LXIX. 1801: countered the forces of Britain: there Bonaparte learned, CHAP. that in vain he might project schemes of maritime and commercial conquest, when opposed by the naval and military heroes of Britain. All the mighty preparations and boasted achievements of four years in pursuit of the favourite object of the chief consul, perished without leaving a wreck behind. The whole, and every part of this expedition, displayed the British character in its manifold excellencies. Adventurous courage guided by wisdom, united with patience and magnanimous constancy, and were all inspired by patriotism and loyalty, and enhanced by justice. Such were the qualities that rendered Britain triumphant in the signally glorious campaign of Egypt, in such Britain may always confide, and such let her enemies. dread. If ambitious pride should overlook more remote events, when she seeks war with Britain, let her REMEMBER EGYPT. CONCLUSION. tion of the THE new ministers of England, following the example Terminaof their predecessors, uniformly declared themselves desirous war. of peace, whenever it should be attainable with security, and a negotiation was opened with M. Otto. The chief difficulty arose from Egypt, which Bonaparte was resolved if possible to retain ; and the British government was determined to dispossess the French of a settlement which would prove so injurious to the interests of England. That difficulty however lessened, as intelligence was received of the progress of our arms. Both parties wisely observed the strictest secresy concerning the overtures, the advances, and the obstacles: the hopes of the people of Britain and France had been extremely sanguine in summer, but in autumn they began to fear that the reciprocal discussions. were not likely to terminate in pacification. Various circumstances convinced the public that the crisis was fast approaching, and it was generally suspected that a few days would announce the continuance of war. With such anticipations September closed; and never were hopes of immediate peace more distant throughout London, than during VOL. IV. Rrr 498 CHAP. 1801. the greater part of the 1st of October. Such were the opinions that prevailed, when the next day opened with intelligence, that peace was concluded between Great Britain and the French republic. The tidings spread through the country a joy that was natural and just, on the supposition that the peace would be secure and permanent; and that supposition was founded in an idea that the chief consul of France would regard the real interest and welfare of the people, and would not provoke dismission from his office, by rendering it the instrument of national misery. The reasoning was fair; the hopes of durable tranquillity were founded on probable grounds, and the rejoicings were general. They were not however universal, as from the situation and character of the chief consul, a small number augured inveterate hostility to Britain. : THE objects which the former ministers had professed to seek by war, and in the successive negotiations, were, the security of Britain, restitution to her allies, and the independence of Europe. From the events of the war, and the separate treaties which had been concluded by her first confederates, it was impracticable for Britain to provide for their independence any farther than they chose to cooperate themselves. Restitution to allies was become a much narrower proposition than before, because allies were so few it now comprehended only demands for the evacuation of Egypt; and for the restoration of places which were taken from the queen of Portugal. The conquests of France had been immense, but ceded by their former possessors, could not with any hopes of success be reclaimed from her by Britain; and all the restitution which we sought to our allies was obtained. Respecting Britain herself, ministers did not think it necessary to insist on retaining all the acquisitions of our valour: we did not fight to subdue the possessions of others, but to x I must acknowledge that I was one who rejoiced at the peace. I thought it would be lasting, because it was the interest of France, and the chief consul himself, that it should be permanent; and Bonaparte had repeatedly declared his regret that the two first nations in the world should waste their resources and power in enmity. y The news of the capture of Alexandria, as our readers will recollect, had not reached Britain; though by many it was supposed to have reached the chief consul; and that he readily consented to evacuate a country from which he knew his troops had been driven by force. secure ourselves. LXIX. 1801. We agreed to restore all our acquisi- CHAP. tions, except the island of Trinidad, and the Dutch possessions in the island of Ceylon. The cape of Good Hope was to be opened to both parties and the island of Malta was to be evacuated by Britain, but to be placed on such a footing as to render it totally independent of France. As a mere question of terms and equivalents, it may be doubted whether we might not have commanded greater extent of territory, if acquisition had been our object; but acquisition was an object which the present, like the former ministry, uniformly disclaimed; and the retention of a plantation more or less was held to be a very inadequate ground for incurrring the expense and loss of another campaign. The preliminaries, signed at London on the 1st of October, were ratified by the chief consul on the 7th; and so terminated the memorable war between Great Britain and the French republic. THE treaty of Amiens opened new subjects of discussion, which for the reasons mentioned in the preface, appear to me to belong more properly to a subsequent period, which shall embrace the history and progress of that pacification; the state and sentiments of the two countries, and of other nations during the peace; the rise and progress of the rupture, with the events which may ensue until hostilities be brought to a permanent conclusion. The most important object which Britain ascertained at the termination of the late war, was her own security for this valuable blessing under Providence, she was indebted to her own extraordinary efforts during the whole of the contest, but especially since the rupture of the first negotiation at Paris. She had proved, even beyond her own exertions in former times, that she was superior to the whole naval world combined against her in war. Every attempt to disturb her rights, to invade her dominions, either directly or indirectly to impair the sources of her commercial prosperity and political greatness, have recoiled on the authors: never had her commerce been so flourishing, or her power so resistless, as during the most arduous war which her history has to z See State Papers, October 1, 1801. CHAP. LXIX. 1801. record. Threatened, and actual rebellion, only demonstrated paramount loyalty and patriotism: attempts on her finances, displayed, beyond former conception, the extent of her resources; leaving their bounds far beyond calculation; resources exhaustless, because flowing from minds which afford perennial supply: menaced invasion served only to show the number and force of her voluntary defenders. Every means that fertile genius could devise, or gigantic power execute, was essayed against our country: if she could have been subdued by any human effort, in the late arduous contest she must have fallen: the stupendous exertions that were employed against Britain, but employed in vain, demonstrate her invincible. HERE RESTS OUR SECURITY, IN THE MANIFESTATION OF RESOURCES NOT TO BE EXHAUSTED, A SPIRIT NOT TO BE BROKEN, AND A FORCE NOT TO BE SUBDUED: OUR SECURITY IS INVULNERABLE WHILE WE CONTINUE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN, AND ARE TRUE TO OURSELVES. a From the account presented to the house of commons, it appears that the national income amounts to the wonderful sum of sixty-three millions two hundred and forty-five thousand five hundred and fifty-nine pounds four shillings and eight-pence, exceeding the expenditure by six hundred and seventy thousand and eighty pounds six and eight-pence, besides the annual million. From the same vouchers it appears, that so rapid has been the operation of Mr. Pitt's plan for the reduction of the national debt, that in sixteen years and a half, sixty-seven millions two hundred and fifty-five thousand nine hundred and fifteen pounds have been paid off-See No. 6, Accounts respecting the Public Funded Debt, p. 8 colunin second. INDEX. [N. B. The Roman Numerals direct to the Volume, and the A ABERCROMBIE, general, appointed to command in North lieutenant colonel, killed at Bunker's Hill, ii. 13. 100. general Ralph, efforts of, in the Netherlands, iv. Abstraction in politics. See Parliament. Acadians, or French neutrals, i. 117 and 118. Acre. See sir Sidney Smith. Adam, William, Esq. abilities and character, ii. 272. His speech captain Charles, son to the former, brilliant naval achieve- Adams, Daniel, secretary to an innovating society iv. 135. Ar- Samuel, president of the congress. See Congress. Adultery, bill respecting divorces for. See Auckland, and Par- liament. |