fervour of the people—He totally extinguishes the liberty of the press—And fixes his residence at the Tuileries-Commencement of the etiquette and splendour of the court there Recall of many exiles banished since the 18th Fructidor-Establishment of the secret police—Napoleon's hypocritical Cloge on Washington-Comparison of his system of government with that established by Constantine in the Byzantine empire-Commencement of his great designs for architectural embellishment at Paris-Suppression of the fête on 21st January, and elevation of Tronchet-Correspondence between Napoleon and Louis XVIII.-General improvement in the prospects of France. XXIX. THE first step of Napoleon, upon arriving at the CHAP. consular throne, was to make proposals of peace to the British Government. The debate on that subject in Parliament is the most important that occurred 1799. XXIX. CHAP. during the war, and forms the true introduction to the political history of Europe during the nineteenth century. 1799. Dec. 25, 1799. The letter of Napoleon to the King of England, couched in his usual characteristic language, was in these terms: " Called by the wishes of the French nation to occupy the first station in the Republic, I think it proper on entering into office to make a direct communication to your Majesty. "The war which for eight years has ravaged the Napoleon's four quarters of the globe, is it destined to be eterLetter, pro- nal? Are there no means of coming to an underpeace, to the standing? How can the two most enlightened na posing British ment. tions of Europe, powerful and strong beyond what their independence and safety requires, sacrifice to ideas of vain greatness the benefits of commerce, prosperity, and domestic happiness? How has it happened that they do not feel that peace is of the first necessity as well as the truest glory? "These sentiments cannot be foreign to the heart of your Majesty, who reign over a free nation with the sole desire of rendering it happy. You will see in this overture only the effect of a sincere desire to contribute efficaciously, for the second time, to a general pacification by a step speedy, implying confidence, and disengaged from those forms which, however necessary to disguise the dependence of feeble states, prove only in those which are strong the mutual desire of deceiving each other.' "France and England may, by the abuse of their strength, still for a time, to the misfortune of nations, retard the period of their exhaustion; but I will venture to say, the fate of all civilized nations is attached to the termination of a war which involves the whole world." To this letter the following answer was returned |