~ 1808.] 
‘ 
If they were not unfounded in just 
“theory, experience, fatal experience, I 
‘think, has but too amply demonstrated, 
the folly or rather insanity of expectations 
of success to be derived from sources like 
these. But how long are measures of 
tonquest and blood and devastation to be 
preferred, inthis infatuated country, 
- founding yet its wealth and independence 
aud glory on commercial pursuits, to the 
_ just, beneficent,and peaceable,intercourse 
between nation and nation? Are we to 
be hood-winked by the senseless and bar- 
barian sophistry of natural enmity, until 
we plunge blindfold and headlong, into 
that gulph, in which must be buried, per- 
haps for ever, our independence, as a 
- people. ill it never occur to our poli- 
- fticians, that all our interested, as well as 
Reegarmtle ends, will, be most surely 
answered, both in Europe and in all parts 
of the world, by peace and an amicable 
_ commercial iniercourse with France. 
Such, beyond all question, will also be 
‘the only secure mode of conduct to be 
_ adopted by the new Brazilian government, 
and such, we may assure ourselves, will 
‘be adopted on the first occasion which 
| presents. Nor has the Prince Regentscru- 
pled to avow this in his declaration 
3 leaving Lisbon; as well as-his strong 
> ong to havemade his peace with France, 
had that been in his power. Indeed he 
i 
peered bat too well aware that Brazil, 
; 
} 
wever distant, might not prove to his 
"government a refuge against the gigantic 
and all-grasping power of Napoleon. 
~ . The endeavour to infuse notions of the 
‘“Siperior power of the Portuguese in 
South America, and that backed by Bri- 
_tish naval force the new government may 
‘Set up for conquerors, is a most cruel, and 
_ Wiay prove a most fatal, delusions. Even 
| if the native Brazilians would come into 
- such views, which is highly improbable, 
| from their known character and bias to- 
_ wards France, let the present state of Spa- 
nish America be well considered; with 
Liniers at the head of its military force, 
and farther, that Napoleon could ata 
very short notice, send thither a staff of 
ficers, of that qualification, which has 
‘too generally turned the scale in military 
aus, and at no very great distance of 
e, both troops and shipping. | Far 
from the Portuguese government having 
1 its power to annoy the Spanish pro- 
iinces, it is extremely probable, the court 
' Brazil would be unable to defend its 
‘in such a contest. Suppose’ we 
id send ten or even twenty thousand 
» to the assistance of Brazil, past 
by the New, Brazilian Government, 
127 
events do not authorize us to depend on 
success. therefrom. We have already 
ruined too many nations, impelled by 
their unlucky stars to confide in our de- 
fence. Should a war really commence 
between the Spaniards and Portuguese, 
in South America, and Brazil have the for- . 
tune to’ be conquered, it would be a 
miserabie aud barren satisfaction to us, 
to be enabled a while to blockade its- 
ports. If we possess any sympathetic 
feelings, surely they would be excited by 
the recollection of having twice ruined our 
unfortunate ally! 
With respect.to his first ruin, the occa~ 
sion of his emigration to Brazil, it being 
bloodless, [ think humanity itself’ cannot 
regret it. The court of Portugal has left 
a narrow and precarious sovereignty in 
a country periodically subject to that 
most dreadful scourge of humanity, the 
tremendous earthquake, for one of the 
richest, most fertile, and extensive, em- 
pires of the earth, where, with political 
prudence, it may be independent and 
truly great. The mother country too 
will be highly Lenefited by the change ia 
the improvements, which nothing less 
powerful than the military and moral des- 
potism of France could effect in a super= 
stitious, degraded, and lost people. 
The late proclamation of the-French 
General Junot, now governor of Portugal, 
breathes the most enliyhtened sentiments, 
and might be a model for the adoption of 
a most free government. 
I write this, Sir, [ trust, in the trae 
spirit of that general impartiality and 
freedom which becomes an Englishman ; 
and with an old attachment to the 
Monthly Magazine, the depository of 
just and sound principles, remain Sir, 
Your’s, &e. j 
March, 14, 1808. Qur Quonpam. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SH... 
I HAVE a desire to take up a column 
of your valuable and extensively cir. 
culated Miscellany, on the subject of the 
Literary Fund, I may perhaps thereby 
obtain some information, perhaps furnish 
some. 
It may be proper to observe, that my 
attention was directed towards the Lites 
rary Fund, as a fit object of subscription, 
some years since, by a noble lord, now no 
mare. Enquiries, however, did not prove 
altogether satisfactory to me; and to say 
the truth, I felt extreme disgust at a pase 
sage which J observed, in the pamphlet 
published by the Society, * oe 
The 
