conclufions which might at other times be drawn from the particular circumstances of government, the multitude of men, and the military genius which has in all ages characterized that nursery of foldiers, other more immediate circumftances were not wanting to render the profpect of peace precarious.

The vaft and continually increafing armies, which have been kept up fince the conclufion of the late war, by the two powers, who with a decifive controul now fway the motions of the other members of the Germanic body, were of a magnitude far beyond all the interefts of peace; and if not abfolutely beyond the abilities of their respective countries to fupport, were totally inconfiftent with the cafe and profperity of the people for whofe protection they were fuppofed to be formed. Indeed thefe powers feem "fo fenfible of the fatal confequences of fuch a drain from population, and fuch a withdrawing of ftrength from the labours of the earth, that both of them have adopted the remedy of encouraging matrimony in their armies; and one allows his foldiers, in rotation, to apply their hands to the neceffary occupations of field labour. Thus we may in time behold hereditary armies; and the countries of Europe may fee a new order of men grow up amongst them, who, from father to fon, inherit manners, principles, and interefts, feparate and diftinct from thofe of the community at large.

Nor did the increase of thofe ar

mies exceed the conftant attention which was paid to their perfection in military fkill, and in the dexterity of military evolution; whilft the abundant provifion for war which was made in their refpective

A

ftates kept pace with both. It might indeed have been imagined upon a flight view, that the fudden friendship which fprung up between the two great monarchs in queftion, would have been in fome degree a pledge for the public quiet and fecurity; but to thofe of a fhrewder turn and clofer obfervation, it is 'probable that their friendship ap peared more dangerous than their enmity.

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Some particular circumstances perhaps preferved the tranquillity of Germany for a longer space of time, than the appearances of things feemed to indicate, or men in general to expect. The near equipoize of power, military ftrength, and of the means and refources of war, between the houses of Auftria and Brandenburg, might produce, for fome time, and in fome degree, fimilar effects, with thofe which would have arifen from a ftate of mutual inability. The affairs of Poland, which feemed at firft calculated to fcatter firebrands and defolation over every part of the North, produced a directly contrary effect. They not only drew off for fome years the attention of thofe great powers from domeftic, or other matters, and at the fame time occupied the hands of a dangerous and equally great neighbour; but the fhare which they all obtained in the partition of that ancient kingdom, would have feemed well calculated to appéafe the infupportable cravings of ambition, if long experience had not demonftrated, that the appetite in that diftemper becomes more infatiate, in proportion to the greater quantity of food which is adminiftered to its fupply.

The King of Pruffia feems the only power to whom the independ

ent

ent Princes and free cities of Germany can, with any degree of certainty, look up for fupport against the great and increafing ftrength of the Houfe of Auftria; a house, to which the prerogatives, the peculiar powers and undefined claims, appertaining to the title and office of Emperor, may now be nearly confidered as an appendage. No union of the leffer ftates, could now, as heretofore, form a fufficient weight to counterbalance in any degree that power. Befides the natural imperfection and inftability which muft neceffarily attend fuch an union, compofing an illconnected body, with a number of difunited heads, it would undoubtedly be found greatly deficient in the mere article of strength.

On the other hand, the House of Auftria is at prefent a neceffary curb on the fuddenly grown power, and the ambitious views of that of Brandenburg. Between both, the leffer ftates, by a prudent and watchful attention to the prefervation of that ballance of power in Germany, which has fo unac countably, and perhaps fatally, been worn out of memory in the general fyftem f Europe, may fill long continue to preferve their independence. A neglect of this political principle, will probably occafion one of the fcales to preponderate, which, in the nature of things, muft prove dangerous, if not ruinous, to the independency of the Germanic body.

But, if that rage of dominion, and fpirit of arbitrary power and encroachment, which feem at prefent fo generally prevalent in Europe, fhould unite thofe two great powers in a common league against

the independency of the other Princes, and the liberties of the free cities, it feems evident that no force within the empire could preferve the Germanic body in its prefent form. Poland has afforded a recent inftance, that quietnefs, an inability to offer injury or wrong, with many ufeful and valuable properties of good neighbourhood, afford no protection against the luft of power, and the rage of ambition; whilft Dantzick prefents an yet living example to the free cities, that the ruft of parchments, and the venerable antiquity of immunities, offer no better defences against fuch enemies. From what every body has feen, and from a ftate of public affairs and general difpofition, which cannot escape common obfervation, it feems not impoffible, that the greater part of Europe might continue indifferent fpectators of fuch an event. does it feem lefs probable, that Ruffia, though deftitute of liberty herfelf, (and perhaps, at prefent, incapable of it) would, notwithftanding, be the only power which would interfere in fuch a caufe, and to whom the Germanic body might owe the prefervation of its independence and liberties.

Nor

which otherwife might for fome time longer have been referved in

darkness.

Maximilian Jofeph, the late Elector of Bavaria, died

1777.

Dec. 30th, of the fmall-pox at Munich, in the 51ft year of his age, and on the laft day but one of the old year. The death of this Prince, without iffue, totally extinguished the male Guillielmine or Ludovician line of Bavaria, which had been in poffeffion of that dutchy for near five hundred years. This Prince was fucceeded, both in the electoral dignity, and his dominions at large, by his general heir, Charles Theodore, the Elector Palatine of the Rhine. The large allodial eftates of Bavaria, with feveral particular territorial acquifitions, which were obtained at different times, and held by different tenures, from that of the grand fief, were alfo open to feveral claimants, whofe titles were to be difcuffed, and rights legally determined, according to the general laws and conftitutions of the empire.

The Elector Palatine, at the time of his acceffion to the Bavarian dominions, was newly entered into the 54th year of his age, and having no iffue, the large poffeffions of the double electorate, with the dignity appertaining to one, were in the expectation of his apparent heir, the Duke of Deuxponts, who was the nearest relation in the male Palatine line. The prefent Elector is much celebrated for the liberality of his fentiments and difpofition; for his affection to learning and the fine arts; and for that happy ftate of freedom and ease, in which men of genius of all kinds, and of all countries, have

for many years, amidst the hofpitality and pleasures of his elegant court at Manheim, forgotten all the inequalities of fortune and condition. The particular circumftances of fituation, the temper and difpofition we have defcribed, with the habits of life confequent of them, will ferve to explain fome parts of his fubfequent conduct, and account for that flexibility, with which he feemed to facrifice his rights to the love of ease, and defire of tranquillity.

But

As the courfe of the fucceffion to Bavaria had been fettled for ages, was known to every body, and had been even prepared for by the late Prince, the Elector found no diffi culty in taking poffeffion of that dutehy with the Upper Palatinate, and of receiving the willing homage of his new fubjects. before he could feel his new fituation, he unexpectedly found that he had a rival of fuch fuperior power and greatnefs to encounter, that all competition on his fide would not only be futile, but that the desparity was fo great, as to render all appearance of oppofition even ridiculous. He had scarcely arrived in his new capital of Munich, before the Auftrian troops, who had been evidently ftationed on the frontiers for the purpose, and only waiting for an account of the event of the late Elector's death, poured on all fides into the Lower Bavaria, and feized upon every place they came to. In the mean time, another ftrong body advanced on the fide of Egra to the Upper Palatinate, where the regency in vain pleaded the laws of the empire, and the rights of fovereignty, against the entrance of foreign troops.

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