1803. | 
obje&t ; one whofe magnitude might in- 
deed demand a much wider {pace than we 
can beftow upon it, and which ought not 
to be intermingled with the little details 
of lefs interefting occurrences. 
If any of our readers has honoured our 
monthly ftatements of politics for about 
niné months paft with his attention, he 
mult have feen, from the peculiar afpetts 
in which we have had oécatfion to delineate 
that extraordinary-perfonage who direéts 
the Government of the French Republic, 
that his conduét was not unlikely to excite 
the fufpicions of other powers, and in par- 
ticular the wakeful jealoufy of Britain. 
The vaft acceffion of power to the Firft 
Conful, by vefting in his hands the Go- 
vernment of the Italian Republic, the 
feizure of Piedmont, the negociation for 
Louifiana, the violent interference in the 
affairs of Switzerland, and the arbitrary 
authority exercifed over an independent 
Republic, that of Batavia, were circum- 
ftances that could not fail to awaken appre- 
henfions refpecting the defigns of France. 
There is no paffion more fatal to the re- 
pete of mankind where it has been unfuc- 
cefsfully purfued, or to their happinefs 
where it has been fuccefsful, than the luft 
of univerfal dominion. It is long fince, in 
one cf our Retrofpects, we pointed out the 
‘French Conful as having apparently chofen 
Charlemagne for his model, The defign 
was indeed not likely to be crowned with 
fuccefs, but we cannot forget what blood 
and treafure and happineis was facrificed 
by the fourteenth Louis to this delufive 
phantom. 
The provocations with which Bonaparte 
is charged as immediately drawing down 
upon him the refentment of Britain, may 
perhaps be in part attributed to the im- 
perfections of his government, in part to 
his ignorance, but certainly fome of them 
mult be regarded as jult caufes of offence, 
That legal redrefs was not afforded to the 
fubje&ts of Great Britain in the courts of 
France, may be alcribed in part, if not 
in the whole, to that miferable fyftem of 
jurifprudence, which has fo frequently 
been the obje& of our cenfure; a fyftem 
by which the ends of fubftantial juftice 
Could not be obtained, either by fubjects 
or by aliens. The complaints of the Chief 
Conful againft the liberty aflumed hy 
Englifh writers of difcuffing the political 
affairs of France, and his defire that the 
liberty of the Englifh prefs might be cur- 
tailed in his favour, betrays his utter ig- 
norance of the principles of a free, legal, 
and definite conititution, and may be apo- 
Jogifed for upon that ground. But the 
prohibitions placed upon the commerce of 
MosTsty Mae, No, 1026 
State of Public Affairs in Fune, 1803. 
581 
Britain, could arife only from a mean and 
fordid jealoufy; and the violence faid tq 
be exercifed on the veffels and property of 
Britifh fubjeéts, is difgraceful to a civili- 
zed community. The detachment of mi- 
litary officers and others to refide in the 
principal ports of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, under the charaéter of commercial 
agents, fome of whom were detected in the 
actual employment of fpies, in founding 
the harbours, and making plans of the 
ports; could only ferve to raife a fulpicion, 
that fome fcheme of a mifchievous ten 
dency was entertained by the French Go- 
vernment againft the future peace of this 
country. 
The very extraordinary and unprece- 
dented report of Colonel Sebaftiani, (alfo 
a commercial agent,) refpecting his miffion 
to Egypt, we formerly noticed. .That re« 
port indeed is affeéted by the Court of the 
Thuilleries to be confidered as unofficial + 
but if this was really the cafe, we confefs 
ourfelves to have been deceived, and we 
fufpeét thar Europe was allodeceived. The 
ridiculous boaft in the communication from 
the Firft Conful tothe Legiflative Body, that 
*¢ Great Britain was not able to contend 
fingle-handed with France,”? may be cons 
fidered as a Gafconade; but it was fuch as 
a prudent politician fhould not have intro~ 
duced into an official ftatement, and the leaf 
that it required was a decent apology. 
For the boifterous and unufual language 
held in the converfation with Lord Whit- 
worth, and in the Hamburgh Correfpon- 
deoten, the excufe of paffion may be plead» 
ed; but it was certainly placing new im- 
pediments in the way of negociation, and 
rendering the rafk ftill more difficult in ite 
execution. 
Yet fome of the pleas made ufe of on 
the part of France, are not without‘a fhare 
of plaufibility ; and we admit that there is 
an appearance of reafon in infitting that 
every part of the treaty of Amiens fhould 
be firictly fulfilled. Yet the prefent ftate - 
of Malta certainly required fome delibera- 
tion; when we reflect that the unfortunate 
Knights, by a combination of European 
powers, apparently infigared by France, 
are deprived of the principal part of their 
fubfiftence, and of the means of ma:ntaine 
ing the ifland in a fate of defence. 
Bonaparte and his Minifters have ap= 
peared unwilling to break off the negocias 
tion. Thofe who think their profefions 
fincere, will therelore probably cenfure the 
recal of Lord Whitworth, as rather hafty 
and precipitate; thofe who pe that 
thefe dilatory pleas had no furthet end than 
the gaining of time, will confider it as 4 
judicious meafure, At all events the de- 
4aF fire 
4 
