‘HISTORY OF EUROPE, 
we believe that catching at a mo- 
mentary popularity, and eager to 
secure their situations in office, that 
knowingly, and with their eyes 
open, they thus hazarded the deep- 
est stake ever played for, by con- 
tending nations ? 
But for the conduct of the French 
government, in its part of this 
transaction, far other motives ‘must 
be sought, in the bold, yet wary 
policy of Bonaparte. Equally ap- 
prized of the difficulties of execut- 
ing the 10th article of the definitive 
treaty ; he concluded it with the 
Same eagerness, and appearance of 
good faith, as had been manifested 
on the part of England; at the mo- 
ment too, when his ordinances and 
influence had destroyed the sources 
of the independence which he afiect- 
ed tosecure. In the appointment of 
the ‘powers, whose guaranty was 
deemed essential to the arrange- 
ment, he was doubtless influenced 
by the consideration, that posses- 
sing almost absolute power over 
Spain, and the greatest influence 
at the court of Berlin; he could 
accelerate or retard their accepta- 
tion of the trust, as best suited 
liis purposes. Creating, therefore, 
all that could obstruct the fulfil- 
ment of this most important part of 
that system, on which the general 
pacification was founded ; it will be 
Necessary to consider retrospective- 
ly what were the leading principles 
Which were known to govern his 
conduct, and from thence deduce 
the most probable causes fer his 
rmal ratification of an article, the 
entire execution of which he had 
taken the most effectual means of 
| ebstructing. 
We shall not here enter into the 
Variety of political considerations, 
243 
which had reudered the possession 
of Egypt desirable to France, for 
nearly a century back; it is suf- 
ficieut to observe, that indepen- 
dently of every other, the great and 
increasing empire of England in 
Asia, had stimulated the wish to 
action: and that Bonaparte, sated 
with the plunder of Italy, and pants 
ing for fresh conquest, planned and 
undertook the conquest of that 
country. Our preceding volumes 
have recounted the termination of 
that extraordinary attempt, which 
evolved in its progress the desertion 
of their leader, the captivity of his 
army, and the glorious and never 
fading laurels, acquired by British 
valour, During the temporary suc 
cess, however, which marked the 
commencement of the expedition, 
Malta had been basely and treacher- 
ously surrendered to the French, by 
the kuights of the order, and which, 
in the hands of the former, from its 
strength and means of defence, resist- 
ed, for two years and two days, the 
united efforts of the Maltese, the Ne- 
apolitan, and the British force. Re- 
conquered however, it admitted an 
English garrison and government, 
in whose possession it remained, at 
the period of the peace of Amiens. 
Heavily as these calamities affected 
France, they mustthave been pecu- 
liarly mortifying to Bonaparte,whese 
retreat from Acre, and precipitate 
flight to Europe, had exhibited him 
to the gaze of all the world, as the 
baffled and discomfited deserter of 
his troops, By the dispensation of 
providence, however it was decreed, 
(doubtless for the humihation cf 
those republicans, whose impious 
excesses had filled the nations of 
the earth with woe and misery) that 
this stranger, the meanest and most 
R 2 unworthy 
