5 
- 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
Were not averse to those maxims of 
liberty, both in political and re- 
ligioas matters, which the Wrench 
inculcated with so much zeal, and 
supported with so much valour and 
success; they were secretly pleased 
at the ineffectual efforts of the co- 
alesced powers to overturn the re- 
public, and acknowledged their good 
wishes to it as far as ‘they durst. 
This partial disposition to't France 
was too visible, in most of the Eu- 
ropean monarchies, to remain con- 
cealed from the heads of the state ; © 
but it wis a discovery which pru- 
dence forbade them to promulgate: 
they were conscious that this par- 
tiality was produced by the sense 
that men entertained of the wrongs 
and oppressions ‘they endured, 
through the misconduét and i inigui- 
tous’ government of their rulers; 
but they carefully abstained from 
the manifestation of such conscious. 
ness, and, in their addresses to the 
public, always expressed themselves 
as if perfectly satisfied of its attach. 
mentand entire approbation of their 
measures. By thusdissembling their 
wn sentiments, they prevented, in 
“great measure, those of others from 
being propagated through those ex- 
tensive communications that always 
take place between individuals, 
dwhenever complaints and proclama. 
‘tions are issued by government, 
against those who are obnoxious to 
them. 
‘From causes of this nature pro. 
seseded, at this timc, much of the 
ragement that appeared in 
the enemies of the French republic. 
But, without advegting to such mo. 
*tives, there was a sufficiency of 
_ reasons to be alarmed at the con- 
‘tinwal victorics and conquests of the 
Boones; and the rapid progress of 
Opinions. Their situation, 
[147 
though agitated at home, was tri« 
umphant abroad. Notwithstanding 
that they were professedly foes to 
kings, yet, in the opinion of sound 
politicians, they were esteemed too 
judicious to carry this enmity be.- 
yond mere speculation, whenever 
their evident interest should require 
them to contradic that theory bya 
contrary practice. Thus it was, 
that a mutual good understanding 
first took place between them ang 
Prussia, as it already subsisted be- 
tween them and the two northern 
courts of Sweden and Denmark ; 
which, instead of joining the coa- 
lition against them, obstinately per- 
sisted in a friendly neutrality; and 
even united together to maintain 
it, and to require a compensation 
for the damages done to their com, 
merce, in violation of the treaties 
on which their commercial rights 
were founded. 
These transaGions evinced, at the 
same time, that all the European 
powers did not coincide in their 
ideas of the French government. 
Their nearest neighbours were, 
doubtless, so deeply interested in 
the diminution of their overgrown 
power, that it was not surprising 
they should strain every nerve to 
effect it; but those at a distance 
were no less interested in ptevent= 
ing the depression of France, with- 
out the weight of which, the po- 
litical balance of Europe was no 
Jess in danger of being destroyed, 
than by its retention of the ims 
moderate power it had now at. 
tained. ~ 
Ideas of this kind, operated, more 
effeQtually in favour of France; than 
many have seemed to perceive, or 
thought proper to acknowledge; 
they prepared the way to those 
treatles. which the French found 
[L2] mocaris 
