624 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



have not lost any thing. Within 

 and without every thing Iras l)t>cn 

 improved amongst us. Our fiotil'as, 

 the creation of which seemed a chi- 

 merical project, the union of which 

 appeared to be impossible, have been 

 created and collected together as if 

 by enchantment. Our soldiers arc 

 become seamen ; we niight say, tliat 

 the ports and the coasts have been 

 •transformed into cities, where the 

 landsmen and seamen apply them- 

 selves in full security, and, as during 

 peace, to the terrible and dangerous 

 exercises of war. No doubt we have 

 fewer vessels than England, but their 

 number is sufficient to enable them, 

 after a conjunction wisely prepared, 

 to strike a mortal blow against the 

 enemy. — Spain, involved in the con- 

 test by provocations, without pre- 

 text or excuse, has given us, for 

 auxiliaries, the disapprobation of 

 Europe for an unjust aggression, 

 the indignation of a generous peo- 

 ple, and the forces of a great king- 

 dom. Invulnerable on our territory, 

 we have proved that vigilance and 

 an energy which never relaxes, arc 

 sufficient for our security. Our co- 

 lonics arc beyond the reach of at- 

 tack ; Guadaloupe, IMartiniquc, the 

 Isle of France, would defy an ex- 

 pedition of 20,000 men. Our cities, 

 our plains, our manufactures pros- 

 per: the regular and ready receipt 

 of the imposts attests the inexhaust- 

 ible fecundity of agriculture and in- 

 dustry: commerce, accustomed du- 

 ring the last ten years to be con- 

 ducted through its expensive relati- 

 ons with England, proceeds now iq 

 another channel, and substitutes for 

 these relations, communications more 

 profitable, more independent, and 

 rnore secure. There are no new im- 

 posts ; no loans ; a debt which can- 



not increase, but mnst diminish : in 

 a word, an union of means sufficient 

 to support during ten years, the ex- 

 isting state of war; such is the po- 

 sition of France. This war has in- 

 deed been scarcely offensive ; but it 

 is far from having been inactive. 

 France has been guaranteed. She 

 has created strength hitherto un- 

 known. She has produced, in theJ 

 bosom of an enemy's country, a 

 perpetual source of disquietude, 

 without remedy ; and by aprudeuce 

 and an unbending energy, she has 

 acquired for ever the confidence of 

 the continent, at first somewhat 

 shaken by the commencement of an 

 incendiary war, Avhich might set Eu- 

 rope in a flame, and whose progress 

 has been arrested by the unceasing 

 edortsof vigilance, moderation, firm- 

 ness, and wisdom. — What is the si- 

 tuation of the enemy? The people 

 arc up in arms, and whilst necessity, 

 seconded by genius, Jias led us to 

 invent a new species of marine, ne- 

 cessity and terror have compelled 

 the cabinet of England to substitute 

 in general, the pike for the ordinary 

 implements ot war. This cabinet is 

 divided betwixt projects of invasion, 

 and projects of defence. It is lavish 

 in useless eutrenchments ; it covers 

 its coasts with fortifications ; it 

 erects and destroys its batteries with- 

 out end ; itmakcs experiments, whe- 

 ther it could not stop or turn the 

 course of rivers. It plans inunda- 

 tions on its own fertile plains ; the 

 indolence of cities reignsinthe fields; 

 the turbulence of the country pants 

 in its cities. — Ireland, the Indies, 

 the shores, even England, are an 

 everlasting and unbounded object of 

 uneasiness. All that belongs to 

 England is endlessly menaced by 

 1500 vessels which compose our flo- 

 tilla, at present by sixty ships of 



the 



