S$ TAT ED PIA PER S$. 
lies, which even left no hopes for 
a future possible success. Every 
where the most total’ exhaustion 
was discovered, as the natural con- 
sequence of extraordinary © exer- 
tions, 
Even his Imperial majesty, upon 
whom depended the most power- 
ful exertions of the war, having in- 
it such a manifold pressing and im- 
mediate interest, who could ma 
more easy manner, furnish strong 
forces, in the middle of last year, 
made no secret in declaring to_ the 
German states, that he was unable 
any longer to save that empire, 
without a particular assistance in 
men and money, What resources 
then remained to the empire, 
which could expect only to be 
abandoned to itself, and to the 
weakness of its diminishing power 
of defence? This defence, it . is 
true, was increased by a quintuple 
armament ; but it could’expect no 
greater effect from this measure, 
than from the triple contribution, 
particularly since so ‘many coun- 
tries of the empire had been con- 
quered by the superiority of the 
French arms, of whose assistance 
the empire is now deprived, and 
since the principal states of the 
empire are at present exhausted by 
the misfortunes and the expences 
of the war, and some others are 
too impotent, and in no state of 
defence ; in this: war, as well as 
in preceding ones, the experience 
is confirmed, that the formation of 
the measures for a war of the em- 
pire must always be deficient and 
weak, on account of its being com- 
posed of such a number of divided 
parts, in order to form the whole, 
that it can never have aétivity suf- 
ficient without the assistance of 
other powers. 
231 
To these consideratious, and to 
others particularly in consequence 
of the concluslon of last. campaign, 
where on one side the desperate 
crisis seemed to threaten the most-. 
dreadful events,’ was added theim-: » 
portant event on. the part of France,-:# 
where, upon the rdins of the: de... 
stroyed: system: of terror, a:mild - 
and moderate government was seate 
ed upon the throne of power, who - 
first displayed their wise sentiments: 
on the necessity -of peace for their , 
country; this in Germany could. 
produce but one: wish, and: could: 
awaken but one desire. aes 
When, therefore, after threedread, ' 
ful years of death and destruction 
have entirely exhausted the war 
resources, and have made ali-fur~ 
ther hopes of success vanish; when. 
it appears clear and unquestionable 
that the powerful ‘Hand. of Provi, 
dence has given’to the mighty 
stream Of enterprizes, hostile tous, 
so decided a superiority, and ren- 
dered aik future attempts against it 
fruitless; and when at the same 
time we see the enemy not ‘disinclined 
to peace ;-and when all hopes pre- 
di& to us that we certainly should \ 
obtain more by means of the latter 
than by an obstinate continuation 
of a destructive war; what choice 
is left to us?. Would a wise and 
humane monarch, after this pro- 
spect, « ever proceed in ‘and con- 
tinue the horrors of a war without 
any object of success or prosperity ? 
Have not there been provinces 
enough, unpeopled, and filled with 
misery and mourning? Has. not 
suffering humanity been yet ren» 
dered sufficiently miserable? 
The king of Prussia; therefore, 
declares his sincere wish that rest 
and tranquillity may soon be re- 
stored to the Prussian states, and if 
04 * possible 
