Retrofpect of Domeftic Literature:— 
a5 a fovereign and independent people, and 
togrant, cr, if neccflary, to offer a guarar- 
tee of their independence on the empire of 
France. They who read the former work 
of this able writer, will not fufpeét him of 
offering advice, fo important in its confe- 
quences as the adoption of this might be, 
without accompanying it with very powrr- 
ful.reafons. The quel on is of high po- 
litical importance, and demands the molt 
fevrious and uaimpaftio! ed deliberation.— 
Whenever it fhall be di/cuffed in an appro- 
priate place, the arguments in favour of 
tlle meafure here held out will not pats 
unnoticed, 
“* Correfpondence, in a Series of Leiters 
betweena Gentleman in Berlin aud a Per- 
Jon of DiffinGticn in London, from Auguft 
1803, to Sune 1804." 
Thefe Letters are written by the author 
of Sketches on the Enttinfic Strength, Mi- 
litary and Naval Force of France and Rul- 
fia. The fame bold ant peremptory tone 
in which that work was written, diftin- 
guifhes the prefent. The fame extenfive 
knowledge of Continental politics is dif- 
played; the fame conftence exprefled in 
the fame dogmatical manner relpecting 
the views. and projects of the feveral Bu- 
ropean Cabinets ; the, fame haza:dous 
fpirit of prophecy is indulged ; the fame 
pofitivenefs of allertion, aid coar fe ftrength 
of language. 
Although the author is (ufficiently free 
in his reprubation of Brith politics, many 
of bis opinions are of a col:folatory nature. 
He thinks but indifferently of our ve lun- 
tary fervices and contributions, and be- 
lieves that, to rendera Government by re- 
gular means equal to the exigencies of the 
State, would be more’ patriotic-like and 
bettereconomy. He firmly oelieyes in the 
confpiracy afcribed to Mr, Drake 5 and, 
what is of more confequence, he afferts that 
the belief of it is geseral. ‘The friend to 
whom he writes allo thus exprefies him- 
felf in a letter from Caflel :—-** Since the 
difcovery of that moft fortifla, defpicable 
correfpondence of our diplomacy, we are 
all here confidered as fvies, and I am 
afraid we fhall carry with us our reputa- 
tion wherever we go. I cannct expreis ta 
you, Sir, what I feel for myicl? and my 
countrymen, who are now abrozd!~ En- 
alithmen Jooked uponin Germany as fpics! 
Buta few years ago our national candour 
and good faith was proverbial in every 
quarter of the world ; Enghfhnien were 
the pride of Europe : we were carefled 
and courted in every fociety,even in coun- 
tries with which we were at war. ‘Now a 
mai of reputalion on the Continent avoids 
/ 
‘fhe is no longer formidable. 
Political Economy, ce. 573 
us as a fimnle plowman does a recruit 
ing ferfean€ !’’ Our author treits the 
State Paper which was written on the occa- 
fion by his Majefity’s commands wih the 
utmolt contempt, confidering it ‘* of all 
the diplomatic deeds the world ever faw 
as the moit ridiculoufly infignificant. 
fie reprobates our fyfem of defenfive war 
fare, and fays that it is the higheft gratifi~ 
cation which Bonaparte cam receive. He 
wifhts fur more active operations, and 
contends that Great Britain muft never 
make peace until fhe has reduced the 
power of France to a conditicn in which 
Bonaparte, 
he believes, 18 anx'ovs for peace, as he 
flatters himfelf that inrhat event we fhould 
Jofe ail our fpirit in the love of gain, and 
fuffer ourarmy and navy to m> oulder away, 
whilft he, in ane mean time, might make 
fuch navai and military preparations, as 
at {ome future time would firike a death- 
blow at the Britith greatnels ! Bonaparte 
fufely is not fucha dupe, Our author, 
on the other hand, afhrms, that the natu- 
ral powers of France to extend her domi- 
nions are greatly circumicribed by the 
jealeuly and hatred of Prutha, Auftria, 
and Ruina, who could arrett her proprefs 
if fhe aitempted to make ope additional. 
fiep. 
As to invafion,——although Bonaparte’s 
fltilla is of fervice to hira, as accultom- 
ing his people to naval affairs, and as con- 
fining us to a ‘* wafting and feverifh de- 
fence,’’— our author believes that at pre- 
fent no attempt will be made to attack us 
on our own fhores. ‘* Bonaparte (fays 
he) knows that the Auftrian regular army 
amounts to four hundred thoufand brave 
men in a high ftate of difcipline ; that 
Pruffia can mufer nearly three hundred 
thoufand foldiers, commanded by the ge 
intelligent gmicers in Europe ; and tha 
Ruilia can’ in a little time organize en 
army of almo't any number of men. Thas 
ci'cumitanced, can it be prefumed that the 
Comius, prefumptuous as you fay he is,” 
fhouid export two hundred thoufand of his- 
belt troops ? The hero of Marengo could 
not pretend to undertake the conquett of 
England with a {maller number. Suppole 
the Gallic Empercr had nothing to appre- 
herd from bis een: al neighsours, by 
whom is his expedition to England to be 
siuelaray ou f Should be put himfclf at the 
head of shear my, to whom could he en- 
truff the maniie and the crown in his’ab- 
eae Hie knows that once landed in 
England, thofe who are row his warme(t 
fricnds in F:ance would infiantanepuily 
offer to the Britith Government peace up- 
, He 
