( 258 
STATE or PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
) [O&. 1, 
‘ 
In Sepiember, 1804. 
AUSTRIA. 
HE leading feature of the public tranf- 
actions of this month is, the recent 
conduct of the Emperor of Germany. This 
monarch, the head of an illufrious houfe, 
and the hereditary fovereign of powerful 
ftates, has condefcended to imitate the ex- 
ample of a man who is an upftart among 
prices, and whofe title will probably be 
as fugitive as the proceedings which were 
its pretence and excufe were cruel and 
fraudulent. Ihe Emperor of Germany 
has thought proper to create himfelf the 
hereditary Emperor of Aufiria. Notwith- 
ftanding the character we have given, and 
jufily we believe, to the deeds by which 
Bonaparte opened the immediate paflage 
to his imperial feat, it may be made a 
queftion, whether policy would not juitify 
him ; that policy we mean, which difre- 
gards the character, when it is affured of 
the efficacy of its means. Be this as it 
may, Bonaparte has lived to be a monarch 
and an emperor; and even if he were tedie 
as a criminal, for his deeds, yet theambition 
which feems to be the {pringef hisaétion will 
have fo far wrought according to his defign 
and produced its effect. He hasadefpeiate 
gametoplay ;and with his purpofes,may be 
playing it wifely. But the Emperor of 
ermany had no obvious temptation te 
depart from the character which his birth, 
and the influence and fortunes of his houfe 
had affigned to him. He has accordingly, 
not only taken the moit acute and moft 
profound political obfervers by furprize, 
but has out-itripped the imagination of 
the wildeft fpeculators on thofe ftrange and 
almof prodigious times. . 
However extraordinary this event may 
be in itfelf, the manner of wording its ex- 
cufe, in the notification of it by the Court 
of Vienna to the foreign minifiers at that 
court, is perhaps, ftill more wonderful. 
«< His Royal and Imperial Majefty (fays 
the ncte) has commanded the underfigned 
to notify to ,that his Majefty, 
as fovereign of the Auftrian monarchy, 
after the example of France, and for the 
reafons herein after ftated, has been pleafed 
to aflume the dignity of hereditary Em- 
peror of Auftria, and to caufe himfelf to 
be proclaimed as fuch.”’ Im what tone, 
more humiliating to the houfe of Auftria, 
” fiances.” 
- Aufrian Miniter to the Diet at Ratifpsn, 
could this aét have been announced, if the 
Emperor Napolzon vimfelf had ftood by te 
dictate the phrafe ? 
But this miferable farce, this barlegziz- 
ade, itis too much to be feared, has a 
character alfo of unhappy import, and is 
the omen of new fcenes of bloodshed in 
Europe. It is true, the note holds this 
language ‘© The Emperor hopes, that 
this communicaticn will be received in a 
manner perfectly agreeable to the connec. 
tion which exifts between the two powers, 
and that the obje& of the fame wili be con- 
fidered as adapted to public circum- 
And a note delivered by the 
fays, his Majefty difclaims all intention, 
by the affumption of the Imperial heredit- 
ary dignity, ‘‘ to zfringe the rights of ihe 
Empire, or of his Co-efiates.” But what 
is the force of fuch a declaration, in the 
very body of a note announcing an att, 
that at leaft is calculated to excite the mot 
exquiftte jealoufy in that empire, and in 
all fuch of the co-eftates as have not aliied 
themfelves to the crimes and fortunes of 
France? It is more reafonable to give 
credit to the ftatement of the A¥#rxiteur, 
which exprefies “ the moft perfect conf- 
denceésin the pacific cifpofitions (tozvards 
France) of Proffia, Aufiria, and Den- 
mark ;*°—for though it is the: policy of 
that paper, in part to accomplifh its 
matter’s projects by the very ftuccefsiul 
artifice of roundly afferting that the thing 
in contemplation is actually accomplifhed, 
yet the prefent aflertion comes with ftrorg 
evidence of its truth. Aufltria, Pruffia, 
and France, pacific to each other, and di- 
viding the territories of the helplefs co- 
eftates of the two former, among them- 
felves, is a pisture that we are afraid has 
too little of political dream im it. Hap- 
py fnould we be, if time fhould prove us 
to have been too quick in fear, and mil- 
taken in prophecy. 
GERMANY AND SWEDEN. . , 
In the Diet at Ratifbon, the Avftrian 
minifter’s note was fo.lowed by.one from — 
the Swediih minifter, which does honour 
to the firm and independent temper of his 
court. After faying that, ‘¢ his Majetty, 
the King of Sweden, participates with the 
mof fincere fatisfation in every thing that 
cam 
