1803. ] 
the Chief Conful would have a&ted a wife 
part to have reduced the military eftablifh- 
ment inftead of aygmenting it. The fai- 
lure of the St. Domingo expedition, and 
other caufes, will increafe the prefent dif- 
contents ; and fhould the unlucky ftars of 
Bonaparte urge him again to a renewal of 
hoftilities with any of the European pow- 
ers, there is but little probability that the 
enthufiafm of the nation will be found to 
fecond his efforts. It is one thing when 
a people fuppofe themfelves contending 
for their independence and their liberty ; 
and another when they are fhedding their 
blood to gratiiy the felfifh ambition of 
their ruler. Except a war be popular, 
there is but a flender chance of fuccefs. 
The reluétant fpirit which was manifefted 
in the late attempt to enforce the confcrip- 
tion, abundantly confirms this reafoning ; 
and in what a (tate muft France be at pre- 
fent, with all the military force which it 
boatts upon paper, if, in the melancholy 
fituation of its army in St. Domingo, the 
Chief Conful can only difpatch a rein- 
forcement of 3000 men! ; 
Bonaparte, as we have formerly “inti- 
mated, has been long affecting to tread in 
the (teps of Charlemagne, though neither 
the time, nor the ftate of Europe, are in his 
favour. He now afpires, it is faid, to the 
title of Emperor of th¢ Gauls. If he 
wills it, he will certainly atchieve it ; but 
how long will he bear his blufhing ho- 
nours? He muft do fomething more fub- 
{tantial for the nation; he mult thew that 
he lives not merely for felf, but that he 
has their real intereft in view. 
Extent of territory has hitherto been a 
ruling object with the Chief Conful; and in 
that refpect he feems likely to receive an 
additional gratification by the refignation 
or depofition of the king of Etruria. The 
Florentines, it is reported, diffatished with 
their new monarch, have petitioned Gene- 
ral Clark to induce the interference of the 
Conful, either to reltore them their antient 
fovereign, the Grand Duke, to eftablith 
them as a feparate Republic, or to unite 
them to the Italian republic, already efta- 
blifhed. If this intelligence may be relied 
on, it is not difficult to'fee where the mea- 
fure originates, or to guefs at its iffue. 
Etruria will probably be added to the Ita- 
lian Republic. 
' While the Chief Conful is thus extend - 
ing his European dominions, he is not in- 
attentive to colonial acquifitions. It is 
confitently afferted, that by his influence 
with the court of Madrid he has obtained a 
ceflion of the territory of Eaft and Weft 
Florida ; and that a€tive preparations are 
State of Public Affairs in “fanuary, 1803. 
77 
making for the difpatching a large body 
of troops to take poffeflion of this new ac~ 
quifition. 
It is faid that the Senate have lately dif. 
covered fome reluétance to the invefting 
of the Chief Conful with any farther dig- 
nities. This is however too inconfiftent 
with their general character of flexibility, 
to be deferving of much credit. In the 
Italian Republic he has experienced a 
ftronger fpirit of refiftance, in confe- 
quence of which fome new arrangements 
have lately been adopted, of which the 
principal is the fuppreffion of all affem- 
blies not approved by the government. 
On a general view of the ftate of pok- 
tics in Europe, we fiad but one ferious 
caufe of quarrel between France and Great 
Britain, and that is Egypt. The Beys 
have been completely victorious over the 
Ottoman forcés, as our readers will fee 
under that head. In the mean time the 
Britith forces have not yet evacuated 
Egypt, under the plea, itis faid, of ex- 
pences incurred in the conquelt of that 
country, which the Porte has not yet reim- 
burfed. While fuch is the ftate of things 
: : 5 
in Egypt, the French influence at Conftan- 
tinople is vifibly gaining ground, and M. 
Sebaftiani has been fent trom France to 
Cairo, and received there as an accredited 
minifter. It appears therefore not impro- 
bable that the French may be ultimately 
employed by the Porte for the re-conqueft 
of Egypt; and this will moft likely be re- 
filted by great Britain, who will of courfe 
be apprehenfive for her pofleffions in the 
Eaft. Thus the two nations, by the per- 
nicious ambition of oze man, may be in- 
volved in a new train of horrors and cala- 
mities. May heaven (in pity to mankind) 
avert fuch a crifis! Saas 
HOLLAND. 
There never perhaps was a more outra- 
geous dereliction of principle than the inter- 
ference of the French:in the affairs of in- 
dependent nations. In time of war fome 
apology might be offered for the mainte- 
nance of French traops in the territories of 
friendly powers, to prevent their falling 
into the power and under the dire&tion of 
an enemy ; but in a time of profound peace, 
there is not the fhadow of excufe for fuch 
a controul. If indeed it is right that 
France fhould be the diftator of Switzer- 
land, of Spain, of the Batavian republic, 
and pre'end to regulate their internal af- 
fairs at this time; then the coalefced pow- 
ers were more than juftified in endeavour- 
ing to force a government upon the French 
themfelves. A very flagrant inftance of 
this unjuft interference has lately occur- 
red. 
