1823.] 
taxes than those which the grievous 
military system of Napoleon compel- 
Iced him to levy. His civil list was 
reduced to the most moderate ex- 
pense; improvements were every 
where carried on under his orders ; 
and a representative constitution 
would have been afforded to his new 
estates, had not the affairs of Europe 
’ prevented its introduction. 
At Aschaffenburg the Prince Pri- 
mate formed a bandsome gallery of 
pictures, a public library, an univer- 
Sity, and a theatre; at Wetzlar a 
school of jurisprudence; at Hanan 
manufactures were liberally cncon- 
raged; and the same principles of 
attention to the general good are to 
be traced wherever he has resided. 
His ambition sustained a struggle 
with his philosophy no longer than 
until the year 1813, when, the allies 
having entered Frankfort, the Prince 
Primate, who had retired to Constance, 
thought proper to abdicate all sove- 
reign authority, and to reserve only, 
for the enjoyment of his latter days, 
the consolatory functions of an arch- 
bishop. These he fulfilled in an ex- 
emplary manner at Ratisbon, his 
chosen retreat from the perplexing 
occupations of public life. 
Innumerable proofs of his charitable 
propensities are recorded in the grate- 
ful remembrance of the poor, whose 
probable wants in winter were annu- 
ally provided for, and whose imme- 
diate distresses were in all seasons 
relieved. 
Ecclesiastical ceremonies, improve- 
ments, correspondence, and the enjoy- 
ment of friendly intercourse, in a 
very confined circle, filled up the 
hours of the Archbishop until the 10th 
of February, 1817, when he breathed 
his last, after a short illness of thirty- 
six hours, aged seventy-three years. 
Asan author, the Prince Primate 
will ever stand in bigh estimation for 
the variety of his productions, on sub- 
jects of religion, moral philosophy, 
politics, the fine arts, chemistry, &e. 
they are all stamped with the same 
solidity, brilliancy, and judgment, for 
which he was long distinguished. 
If to such an accumulation of virtue 
and acquirements, history must be 
compelled to bring forward the coun- 
terpoise of political error, will she not 
dip her penin milk rather than in gall? 
Shall one fault, if fault there was, be 
written in characters so egregious, as 
Prince Primate of the Confederation of the Rhine. 
523 
to blot out all recollection of his un- 
ceasing endeavours to dispense conso- 
lation and justice during a long series 
of years? Shall all be forgotten ex- 
cept a political offence, and that 
offence still enveloped in mystery, un- 
certainty, and doubt? 
Without presuming to decide upon 
the asserted dereliction of principle, 
of which the Primate has been accused, 
and which has been anathematised, as 
though it were a solitary instance of 
the kind, may it not be asked whether 
all the courts of the Continent did not 
accede to an alliance with Napoleon 
at some moment or other of his 
triumphalinfluence? Was there more 
precipitation, or apparent cordiality, 
shown by this Prince than by many 
other heads of governments ; or were 
the public interests of Germany more 
endangered by his alliance with France 
than by the treaties of Tilsit or of 
Vienna? 
This theme cannot with propriety be 
continued: it can be supported by no 
lozical demonstration, and no means 
exist to clearup this mysterious point of 
history, unless it should have pleased 
Napoleon (in his Memoirs, said to be 
preparing,) to furnish the key; the 
course of events having prevented the 
meditated intention of the Prince 
Primate, when, in the month of Sep- 
tember 1816, he thus expressed him- 
self to a friend :—<“ In all my political 
measures, I have ever held in view 
he good of Germany,—that faithful 
honest country! ‘The world judge with 
severity, and from appearances, be- 
cause they know neither the cause nor 
the power of circumstances; but this 
should not discourage him who is 
convinced of having done good. I 
have perhaps been frequently mis- 
taken; but I am aman, and, as such, 
participate in the weaknesses of hu- 
man nature. Who is he that can_pre- 
sume to say he has never wavered in 
his resolutions? and who is he that 
has not been deceived by Napoleon? 
In my character of Prince, the wel- 
fare of my people only interested me, 
never any personal advantage ; and of 
this disposition J have given proofs 
upon every occasion. It is possible . 
however, if I live, that I may write 
the ‘Memoirs of my own Time,’ or, 
what would ensure to my work a bet- 
ter reception, ‘of my errors. This 
would clear up what is at present abso- 
lutely unknown. 
“T have 
