HISTCRY OF EUROPE. 
fe&t it too, of inviting it into its old 
channels, through Persia, Arabia, 
and Egypt? The route to India, 
by the Cape of Good Hope, being 
lost to all nations but England, is 
it not to be expected that those na- 
tions will either combine for the 
purpose of recovering a participa- 
tion in that advantage, or attempt 
to open new, or rather re-open old 
channels of communication with the 
East for themselves? hat they 
have adopted the general principle 
of opposing our power at sea, by 
their power at land, they have al- 
ready discovered, by their effurts to 
exclude our merchandize from Am- 
sterdam, Venice, Genoa, Leghorn, 
and other perts. It is but an ex. 
tension of the same principle to 
force back the India-trade into its 
ancient channels. In order to evade 
the effeéts of such measures, a plain 
read lies before us. Let us en- 
trench ourselves, as it were, in 
moral and sacred ground, and make 
head against the ambitious views of 
_ France, by raising up the standard 
of justice: by sbewing a readiness 
to give up all conquests, Dutch as 
wellas French, without reserve, as 
the price of a peace, founded on 
similar principles of justice. Can 
any thing be more insolently absurd 
than to stand foremost in a confede- 
racy, againstasystem ofambition on 
‘the continent of Europe, while we 
‘ourselves glory in ruling the waves* 
with absolute sway ? let us respect 
neutral flags, encourage universal 
freedom of trade, and avow a just 
conviction, that all nations have but 
One general interest: the inviolabi- 
lity of private property and public 
[197 
credit, of the rights of men, and the 
rights cf nations ; and free ports be 
opened in every part of the British 
dominions. We may then find some 
success in rouzing Europe against 
oppression, when we ourselves have 
given the example of moderation 
and justice. 
Such were the outlines of the two 
opposite parties, which appeared at 
this time in Great Britain, on the 
subjeét of peace or war, and free or 
forced commerce. In  reeording 
public opinions, as well as aétions, 
we do not confine ourselves merely, 
on every subjeét, to the debates in 
parliament, but pay due respect to 
liberal and enlightened minds, whe- 
ther expressed in public speeches, 
produétions of the press, or in pri« 
Vate conversation. 
The loss of the armament, on 
which the Batavian republic had 
expended large sums, was aggrava- 
ted by the’scandalous neglect of the 
French government, to furnish them 
with that naval assistance which had 
been stipulated and duly paid for. 
This behaviour of an ally, for whom 
they had niade such sacrifices, great- 
ly abated the fervour oftheir attache 
ment, and eXcited many complaints 
throughout the seven provinces. 
The acceptance of the money, for 
defraying the charges of equipment, 
and the diverting it to their own 
uses, was 2 breach of faith,’that 
disgraced them much more than 
they were benefited by theysums 
thus diverted. It so much weaken- 
ed the confidence of their Dutch 
allies, that, ever since, these have 
constantly testified a mistrust of their 
most solemn assurances, that has 
* The popular song of Britannia rule the waves is equally unjust and impolitic. 
How can foreigners join in such symphonies? What must be their feelings? and 
what the effect of these, described on their return to their own countries? * 
more 
[O 3] 
