HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
appears, that Europe has much 
more to apprehend from its alliance 
with the common enemy, than to in- 
dulge in the hope ofits ever adopting 
«@ magnanimousand generous policy. 
The history of modern times clearly 
demonstrates, that with states, as 
with individuals, independence can 
only be secured, by a steady perse- 
verence in an undeviating display of 
true spirit and resolution. ‘ 
Sweden and Denmark, who had 
chosen to preserve their neutrality 
while the rest of Europe was inyoly- 
edin war, did not at the peace ap- 
pear to have gained much by their 
forbearance: on the contrary their 
relative importance seemed rather 
to have been diminished than aug- 
mented. 
The German empire was so weak- 
ened by the defection of some of its 
principal states, that it was no 
longer able to oppose itselfto France; 
and Russia appeared the only pow- 
er on the continent of Europe, 
which was at all capable of pre- 
scribing limits to Gallic ambition. 
The remaining states of the conti- 
nent seemed to have fallen entirely 
from the independent rank they had 
sustained for ages; and their sove- 
reigns, although they preserved 
their crowns and titles, appeared in 
point of independent consequence, 
prefects or proconsuls, governing for 
theinterests of France, and remov- 
able at her pleasure. The kingdom 
of Naples was perpetually menaced 
with the return of the French arnty, 
if its politics should not be agreea- 
ble to Bonaparte ; and Portugal was 
‘insulted by the French ambassador, 
eneral Lasnes, in a manner totally 
neonsistent with the rank and dig- 
nity of any stute that has ever been 
-egnsideyed independent. In effect, 
321 
notwithstanding the letter and obvi- 
ous meaning of the different treaties 
which France had signed, Bona- 
parte remained during the peace not 
only master of Holland, Switzerland, 
Genoa, and the Italian republic, 
but also of Naples, Spain, Por- 
tugal, and a considerable part of 
Germany.” ‘Such an immense and 
constantly increasing power, neces- 
_ Sarily awakened the attention of 
those nations, yet possessed of the 
means of resistance. 
Russia saw with painand increasing 
anxiety the enormous aggrandize- 
ment of France, and her unwilling- 
ness to fulfil the treaties and engage- 
ments which she had entered into. 
The independence of the kingdom of 
Naples had been specifically gua- 
ranteed by Russia; and France had * 
positively engaged to procure the 
king of Sardinia an equivalent in 
Italy for the loss of Piedmont. ‘The 
honor of Alexander was as much 
concerned in the fulfilment of those 
engagements, as his interests were 
engaged in restraining the farther 
encroachment of Bonaparte. 
While negociations were set on 
foot between the courts of St. Pe- 
tersburgh and Paris resp@ting those 
objects, war was again declared be- 
tween Great Britain and France, 
The mission of Sebastiani, of 
which we ‘have in the preceding 
pages given an ample accounc, 
threw the stronggst light upon the 
ambitious project$ ef Bonaparte ; 
he had in his imagination already 
possessed himself of the whole Ot 
toman empire. Egypt and Syria it 
was his object tirst to occupy; and 
when firmly established. in those 
conquests, he was assured from the 
experience derived from the Egyp- 
tian expedition, that there was 
Y ROn 
. 
‘ 
