636 
poffiible cafes where the authority of a 
fingle perfon can be eminently uteful to 
the public, there are none in which the 
advantages refulting from it are more ma- 
nifeit than in that of war: for it is evi- 
cent that the ref lutions adopted ought 
to be. prompt, the difcipine exact, the 
orders abiclute, and the obedience punc- 
tual. A moment loft in difcuffion is ir- 
retrievable, and the mof trifling faults 
are but too often expiated by torrents of 
blood. That ancient Rome which teiti- 
fied fo much repugnance to the fovercign 
authority, fubmitted to it always when- 
ever fhe was to be fheltered from any re- 
doubiable enemy; and knowing well that 
the equality maintaihed between the Con- 
fuls was not calculated for military ex- 
peditions, fhe chofe a Digiator, who go- 
verned her with abfolute powers.’s»_, 
It wiil alfo be feen by a perufal, of this 
work, that Louis XIV. firlt conceived 
an idea which bas fince been attributed to 
Bonaparte alfo :—‘* Mean while (‘ays he) 
I did not forget any thing neceflary to for- 
tify me againft the Englifh, as well with- 
in as Without the kingdom. I was alfo 
defirous to bring cover the King of Den- 
mark to our party, for by /butting the 
peffage of the Balize againft them, he 
might deprive the enemy of the facility of 
obtaining from thence whatever was ne- 
ceffary to navigation; and as this Prince 
(continues the politic King) had then 
fome differences with Holland, l advanced 
certain fums out df my treafury, with a 
view of inducing him, todfubferibe to fuch 
conditions as I defiredi.*, So, in addition 
to the public treaty, which contained no- 
thing very importact, as his Majefy of 
Denmark did not promife to fhut the en- 
trance of the Baltic to the Englith men of 
war, a fecret negociation was entered in- 
to, by which he acceded ta engagements 
ofa more definite nature, and obliged 
dmfelf pofitively to deprive the Britith 
merchants of all the commerce of the 
ANorth.” 
_ In the mean time, (continues the 
haughty monarch) having learned that 
the States of Holland, notwithRanding 
the war which commenced with fuch vio- 
leace between them: and the Englifh, had 
fuffered their ambafiador to remain at 
Loudon, while mine had departed, I had 
Dut tco much realon to apprehend left 
fomeihing might ccecur to my prejudice ; 
it was for this reafon I cbliged them to re- 
¢ail.bim. And to prevent fuch an acci- 
dent in future, I aftetwards made them 
promife, in expiels terms, that they would 
i 
s 
Retroppeci of French Literature Mifcellanies. 
never enter into any-negociatiens om this 
fubje& without my command.” 
The following is the manner in which 
this abfolute fovereign alludes to the Par- 
liament of a free country +— 
«© Tf T have eifewhere made you con- 
template the miferable consition of thofe- 
who commit their peoplesand their dig- 
nity to the conduct of a Prime Miniitery | 
I have fufficient occation now to repre- 
fent to. you the unbappinefs of thofe 
who are-abandonedt to the indiferction of 
an eflembled populace. For in the firlt 
place, the Prime Min:fter is a man whom 
you may felec&t accorcing to your own dif= 
cretion, whom you aflociate with you in 
the empire for fuch department only as 
you yourfelf may think fit, and who nol 
fefles the principal-credit in te tat. mere- 
ly becaufe he enjovs the chisf place in 
your efeem. While appropriating your 
property and your autho ity, be, at leatt, 
evinces gratitude and reflect for your 
perfon 3 and however great we may choofe 
to make nim, he cacnot avoid his ruin 
the moment we poffeis but fortitude fulh- 
cient to fusport him’ no longer. More- 
over, it is.but a fole col’eague- whom you 
admit on’the throne; if he bereayves you 
of a portion of your glory, he at the 
fame time difburthens your miod of a 
load of cares, and eafes you of many dif 
agreeable occupations. He loves ‘o fup- 
port your tights, ashe himfelf enjoys the 
benefit of them,. under the protection of 
your name; the interelt of his own great- 
nefs engages him to maintain yours; and 
if he thares your diadem with you, he la- 
bours, at lealt, to leave it entre to your 
defeciidants. i 
«¢ But i¢ is not thus with the power 
which an affembied people attributes io it- 
felf.. The more you grant fuch a body, 
the more it pretends to; the more you Ca- 
refs it, the more it willdefpife yon: and 
when it once obtains pofleffion of fuch.a 
degree of authority, the ulurpation is res 
tained by fo many hands, that it is impo 
fible to reclaim it again without extreme 
violence. Of the multitude of perfons 
who compole this great body, the. leaft 
capable are always thofe who give them- 
felves the greateft licence: thus if you de 
fer to their opinions on any one cecafiony 
they think that they have always a right 
to regulate your projects according to 
their own -phantafy ; and the -continual 
necefliiy of defending yourfelf from their 
attempis, will alone produce. more care © 
ard attention than all the other interetts 
ef your crown, Accordingly, a prince 
; ia a 
ae ee, 
eke ed 
© 
~ 
