which on its surrender was to be restored to the order This act of hostility was afterwards confirmed by the convention of the northern powers, signed at Petersburg the 16th of December, 1800, between the kings of Sweden and Denmark and the emperor of Russia, and which consisted of hirteen articles; by which, among others, it was declared that all neutral vessels might navigate freely from port to port on the coast of the belligerent powers; that the effects belonging to the subjects of the belligerent powers, and embarked in neutral vessels, were free, except such as should be contraband by the laws of the country; that neutral vessels could be stopt only on proofs that were clear and positive, and could not be visited when the commander of the escort pledged his word of honour that it contained nothing irregular. The court of Berlin acceded to this convention, which formed what was called the Quadruple Alliance and to make this hostility against England as extensive and general as possible, the emperor laid his commands on the courts of Naples and Portugal to shut their ports under pain of his displeasure, declaring that he would on their refusal cease his intervention with the French government in their favour. The compliance of the king of the Two Sicilies was rewarded by the conclusion of an armistice with the French. Naples had been left once more at the mercy of an enraged enemy; since the imperial ambassador at Luneville, not withstanding the supplicating instances of the queen of Naples to the court of Vienna, had been precluded every intercession in favour of this prince. The disposition of Ferdinand during the whole of the war, the unexampled cruelty and perfidy of his conduct towards the Neapolitan patriots at the epoch of their capitulation, and his perseverance in the same system of terror and of treachery, had excited such undissembled sentiments of indignation not only in France, but throughout Europe, that the desire of seeing an exemplary punishment inflicted on this prince was almost universal. The interposition of Paul at this period was, however, too powerful to be resisted. An armistice was concluded, the principal conditions of which were the shutting of the ports of Naples against the remaining hostile powers of England and Turkey, and an engagement to accede to whatever demands should be made by the French government at the definitive treaty in favour of such persons as were detained, or had emigrated, in consequence of the late troubles. The session of the legislative bodies finished at the period marked by the constitution the 30th of Ventose. The government had seen with evident marks of displeasure that the laws which it proposed during the session had been sometimes too severely scrutinised, and that some had been rejected. Such particularly was the fate of almost all the last laws which it had presented respecting criminal trials, which law was judged by the legislature as containing clauses hostile to the rights of juries, and affording the means of lengthening criminal prosecution uselessly. The legis lature had felt the injuries which circumstances had led it to inflict on the institution of juries by the erection of special tribunals; nor was it forgotten that this institution had been attacked in divers ways and modes, in other laws which had had been submitted to the sanction of the legislative body, but which they had persisted in rejecting, chiefly on that account. The legislature had been also at times embarrassed with respect to the clauses of laws offered for their approbation; of which, though they ap proved the tendency, they disliked the detail. Such were its feelings respecting the lists of eligibility which had been presented by Roederer, and which consisted of such a number of clauses and details, that few attempted to understand, and still fewer to discuss them. This law, which regulated the mode of the election of representatives, in which national independence, the sovereignty of the people, and public liberty, were so deeply interested, was hurried through without almost any examination, notwithstanding the general opinion that its clauses were obscure, most difficult of execution, and many absolutely impossible to be executed; that upon the whole, such was the law, flat, out of a million of citizens, 995,000 must be ineligible. As the session was, however, drawing near its close, and this question would have demanded a much more considerable time than the pressure of business and the days allotted would permit of, the law, with all its imperfections, was voted by the tribunate; and the legislative body, without understanding it better than their colleagues, who had attempted the discussion, voted also its adoption. At this period we shall close our narrative of French affairs for the present year-the remaining transactions of the French government being only preparatory to some remarkable changes, which will properly come under consideration in The succeeding volume. There the reader may expect a faithful and authentic detail. Firm to those principles which have ever regulated the conduct of this work, we shall not permit any infringement upon liberty in any part of the globe to pass uncensured. It is the opinion of posterity which alone can restrain the conduct of those who are out of the reach of human lawsand we might add, of earthly power. That opinion we shall not mislead; and the public may expect an accurate analysis, and an impartial criticism, on those complex codes of arbitraty power which have been issued un 'er the name of republican constitutions. Under the head of Domestic History our readers will find a detail of the events of the war between France and England during the course of the last year, and of most of the political transactions in Europe; for in most of them the British nation was directly or indirectly concerned. The return of peace may possibly render our future labours somewhat less copious; yet the politics of Europe will not cease for some years to be interesting. It has been said "that at the termination of the war the French revolution would only commence." To this proposition we do not assent; but we much fear that it is far from being at an end. The present establishment bears not the characteristic marks of permanence but in speaking of French affairs, to use the new republican idiom' it has more the appearance of a provisionary ar rangement. At the utmost it hangs suspended on the life of one man; and there are causes which may even operate a change independent of such an event. There is hardly any thing in human affairs more inconstant than the will and affections of military bodies. When the prætorian guards had once dispofed of the fovereignty of Rome, the changes were frequent, often deftitute of motive, till the difgrace of the empire was confirmed by the public fale of the higheft dignity of the state. Taught by the fevere leffon of experience, however, it is to be hoped that, whatever may be the internal ftate of that unhappy country in future, the great powers of Europe will cautiouffy refrain from all interference. If their unexampled efforts, if a com bination unparalleled as to power, if an expenditure which baffled all calculation, and a prodigality of human life fuch as hiftory feldom has to record,-if all this ended only in forging military fetters for the nation, whom they profeffed to liberate from anarchy and mifery, the pofition is proved in this inflance, as well as by all former precedent, that WAR is never productive of good to either party, and that the event of it feldom correfponds with the intention for which it was commenced. CHAP. XI. Appearances unfavourable to a general Peace.-Consequences resulting from the Change of Ministry in Great Britain. The Northern Confederacy. Expedition under Sir Hyde Parker. Battle of Copenhagen. The British Fleet appear off Carlscrona-Result of the Negotiation there. Death of the Emperor Paul-His Character. Accession of the Emperor Alexander. Proceedings of the new Government of Russia. Armistice concluded with Sir Hyde Parker. Negotiation between Great Britain and Russia-Terms of the Treaty. Expedition to Egypt-Engagements there. Death and Character of Sir Ralph Abercrombie. Successes of the British Army. Victory at Rhamanich-French defeated by the Turks-Reduction of Cairo-Convention for the Surrender of the French troops there. Siege of Alexandria. Final Conquest of Egypt. Naval Engagement off Algesiras. Attack upon Boulogne. Negotiation for Peace with France - Preliminaries signed. Concluding Observations. HE tragic fcene which had fo which feemed to place the profpect Tlong deluged with blood the of a general peace at a greater di continent of Europe had closed at the convention of Trevifo, confirmed by the fucceeding treaty of Luneville. Great Britain was now left to contend alone with the enor mous and overgrown power of the French republic; fince the feeble ftate of Portugal is rather to be confidered as a burthen than a fupport. There were fome caufes fiance than ever. Yet in the conciliating temper of Mr. Addington, and in the fober habits of his colleagues, the friends of peace in Britain faw at least a glimmering of hope that, in fpite of appearances, this object, so desirable to mankind, would not be long deferred. Those who have not been accuftomed to have their minds intent upon upon public tranfactions, who have not looked into the interior of cabinets, have not learned to expect great events from caufes apparently trivial. It is, however, a great truth, that all the little paffions of men are carried into the career of political life; and often what appears the effect of deep defigning policy is no more than the ebulli tion of humour, of refentment, of envy, or of fear. Though commonly regarded as a circumftance of little moment, a change of minifters is in reality a matter of great magnitude, fince the character of the moving power is changed; and on the character of the men who direct the national councils the measures will depend. There are no prescribed rules for the conduct of statesmen, there is no recipe for the government of a nation; but the man will always appear through the difguife of the minifter. Rafh, infolent, vain, and fanguine, meafures of an intemperate character were only congenial to the perfons who, in Great Britain, lately filled the highest offices of ftate. To reftore peace and tranquillity, men of a more cautious temperament, of a leis haughty and daring fpirit, were required and perhaps, having lefs of what is thought to be political reputation to fupport, and an humbler opinion of their own talents, the new adminiftration were lefs fearful of defcending from the high pretenfions which had been previously advanced. It was no longer the idle ambition of the British cabinet to direct the councils of Europe; and they had confequently leifure and difpofition to confult the immediate welfare of the British Яation. The reader muft have obferved, in the communications and fpeeches of the new minifters, in the course of the debates, a frankness and moderation to which his ear for fome years paft muft have been unaccuftomed. The fame character they carried into their transactions with foreign nations; and it has been remarked, that from the period of their acceffion to office the public bufinefs was conducted, in all refpects, with a degree of method, regularity, and impartiality, to which those who tranfacted business with the fervants of the crown had been ftrangers before; and if Mr. Addington and his colleagues did not afpire to the useless glory of fhaking the fenate by the thunder of their eloquence, of appearing as the first declaimers in Europe, they proved themselves fomething bet ter-men of business. To repair the errors of their predeceffors was not an eafy task. The difguft excited by the haughty rejection of Bonaparte's overture, on his affuming the government, was heightened by the breach of a treaty honourably and beneficially concluded by a meritorious (and we think an authorised) officer, and by an order as wantonly iffued as it was meanly revoked, for feizing the fishing-boats off the coaft of France. Even the accredited agent of the French government had found his fituation fo little correfpondent with his wifhes, that his recall had been determined. France was now ftrengthened by the alliance of Rulia; and a formidable confederacy of the maritime powers of the North threatened the diffolution of the naval empire of Great Britain. To thefe we may add, the evils of a famine actually exifting, and exaggerated by the probable exclufion of our vessels from the granary of Europe. In the preceding chapter the history of what has been called the North$ 3 ern contest by lord Nelson sponta neously offering a cessation of arms, which, it is said, was not less necessary to his own than the ene my's forces After the battle, it appeared that the Danes had lost eighteen ships, among which were seven old men-of-war of the line fitted up for that particular occa Sion. Lord Nelson next proceed. ern confederacy has been detailed. It was formed on the plan of that alarming system of armed neutrality (as it was then termed) which had been adopted by the aspiring and crafty Catherine. If it was not the immediate project of Bonaparte, there cannot be a doubt but it was cherished by him. Great Britain was now the only power capable of afforded to approach Copenhagen, iuto ing a check to his all-grasping ambition; and there is reason to believe that the destruction of her naval power was only one part of an immense plan of aggrandisement, with the hope of participating in which the vanity of Paul was flattered, but which would ultimately have been turned only to the advantage of France. To prevent the active co-operation of Denmark with the designs of Russia, an armament was fitted out in the British ports, consisting of seventeen sail of the line, three frigates, and about twenty bombketches, gun-brigs, &c. under the command of sir Hyde Parker and lord Nelson. This fleet sailed from Yarmouth on the 12th of March, and triumphantly passed the Sound, which was deemed impossible, and reached the capital of Denmark. The Danes appear to have made very formidable dispositions. Before the city was stationed an armed flotilla, consisting of ships of the line, galleys, fire-ships, and gun-boats. These were flanked and supported by extensive betteries on the two islands called the Crowns, the largest of which mounted from filty to seventy pieces of cannon The attack was made by a division of the English fleet under lord Nelson, consisting of twelve ships of the line and four frigates. After ry severe engagement, an end was put to the which some bombs were thrown; but an attack on the city was prevented by a flag of truce, which was sent on board Ford Nelson's ship; and an armistice was soon after concluded with sir Hyde Parker by the Danish court. On the 15th of April the British fleet appeared off the entrance of Carlscrona; and the admiral acquainted the governor, That the court of Denmark having concinde ed an armistice, by which the unfortunate dispute with the court of St. James's had been accommo dated, he was directed to require an explicit answer from his Swedish majesty relative to his intention of adhering to or abandoning the hostile measures he had taken in conjunction with Russia. An official answer to this demand was communicated from the king of Sweden to sir Hyde Parker, intimating that his Swedish majesty would not fail to fulfil the engagements entered into with his allies; but that he would not refuse to listen to equitable proposals made by deputies furnished with proper authority to regulate the matters in dispute. The termination of the contest is, however, not to be attributed either to the battle of Copenhagen or to the victorious progress of the British fleet, but to an event which had just before taken place, to the astonishment of Europe, and which produced |