History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in M.DCC.LXXXIX. to the Restoration of the Bourbons in M.DCCC.XV.

1. "THE world," said Napoleon, | destruction. He fell at last, not be"believe me the enemy of peace; but cause he opposed, but because he I must fulfil my destiny. I am forced yielded to, the evil spirit of his times; to combat and conquer in order to pre- because, instead of checking, he fanserve. You must accomplish some- ned the flame of revolutionary ambithing new every three months in order tion converted by his genius into that to captivate the French people. With of military conquest; and continually them, whoever ceases to advance is advanced before a devouring fire, lost." Continual progress, fresh suc- which precipitated him in the end cessions of victories, unbounded glory, upon the snows of Russia and the were the conditions on which he held rout of Waterloo. the throne. He knew well that, the 2. But although well aware that it moment these failed, his authority was on such perilous conditions, and would begin to decline. With him, such alone, that he held the throne, therefore, constant wars and evident no man knew better than Napoleon advances towards universal domi- the importance of concealing their exnion, were not the result merely of istence from the eyes of mankind, and individual ambition, or dictated by representing himself as compelled, on an insatiable desire to extend the every occasion, to take uparms in order boundaries of France; they were the to defend the dignity or independence necessary consequence of the circum- of the Empire. It was his general postances in which he was placed, and licy, accordingly, when he perceived the temper of the times in which he that unceasing encroachments during lived. They arose inevitably from a peace had roused a general spirit of remilitary conqueror arriving at the su-sistance to his ambition, and that a preme direction of a nation, when it general war was inevitable, to make was heated by the pursuit of revolu- proposals of accommodation to the tionary ambition. As this system, however, required a continual sacrifice of the rights and interests of other nations, in order to feed the vanity and gratify the passions of one, it involved in itself, like every other irregular indulgence, whether in nations or individuals, the principles of its own

VOL. VI.

most inveterate of his enemies, in order to gain the credit of moderate intentions, and throw upon them the odium of actually commencing hostilities. In pursuance of this system, he was no sooner convinced, from the turn which his diplomatic relations with Russia and Sweden had

taken, that a third coalition was ap- | enough and to spare of those posses

proaching, than he made pacific overtures to the English government. His letter on this subject, addressed, according to his custom, to the King of England in person, was of the following tenor :

sions. Upon reflection you must, I am persuaded, yourself arrive at the conclusion, that the war is maintained without an object; and what a melancholy prospect for two great nations to combat merely for the sake of fighting! The world is surely large enough for both to live in; and reason has still sufficient power to find the means of reconciliation, if the inclination only is not wanting. I have now at least discharged a duty dear to my heart. May your Majesty trust to the sincerity of the sentiments which I have now expressed, and the reality of my desire to give the most convincing proofs of it!

4. The forms of a representative government would not permit the King of England to answer this communication in person; but Lord Mulgrave, the minister for foreign affairs, on the 14th January, addressed the following answer to M. Talleyrand:-"His Britannic Majesty has received the letter addressed to him by the chief of the French government. There is nothing which his Majesty has more at heart than to seize the first opportunity of restoring to his subjects the blessings of peace, provided it is founded upon a basis not incompatible with the permanent interests and security of his dominions. His Majesty is persuaded that that object cannot be attained but by arrangements which may at the same time provide for the future peace and security of Europe, and prevent a renewal of the dangers and misfortunes by which it is now overwhelmed. In conformity with these sentiments, his Majesty feels that he cannot give a more specific an

3. "Sire, my brother,-Called to the throne by Providence and the suffrages of the senate, the people, and the army, my first feeling was the desire for peace. France and England abuse their prosperity: they may continue their strife for ages; but will their governments, in so doing, fulfil the most sacred of the duties which they owe to their people? And how will they answer to their consciences for so much blood uselessly shed, and without the prospect of any good whatever to their subjects? I am not ashamed to make the first advances. I have, I flatter myself, sufficiently proved to the world that I fear none of the chances of war. It presents nothing which I have occasion to fear. Peace is the wish of my heart; but war has never been adverse to my glory. I conjure your Majesty, therefore, not to refuse yourself the satisfaction of giving peace to the world. Never was an occasion more favourable for calming the passions, and giving ear only to the sentiments of humanity and reason. If that opportunity be lost, what limit can be assigned to a war which all my efforts have been unable to terminate? Your Majesty has gained more during the last ten years than the whole extent of Europe in riches and territory: your subjects are in the very highest state of prosperity: what can you expect from a war? To form a coalition of the Continental powers? Be assured the Con-swer to the overture which he has retinent will remain at peace. A coalition will only increase the strength and preponderance of the French empire. To renew our intestine divisions? The times are no longer the same. To destroy our finances? Finances founded on a flourishing agriculture can never be destroyed. To wrest from France her colonies? They are to her only a secondary consideration; and your Majesty has already

ceived, until he has had time to com. municate with the Continental powers, to whom he is united in the most confidential manner, and particularly the Emperor of Russia, who has given the strongest proofs of the wisdom and elevation of the sentiments by which he is animated, and of the lively interest which he takes in the security and independence of Europe."

5. This reply, which in a manner

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History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in M.DCC ...