170] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



"In the warlike preparations of 

 France, tliere lias been no remis- 

 sion, ttat can induce the Germans 

 to admit of any relaxation in theirs; 

 on the contrary, a new military 

 corps is to be formed in the four 

 departments not united to the re- 

 public. But, even on the suppo- 

 sition, that there is no reason for 

 mistrusting the views and the pro- 

 jects of the new rulers of Finance, 

 the late revolution is not yet suffi- 

 ciently confirmed and consolidated 

 to aiford any reasonable assurance 

 that it will not be overthrown as 

 the others have been. On the 

 whole, the present question is not 

 concerning such a peace, as a con- 

 vention for a short time, or an ar- 

 mistice. The point in hand is, con- 

 ditions of perfect security; condi- 

 tions demanded by honour-, dignity, 

 liberty, the integrity of the Ger- 

 man empire, and the inviolability 

 of the most sacred treaties. The 

 object contended for, is a fit, just, 

 and permanent peace, according to 

 the sense of the decisions of the diet ; 

 such as shall secure religion, pro- 

 perty, civil order, and the consti- 

 tution of the German empire. 



" I invite you to take all these 

 objections into your most serious 

 consideration, according to the sen- 

 timents of patriotism with which 

 you are inspired; and, having done 

 so, you will undoubtedly agree with 

 me, that prudence imperiously de- 

 mands that you do not suffer your- 

 selves to be thrown into a state of 

 inaction, by namours of approach- 

 ing peace and more moderate prin- 

 ciples; but to keep your arms in 

 your hands, and to preserve a mili- 

 tary attitude until peace be actually 

 signed. You will perceive, as I 

 do, how fatally imprudent it would 

 be to let any languor creep into 



measures of defence, and how ne- 

 cessary it is to redouble our efforts 

 for a due augmentation of the troops, 

 and to accomplish, with the greatest 

 activity, and, in the most serious 

 manner, the renewed decision of 

 the diet, and the resolutions it en- 

 tered into and confirmed, for the 

 common defence : in order that we 

 may have it in our power to oppose 

 an energetic mass of efforts, to the 

 views of the enemy, whatever they 

 may be. It is only by an imposing 

 military force that it is possible to 

 hinder the enemy from new attacks 

 and devastations; to shorten or to 

 terminate the evils of war ; to im- 

 pi'ove the terms of pacification ; 

 and, in a word, to accelerate a 

 peace worthy of the name, and to 

 compensate the multiplied sacrifices 

 by which, for so long a time, we 

 have endeavoured to procure it." 



The court of Vienna fortified, as 

 we have seen, by pecuniary sup- 

 plies from England, and the ac- 

 cession of Bavarians, Wirtemburg-< 

 ers, and other German troops in 

 British pay, and mindful of both 

 the past and recent glory and con- 

 quests of the Austrian arms, was 

 not to be shaken or diverted from 

 its resolution of persevering in war, 

 by the offer of a negociation for 

 peace by Buonaparte, on the ge- 

 neral groundof the treaty of Campo 

 Formio. The imperial ministers re- 

 plied to the overtures of the first 

 consul, that the emperor would not 

 negociate for peace, but in con- 

 junction with his ally the king of 

 Great Britain. Though the circles 

 of the empire were not to be roused 

 from that lethargic indifference to 

 the common prosperity and safety, 

 into which, from the prevailing 

 luxury and selfishness of the age, 

 and the hope of security and ad van.. 



