ne 
i 
SKETCHES OF ‘THE-STRENGTM AND 
neighbours, wrongs received from pow- 
erful states; and lastly that the war, 
without producing any sort of benefit 
to Great-Britain, organised and cement- 
ed an universal combination of hostile 
enmity against the British empire ! 
If the revenues of Russia then are 
so enormously great, and her resources 
almost incalculable ; if France, with al- 
most rival means, is actuated by a dan- 
serous spirit of aggrandizement and do- 
mination, it was incumbent upon Great- 
Britain, who must consider herself as 
the object against which the intrigues 
and hostile preparations of both these 
governments, so long as they continue in 
political connection with each other, are 
directed ; it was incumbent on Great- 
Britain to have directed all her power 
‘and influence towards the support and 
augmentation of the lesser states of Eu- 
rope, and to have preserved them as 
much as possible, independent of those 
‘two mighty powers. 
« These were, prior to the peace of 
Utrecht, Holland, Spain, and Austria ; 
‘and until the capitulation of Nysted, in 
1721, Denmark and Sweden came un- 
der the same description. To raise and 
‘keep up the maritime states, to ex- 
tend their dominions at home and their 
possessions abroad, should have been our 
peculiar care; their interests were our 
own, and upon our prosperity depended 
“their existence.”’? But the world must 
‘not be given up for lost: it is the inte- 
rest of Russia as well as of Great-Britain 
‘to oppose the gigantic strides of France ; 
nor can America be indifferent to her 
_estiess and domineering spirit. A friend- 
ly intercourse, therefore, and close poli- 
tical connexion between these powers is 
recommended, as forming, perhaps, the 
only efficient check to the licentious ca- 
reer of the French Republic. “* Any 
ppartial alliance or treaty for subsidy 
which Great-Britain can make on the 
continent of Europe can only produce 
the instantaneous subjugation of the con- 
tinental party. But to form a perma- 
nent connection with the government of 
the Russian empire, and to defeat the 
jacobin machinations of France in Ame- 
Tica and in our settlements abroad, the 
‘British Government must resume a Bri- 
- 
‘ 
FORCE OF FRANCE AND RUSSIA. 317 
tish character, and adopt.a system of 
politics analogous to the present situa- 
tion'of the world and the political state 
of Europe. Honesty and candour in 
negociations, bold simplicity in public 
measures, and vigorous perseverance in 
their execution may yet save the state. 
Such are now become necessary.” 
The intrinsic importance of the sub- 
ject itself, and the bold, the masterly, and 
commanding manner in which it is treat- 
ed, have prompted us to make more am- 
ple extracts from this volume than we 
are in the habit of ailowing ourselves. 
This is no flatterer, no smiling politicians 
tickling our pleased ears * with holiday 
and lady terms’ to gain the noisy clap 
of popularity ; we-see the stern unbend- 
ing patriot, anticipating the declension 
of his country’s interests and pre-emi- 
nence among) nations, and holding up a 
vigorous arm to save it. ‘The physician 
has investigated the disease with care- 
fulness and sagacity: instead of attri- 
butmg it, in order to avoid giving of- 
fence, to any and to every cause but the 
true one, he tells you honestly, though 
bluntly, that your debility arises from 
your own intemperance, and that you 
have grown worse and worse by follow- 
ing the unwholesome prescriptions of 
ignorant time-serving quacks. ‘To drop 
the metaphor, we find in the author 
of these Sketches, a politician whose 
piercing eye has penetrated into the 
interior of the several continental cabi- 
nets; who has made himself acquainted 
with their respective strength, views, 
and interests; who is alarmed at the 
growing resources of our ancient here- 
ditary foe, and has pointed out to his 
parent country, the line of conduct she 
must pursue in order to humble his high- 
crested pride, in order to retrieve her 
wh injured reputation abroad, and en- 
sure her security, perhaps her existence 
as an independent nation, at home. 
We cannot close this article without 
mentioning, that we are‘promised a se- 
cond part of these Sketches, which will 
contain a general view of the politics und 
diplomatic history of Great-Britain, from 
the peace of Utrecht to the present year 
of the French consiilate. 
