HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



193 



In the most warm and pointed lan- 

 guage. The few remaining princes 

 df Germany, who took any part in 

 this transaction, adopted, with little 

 variation, the sentiments of Baden 

 and of Brandenbiirgh. 



Vk'e have already, in the preced- 

 ing chapter, detailed at considerable 

 length the consequences of the con- 

 duct of Russia and Sweden upon this 

 memorable occasion, so far as they 

 relate to France. It may, however, 

 here be mentioned, that, on the re- 

 turn of count jNIarcoft', the Russian 

 embassador, (with whom Bonaparte 

 took occasion personally to quar- 

 rel, at this period,) he was reciived 

 with the most flattering and distin- 

 guished honours at the court of St. 

 Petersbnrgh ; the emperor's thanks, 

 returned to him in tlie most solemn 

 manner, were read in the directing 

 senate, and a pension of 12,000 rubles, 

 annually, was settled upon him : 

 undoubtedly these rewards were 

 meant, if not so designated, for the 

 serTices which he had rendered his 

 master at Paris, in repelling those in- 

 sults which were of/ercd to him in 

 the person of his embassador, with 

 sufficient dignity and firmness. — 

 From this moment no apparent good 

 understanding subsisted between 

 France, on the one hand, and Russia 

 and Sweden on the other. 



To the correspondence which en- 

 sued between the governments of 

 Russia and France, the greatest in- 

 terest will necessarily attach*. The 

 state papers thence originating are 

 not only of the utmost importance 

 in themselves, but exhibit the most 

 marked and striking contrast be- 

 tween the personal character of 

 these *' great ones of the earth." 

 In the expressions of the one, we 



trace the God-like benevolence of a 

 Titus, or a Marcus Aurelius, the 

 friends and benefa6tors of the hu- 

 man race ; — in those of the other, 

 the furious ebullition of a Zingis, or 

 a Tamerlane, the persecutors and 

 enslavers of mankirid. The one ap- 

 pears mild, just, and dignified, ex- 

 erting his va'-t means in the defence 

 of the oppressed nations of the 

 earth : — his upstart rival, on the con- 

 trary, ferocious, inequitable, and 

 impatient of control, hardly con- 

 ceals his aspiring to the donii- 

 nioa ot the world. While it should 

 Seem, that " to lose a day," (not 

 spent in acts of beneficence to his 

 fellow-nieu,) would afford inexpres- 

 sible pain to the benevolent spirit of 

 Alexander ; — the universal suffrage 

 would affix the tyrant's maxim of 

 " oderint ditm vietuant^^' as the 

 most appropriate motto, on the 

 blood-stained scutcheon of Bona- 

 parte. The elleft upon the great 

 powers of Europe, produced by the 

 hostile opposition of two such per- 

 sonages as we have attempted to de- 

 lineate, would naturally be, that 

 while Russia might fairly claim and 

 rely upon their co-operation, France 

 could expe6t no friendship or assist- 

 ance, save from those who were al- 

 ready in a state of trembling depen- 

 dence on her mandates. 



But, at the period at which these 

 events took place, the contest, to 

 which we advert, bore no appear- 

 ance of being speedily commenced. 

 Whatever animositj' and ill under- 

 standing there might exist between 

 the courts of St. Petersburgh and 

 Versailles, Russia and France were 

 too remote from each other, to 

 rommenee effectual hostilities. — 

 While the latter power w^ts engaged 



• Given at len<rtli in Chanter XI. 

 Vol. XLVI. O 



in 



