LINES, addreft to a Gentleman and his Family on their Departure from their Country-Houfe, in September, 1800. I. WHILE, joyous 'mid WHILE, joyous 'mid the vernal blooms, II. her charming NIECE? ELEGANS FORMARUM SPECTATOR. Goldfinches, that regularly build their nefts in the author's garden; but, after the nefting-feafon, difappear, and are feen no more. WE HISTORY. SUMMARY OF POLITICS. VE are ftill doomed to remain in a state of uncertainty, `respecting the real intentions of the Continental Powers. The Emperor of Germany has, indeed, rejected the propofitions for peace which Bonaparte had fubmitted to him, and has determined to take upon himself the command of his army; but what impression these propofitions have made on the minds of the Emperor of Ruffia, and the King of Pruffia, on whofe decifion and movements the fuccefs of future hoftilities fo effentially depend, we have not yet the means of afcertaining. We believe it will be difficult, if not impoffible, to find, in the annals of Europe, any propofitions, from one power to another, that breathe fuch a fpirit of infolence, arrogance, and prefumption, as the terms prefcribed by the upftart tyrant of the French Republic to the Emperor of Germany. They clearly demonstrate his fixed refolution to adhere ftrictly to all the plans formed by the early revolutionifts, by Briffot, Roberfpierre, Carnot, La Reveillere Lepaux, cum multis aliis, ejufdem farina, to impofe laws upon Eu rope, with a view to pave the way for the deftruction of all exifting inftitutions, and for the introduction of a general revolution. It was with this view, that Bonaparte destroyed all the fortreffes of Piedmont, and ftipulated for the demolition of all those which are fituated on the Banks of the Rhine, that he might experience no impediment hereafter to the projected irruption, at a fit opportunity, of his revolutionary hordes into the heart of Italy, and of Germany. If any man doubt the real existence of fuch a project, at this advanced stage of the Revolution, his incredulity must be incurable, and we fhall make no attempt to remove it. We are happy to fay, that all our own communications from the Continent combine, with general appearances, to strengthen the belief, that Ruffia and Pruffia will not much longer remain paffive spectators of the rapid progrefs of the French arms, and of revolutionary principles; but that they will foon interfere efficaciously to restore the ancient equilibrium of Europe. We have also reafon to hope that the Emperor of Germany, if he have really entertained any improper views of ambition and aggrandizement, which have given just umbrage to any other powers, has at length been convinced of their im propriety and impolicy, and is determined henceforth to act upon more equitable and upright principles. Heaven fend, that all the powers of Europe may now open their eyes to their own intereft, and facrifice all private views of felf-aggrandizement to the general good of the civilized world! Nothing can be more obvious than the inten tion of Bonaparte to execute the projects of his predeceffors, and revolutionize Europe; as we expected, his vanity has overcome his prudence, he has completely thrown off the maik, and now exhibits himfelf to the world in his true colours. All must now fee him as he is, except thofe who are wilfully blind; and their eyes we shall not attempt to open. Some mifunderstanding, it feems, had taken place at the Court of Petersburgh, in confequence of falfe and exaggerated statements of the fpirited and highly laudable conduct of our Miniftry to the King of Denmark; and the Emperor Paul had actually laid an embargo on all the British vessels in his ports; but this restraint was removed the mo ment the true circumftances of the cafe were afcertained. A revolutionary fpirit, ftrongly ftimulated by the agents of Bonaparte, has again appeared in the dominions of the King of the two Sicilies, and his Majefty's life is fuppofed to be in imminent danger from the treasonable fury of the infurgents. This is a natural confequence of the diffusion of French principles, and a man may as rea fonably fonably expect to remain cool in the midft of flames, as a Monarch t be fafe while the French Republic exifts. To us this appears fo felfevident that we should be ashamed to reafon upon it. In the interior of France, the fame tyranny on the part of the Ufurper, and the fame pufillanimity on the part of his flaves, ftill continue to prevail. Moft of the emigrants who had been allowed to return, have been put in requifition, and ordered to fight against their lawful Sovereign and his faithful defenders! Others have received the tyrant's mandate to quit the country! Such is the boafted toleration, fuch are the Anti-Jacobinical principles, of the Atheist-MusfulmanPapist, Bonaparte! It was our intention to complete, in this number, our account of the proceedings of the American Commiffioners refpecting the demands of British Claimants, but, having received, among a variety of American publications, one pamphlet on this very subject, we embraced the opportunity to include our final remarks, in the review of that book, which appears in the Appendix to our fixth volume, where much interefting matter refpecting the prefent ftate of politics and literature in America will be found. It is with infinite concern, that we advert to the public diftur bances which have, in the course of this month, prevailed in the metropolis, to the utter difgrace of its police. Much fulfome adu lation has been lavished upon the chief magiftrate of the city for his conduct on the occafion. While we admit, that he difplayed great activity and zeal; that whatever praife may be due to moderation he richly deferves; we cannot withhold our opinion, that had he acted with equal firmnefs and vigour, he might, probably, have entirely fuppreffed the riots on the firft, and most certainly, on the fecond day, of their appearance. This is not the place to difcufs the humanity or inhumanity of decifive meafures on the first appearance of popular tumults; but, in our apprehenfion, the French revolution has completely decided that question. The populace difplayed their ufual wifdom and difcrimination in their proceedings on this occafion; they fought to lower the price of four by threatening the deftruction of the mills; to reduce the price. of corn by the demolition of lamps and windows; and to bring a fuperabundance of provifions to market by deftroying the property, and attacking the perfons, of all who frequent it! In thort the inevitable tendency of their conduct was to defeat the very end which they profeffed an anxiety to promote! It is a melancholy confideration, and certainly indicates fome radical defect in the fyftem of our municipal laws, that a licentious rabble fhould be enabled to keep the metropolis in a conftant ftate of alarm, for fix fucceffive days, and to commit numerous acts of violence, and yet elude punishment, and even prevent the wholefome effect of one folitary example! Whether our laws, or their interpreters, are to blame, we shall not prefume to decide; but when there exits a law which inflicts the punishment of death on any man who fhall begin to demolijh a house; and find, that an active rioter who is proved to have thrown for an half half-an hour together, stones of a very large fize, which not only broke the windows, but the window frames, fplit the window, fhutters, and broke in pieces one of the pannels of the door, is not confidered as having begun to demolish the houfe, we can only exprefs our furprize that words inferted in an act of parliament have not the fame meaning which they have when they appear in any other fpecies of compofition, or when they are uttered in common converfation. But if we have to lament the inefficacy of the laws in one refpect (an inefficacy which may be easily and which ought to be fpeedily remedied) we have to congratulate our coutrymen on the noble difplay of loyalty, fpirit, and zeal by the different volunteer corps which have food forward on this occafion. Their conduct must have convinced the riotous, and the difaffected, that, without the affistance of any regular force, good order may, at all times, be preferved, and domeftic treafon checked in the bud; a moft confolatory reflection to every true friend to his King and country! Thefe genuine patriots have met with the reward which they are ever most ambitious to obtain, in the expreffed approbation of their Sovereign, and the general applaufe of their loyal fellow-fubjects. The noble Duke who prefides over the home-department of the itate, with so much honour to himfelf and advantage to the country, has alfo declared his particular fatisfaction with another description of men, to whose active exertions he afcribed the prevention of farther mifchief; the police-Magistrates of the metropolis. The beneficial effects of that excellent establishment are not yet fufficiently underftood; but we have little hesitation in imputing to it the tran quillity and good order which generally prevail in a capital, that contains upwards of a million of inhabitants; and when it shall have received the extenfion and improvement of which it is capable, its good confequences will become too manifeft not to be univerfally acknowledged. The determined Jacobins difapproved of the proceedings of the mob, as not fufficiently fyftematic, nor fufficiently decidve; they heartily, however, wifhed them fuccefs, and even ftrove to promote it, by fanuing the flame when it was once lighted, by fending their emiffaries among them, and by fupplying an adequate number of inflammatory hand-bills which they keep in conflant readiness for employment on every favourable occafion. Had not the efforts of the magistracy and the prefence of the volunteers, broke the fpirit of the populace, and checked their deftructive career, the Jacobins had refolved to rejoin them, as foon as their co-operation could be attended with the defired effect. When the chief magiftrate of the city endeavoured to quell the tumult in Bifhopfgate-Street, where the mob attempted to demolish the houfe of a tradesman, but were prevented by the timely arrival of that meft refpectable corps, the Honourable Artillery Company, led by their worthy commander, Colonel Le Mefurier, who never waits the flow operation of official inftructions where delay may de 118 HISTORY, CORRESPONDENTS, &c. prive him of the opportunity of rendering a public fervice, was af tended by a notorious leader of oppofition and the proprietor of a Jacobin paper. The former had the audacity to question an officer of the City Light Horfe as to the cause and motive of his attendance; but the answer which he received was admirably calculated to check fuch impertinence, the end and object of which were too obvious to be mistaken, and to teach him that in the fuppreffion of a lawless rabble no diftinction will ever be made between a fenator and a fhoeblack. The latter, by way of co-operating with his friend, had the temerity to publifh in his paper the treafonable hand-bill, which the Lord Mayor had been fo laudably anxious to fupprefs, and for the discovery of the author of which a very confiderable reward had been offered. It is needlefs for us to obferve that the republication and confequent circulation of this atrocious libel, fubject the proprietor of the paper to the fame punishment which the law prefcribes for its original au thor. Its republication, too, was accompanied with fome fuitable comments, in which it was plainly afferted, that the TAXES hat enhanced the price of every article of life; that there was a real fcarcity; that what had been faid on the Bench, refpecting monopolizers and foreftallers was grofs and iniquitous calumny; that every fheaf of corn had been brought to market; that no wheat was left on hand; that the foreign wheat was fo damaged and unwholesome as to have occafioned an epidemic in the country; and, laftly, that the millers are all deftitute of corn. To characterize fuch obfervations, in which falfhood and malevolence feem to difpute the pre-eminence, would be an useless task. It certainly requires no vigour beyond the law to fix their character, to define their tendency, and to reward their author. TO CORRESPONDENTS. WE fhall be happy to hear again from X. Q. S. We never faw the work recommended to our attention by "a Conftant Reader.” "The Recruiting Officer's Speech" is received and will be noticed hereafter. Mr. Walker's Letter to Mr. Boëttiger, inferted in Wieland's New German Mercury will appear in our next. Robur ab jufto is intended for infertion in the fame Number. ERRATUM. T OUR Readers are defired to correct a mistake in the Review of Mr. Bingley's Tour round North Wales, P. 410. Vol. VI. where the Mona Antiqua of Rowland, is quoted instead of the Cambrian Regifter, as the authority for a curious account of a fect of Welsh Methodists. |