stance suffered to molest; and the grand object of the new possessors appeared to be, to create that happy state of the pubic feeling, with respect to the government, which might supersede all exercise of violence, and which would flow from mild authority, and lead to willing obedience. From this review of the events of the war in which Great Britain was particularly engaged, it will appear that the bravery of its seamen and officers was never superior, and does not seem capable of being exceeded in future times; one generation of heroes moves off the stage of public life only to be followed by another, the same in ardor, the same in talents, but not always the same in the opportu nities enjoyed by them of mortifying the pride and impairing the resources of the enemy. The scene of combat uniformly proves the theatre of glory; and whenever the enemy will supply a Trafalgar, the British navy will be certain to display a Nelson. To the plains of Maida the patriot will turn his eye with feelings similar to those which he experiences on the view of the maritime successes of his countrymen, enhanced, perhaps, some what, by the circumstance, that, while our naval pre-eminence is as fully allowed as it is obvious, the victory of sir John Stuart was gained on an element on which the French admit of no superior, or even equal. In this contest, however, though they provuced their choicest troops, their ablest generals, and were of far superior numbers, they were subdued under the energy of British heroism, and fled from the shock of battle with precipitation and dismay. To the expeditions of the year he will look, as having procured an addition to the British empire of inestimable importance to the safety and prosperity of its commerce and the annoyance of the enemy, and laid the founda tion of enterprises pregnant with consequences of unspeakable benet to this country, and which may more than counterbalance the advantages obtained by our insatiable rival by his destruction of the balance of Europe. In the British successes he will, in short, see the illustration of national renown, the security of trade, the acquisition of extensive territory, and the humiliation of the enemy, shut up and barred within all his poits; or, if escaping from imprisonment, pursued to his de. struction. CHAPTER CHAPTER IX. Conduct of Prussia-Versatility and Selfishness of its Policy-Its Occupation of Hanover-War between Prussia and England-Disgust of the Prussian People and Army with their Government-Prohibition by that Government of Political Discussion - Cashiering of Officers for their Strictures on Public Affairs-War between Sweden and Prussia--Conduct of Russia-Capture of Cattaro from the Austrians by a Russian Force-Doubtful State of France and Austria-Detention of Brannau and the Austrian Prisoners-Reforms of the Emperor of Germany-Appointment of the Arch-luke Charles to the supreme Regulation of the Military Department-- His Punishment of the Defaulters in the late Campaign-Extent and Importance of his Arrangements-French Troops in Germany-Austria, unable with all her Exertions to struggle with France, is obliged to abdicate the Imperial Crown of Germany - Federations of the Rhine-Act of Abdication-Consequences of these "Changes. THE HE conduct of Prussia to wards the close of the preceding year had baffled the hopes of all who ardently wished a check should finally be imposed on the ambition and usurpations of France. The rivalship between Austria and Prussia in ordinary circumstances, might well be supposed to preclude cordial co-operation; but a common participation of danger will frequently banish mutual jealousies and soften disgusts, and produce a union sufficiently firm, for a time, and capable of repressing a common adversary, although afterwards the ancient feuds are revived, and found to have been suspended only, and not annihilated-Such, it was hoped, might have been the case with respect to the two great powers, Austria and Prussia; and many indications seemed to be given by the latter of a strong propensity, sometimes, it was though, of a strong determination, to join the coalition. In a short time, how ever, such was the progress of Bonaparte that the last spark of hope relating to this concert was extinguished, while the versatility and equivocation, the odious rivalry and selfish rapacity of Prussian policy, became the theme of universal invective; and circumstances took place which convinced those who remained unconvinced before, that she had been guided in her conduct by motives of the most unworthy character. On the 27th of January, a proclamation was published by the king of Prussia to the inhabitants of Hanover, in which it was observed, that, since the events which terminated in the peace of Presburg, the only means of preserving that country from the flames of war consisted in forming a convention with the French emperor, by which the states of his Britannic majesty in Germany were to be wholly occupied and governed by Prussia, till peace; and all the authorities of that country were called upon Το conform to the dispositions made for this purpose; and to yield submission to the civil and military administration as appointed in the person of general Kecknert and the commissioners chosen by him. On this subject a note was presented on the 17th of S 4 March, March, by Mr. secretary Fox, to baron Jacobi, which states the great anxiety of his majesty at the manner in which possession had been taken of the electorate by the Prussian troops, and that, certainly, for any avowed purpose of its occupation, the subversion of its civil administration could not by any means be requisite. The honour of his Prussian majesty required his most clear and decided declaration, before all Europe, of the occupation being intended only to be temporary; and his majesty desired to be equally explicit to put an end to all hopes, if indeed any such had been entertained by the court of Berlin, that any convenience of political arrangement, much less any offer of equivalent or indemnity, could induce his majesty so far to forget what was due to his legitimate rights, as well as to the fidelity and attachment of his Hanoverian subjects, as to consent to the alienation of the electorate. Whatever cessions might be contemplated to France, they could be no justification of the taking of the king of Great Britain's lawful inheritance by his Prussian majesty, who will rather, it is added, follow the honourable dictates of his own heart, and not have recourse to so dreadful an example as this conduct would exhibit to all Europe. Soon after this, however, his Prussian majesty thought proper to drop the slight veil with which he had so ineffectually attempted the concealment of his real designs on the electorate, by publishing, on the first of April, a proclamation, in which he states the conclusion of a convention between himself and the French emperor, for the exchange of Hanover in return for three provinces of his monarchy: and, as the Hanoverian states were pos. sessed by France in right of con quest, he declares that the rightful possession of the electoral states of the house of Brunswick situated in Germany, had passed over to him in return for the above cession on his part, and that they were now subjected only to his power; that thenceforth their goverament would be administered in his name alone, and under his supreme authority. The ports of the North Sea, and rivers running into the same, were also to be shut against the English trade and navigation. On the 8th of April, the ministers of the neutral powers were informed that measures had been taken for blockading the rivers Ems, Weser, Elbe and Trave; and a message was sent to both houses of parliament, stating the termination of friendly intercourse between Prussia and Great Britain, in consequence of those aggressions which it was impossible for his majesty to pass unnoticed, without violating his first duty to his people. An order was issued for the seizure and detention of all vessels found navigating under Prussian colours. The greatest activity was immediately manifested by all the British cruizers, and the harbours of the island were speedily crowded with captured vessels. The greater proportion of the subjects of Prussia were well aware of this abject degradation in which they had been involved by their government; and the disaffection and discontents which ensued were natural to the occasion. Expressions of loyal and devout attachment were suspended. Conver sations in public assumed a tone of animated comment upon public measures which had rarely been employed. Men of rank and sta tion deplored the shade which had been thrown over the character of their country. The military entered into the general feeling with peculiar ardour: this feeling was in some instances almost toused to phrensy, and, if probable reports may be credited, the attendants and relations of Majesty itself were daring enough in the royal presence to give intimations of their disgusts. This spirit of high disdain, dangerous in any government, and particularly in a mili. tary one, when those who are destined for the support of despotism feel a stronger disposition to remonstrate than to obey, was thought not unworthy the notice of power. Several of the military officers of the staff were not only reprimanded, but cashiered, for the freedom with which they had expressed themselves on political to pies; and a proclamation was published, prohibiting the discussion of the proceedings of government: measures which checked the ebullition of popular feeling, but confirmed probably rather than changed the public opinion. To the king of Sweden the conduct of Prussia was equally exceptionable as to her own subjects, and he felt not that restraint in the expression of his disgust which was experienced by them. The conduct of this prince may be regarded as forming a striking and laudable contrast to that of the king of Prussia, which inspired him with sentiments of extreme irritation and aversion; and, agreeably to authority which can easily be credited, led him to apply epithets of no qualified indignation. In conformity to the treaty between Great Britain, Russia, and himself, he had united with them for the protection of the electorate against France. With しょ this view the territory of Lauenburg, which belongs to the electorate, had been occupied by him: and when the views of Prussia against this dependency were fully un olded, he manifested every disposition of hostility to her pretensions; and, although obliged to evacuate Lauenburg by the superiority of the Prussian free, when threatened with e mest active and dangerous hostilities against his Pomeranian states, he exerted himself with the utmost assiduity to prepare for their defence, co-operated in the blockade of the ports of Prussia, and wanted nothing but more efficient means to punish her selfish and pernicious policy as it merited. The circumstances, however, of the political relations of these powers were of so singular and varying a nature, in the course of the year, that these hostile demonstrations, threatening as they were for a time, were at tended with no important consequences. The Russian forces, after their return, in consequence of peace between France and Austria, were still kept up to their establishment, or rather indeed consider. ably increased by new levies. The idea of prosecuting the war seemed by no means abandoned on the part of the emperor, and the hope seemed to be entertained by him of a renewed opportunity for retrieving the affairs of the allies, and effecting the deliverance of Europe. In the mean time he was not inactive in that field which was still open to his exertions. By the treaty of Presburg, the Venetiar territories which had been ceded to Austria by the peace of Luneville, together with part of Istria and Dalmatia, were to be added With added to the kingdom of Italy, as also also the mouths of the Cattaro. The latter constitute a position upon the Adriatic, of extraordinary strength. By the various intersections of rivers, and other peculiar circumstances attending this situation, it is capable of defence by a very small number of men against a very superior force. The officer who commanded the fortress was general Brady, who possessed but a small number of troops, according to the Austrian statement, not more than eighty men. The time for delivering it up had expired, and nevertheless it remained still in the hands of the Austrian commandant; when an officer in the Russian service, whether instructed by his government, or acting from the suggestions of his own mind with respect to the importance of the enterprise, appeared before the place, and summoned it to surrender. The expedition was conduct ed with promptitude and decision; and from the suddenness of his appearance, the inefficacy of the ganison, or a disposition on the part of the governor to accommodate the recent ally, rather than enemy of his master, with so valuable a station, the Russian officer easily succeeded, and the summons was obeyed without delay. The dexterity with which the French in this instance were circumvented by an enemy whom they had affected to despise as destitute of the least portion of skill or stratagem, gave no small triumph to the court of Petersburg, little less perhaps, than what arose from the importance of the acquisition itself. On the other hand, intelligence of this event was received by the cabinet of the Thuilleries with all those indications of chagrin and rage which might naturally be expected. The French ambassador at Vienna was ordered to remonstrate on the occasion with extreme energy, and to insist most peremptorily on the fulfilment of the treaty of Presburg, and on the delivery of Cattaro, not through the medium of its present Russian possessor, but by the Austrians themselves, from whose hands alone the French should receive it. Russia, however, retained her conquest amidst all the discussions and irritation to which it gave rise, and until towards the conclusion of the year, when a larger theatre was opened for her exertions, and the circumstances of Albania (which, yet, after its original seizure, afforded no event of considerable consequence,) formed the principal object of her attention and hostility. The disgust occasioned in the French cabinet by the surrender of Cattaro, was connected with the refusal of Austria to permit a passage through its territory into Dalmatia, the reason for which. refusal was stated to be, that the Russians would expect, in con. sequence of such an advantage granted to the French, similar facilities, and the hereditary states would be exposed to those inconveniences which never fail to at tend the march of large bodies of armed men in any country. These two causes of disgust led to the detention of Brannau by the French. The Austrian prisoners also, who had not already returncd to their own country, were ordered to halt and go back to France. Such wore the unsettled relations between France and Austria for a long time: and, considering the distress and loss which Austria had experienced in the late campaign, it was gratifying to see that she thought her self |