vernment.

XVII.

1794.

whom it had repeatedly vanquished; and its name was CHAP. erased from the list of nations at the very time that its despotic rival had attained the zenith of power and glory. These facts throw a great and important light on the causes of early civilisation, and the form of government adapted to a barbarous age. There cannot in such a state be so great a misfortune as a weak, there cannot be so great a blessing as a powerful goNo oppression is so severe as that which is there inflicted by the members of the same state on each other; no anarchy so irremediable as that which arises from the violence of their own passions. To restrain the fury, and coerce the dissensions of its subjects, is the first duty of government in such periods; in its inability to discharge this duty, is to be found the real cause of the weakness of a democratic, in the rude but effective performance of it the true secret of the strength of a despotic state.

exiled Po

Such are the ennobling effects of the spirit of free- Gallant dom even in its wildest fits, that the remnant of the Spirit of the Polish nation, albeit bereft of a country by their own lish Bands. insanity, have by their deeds commanded the respect, and by their sorrows obtained the sympathy of the world. The remains of Kosciusko's bands, disdaining to live under Muscovite oppression, have sought and found an asylum in the armies of France; they served with distinction both in Italy and Spain, and awakened by their bravery that sympathy, which brought the Conqueror of Europe to the walls of the Kremlin. Like the remains of a noble mind borne down by suffering, they have exhibited flashes of greatness even in the extremity of disaster; and while wandering without a home, from which their madness had banished them, obtained a respect, to which their conquerors were strangers at the summit of their glory.

CHAP.
XVII.

1794.

Comparison of Polish with Eng

Such is the effect even of the misdirected spirit of freedom; it dignifies and hallows all that it encircles, and, even amidst the ruins which it has occasioned, exalts the human soul!

The history of England has illustrated the beneficial effects which have resulted to its character and inlish History. stitutions from the Norman Conquest. In the severe suffering which followed that great event; in the anguish of generations, were laid the deep and lasting foundations of English freedom. In the checkered and disastrous history of Poland, may be traced the consequences of an opposite, and, at first sight, more fortunate destiny; of national independence uninterruptedly maintained, and purity of race unceasingly preserved. The first, in the school of early adversity, were taught the habits and learned the wisdom necessary for the guidance of maturer years; the second, like the spoiled child, whose wishes had never been coerced, nor passions restrained, at last acquired, on the brink of the grave, prematurely induced by excessive indulgence, that experience which should have been gained in earlier years. It is through this terrible, but necessary ordeal, that Poland is now passing; and the experience of ages would indeed be lost, if we did not discern in their present suffering the discipline necessary for future happiness, and in the extremity of temporary disaster, the severe school of ultimate improvement.

The partition of Poland, and scandalous conduct of the states who reaped the fruit of injustice in its fall, has been the frequent subject of just indignation, and eloquent complaint from the European historians; but the connection between that calamitous event and the subsequent disasters of the partitioning powers, has not hitherto met with due attention. Yet nothing can be clearer, than that it was this iniquitous mea

sure which brought all the misfortunes which followed upon the European monarchies; that it was it which opened the gates of Germany to French ambition, and brought Napoleon with his terrible legions to Vienna, Berlin, and the Kremlin. The more the campaigns of 1793 and 1794 are studied, the more clearly does it appear that it was the prospect of obtaining a share in the partition of Poland which paralysed the Allied arms, which intercepted and turned aside the legions which might have overthrown the Jacobin rule, and created that jealousy and division amongst their rulers, which more even than the energy of the Republicans, contributed to their uniform and astonishing success. Had the redoubtable bands of Catherine been added to the armies of Prussia in the plains of Champaigne in 1792, or to those of Austria and England in the field of Flanders in 1793, not a doubt can remain that the revolutionary party would have been overcome, and a constitutional monarchy established in France, with the entire concurrence of three-fourths of all the respectable classes in the kingdom. Even in 1794, by a cordial co-operation of the Prussian and Austrian forces after the fall of Landrecy, the whole barrier erected by the genius of Vauban might have been captured, and the Revolution, thrown back upon its own resources, been permanently prevented from proving dangerous to the liberties of Europe. What then paralysed the Allied armies in the midst of such a career of success, and caused the campaign to close under circumstances of such general disaster? The partition of Poland, which first retained the Prussian battalions during the crisis of the campaign in sullen inactivity on the Rhine, and then led to the precipitate and indignant abandonment of Flanders by the Austrian forces.

СНАР.

XVII.

1794.

CHAP.
XVII.

1794.

of the Parti

Powers.

The subsequent fate of the partitioning powers is a striking instance of that moral retribution, which, sooner or later, in nations as well as individuals, atSubsequent tends a flagrant act of injustice. To effect the destrucPunishment tion of Poland, Prussia paralysed her armies on the tioning Rhine, and threw on Austria and England the whole weight of the contest with Republican France. She thereby permitted the growth of its military power, and the battle of Jena, the Treaty of Tilsit, and six years of bondage, were the consequence. Suwarrow entered Warsaw when its spires were yet gleaming with the fires of Praga, and when the Vistula ran red with Polish blood, and before twenty years had expired, a Polish army revenged on the Moskwa that inhuman massacre, and the sack of Warsaw was forgotten in the conflagration of Moscow. Austria withdrew from Flanders to join in the deed of iniquity, and secure in Gallicia the fruits of injustice; and twice did the French guards in consequence pass in triumph through the walls of Vienna.

It was this scandalous spoliation, therefore, which opened the gates of Europe to French ambition; and when we recollect what unheard of disasters they brought on all the partitioning powers, and most of all on Prussia, which first gave the example of this interested defection from the cause of general freedom, it is impossible not to perceive the silent but irresistible operation of the moral laws to which the conduct of nations is subjected, or to perceive in the unexampled calamities, which for twenty years afterwards desolated Europe, any thing but the natural consequence and just punishment of the greatest political crime which had been committed since the ambition of the Romans subjugated mankind.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CAMPAIGN OF 1795.

ARGUMENT.

Effects of the Successes of France in the preceding Campaign-Peace with Prussia-State of the Empire-Treaty of Alliance, Offensive and Defensive, between Holland and France-Fresh Treaty between Austria and England— Efforts of England to maintain the War-Her Land and Sea Forces, and Supplies-Treaty with Russia-Arguments in England against and for the WarGreat increase in the Patriotic Spirit of the People-Exhausted State of France -Naval Operations in the Mediterranean-Combat of La Spezia-- War in the Maritime Alps-Allies at first successful-Difficult Situation of the FrenchTheir Armies, strongly reinforced, resume the Offensive-Battle of LoanoIts decisive consequences-Tactics by which it was gained by the Republicans -War in Spain-Indecisive Operations in Catalonia-Great successes of the Republicans in Biscay-Peace between France and Spain-Pacification of La Vendée-Treaty with the Insurgents-Expedition to Quiberon-Running SeaFight at Bellisle-Landing of the Emigrants in Quiberon Bay-Vigorous defensive Measures of Hoche-The Invaders are blockaded—Their desperate situation-Unfortunate Attempts at succour by the Chouan Chiefs-They are Repulsed-Storming of the Royalist Intrenchments-They are driven into the Sea, or Capitulate-Atrocious Cruelty of the Republicans—Noble Conduct and Death of the Royalist Prisoners-Rapid decline of the Royalist Cause in the West of France-War on the Rhine-Extreme Penury and Difficulties of the Republicans on the Rhine-State of the contending Armies-Early Inactivity of the Allies-Fall of Luxembourg-Secret Negotiations between Pichegru and the Allies-Inactivity of the Austrians on the Upper Rhine-Republicans cross that River-Defensive Dispositions of the Austrians-Able and Vigorous Measures of Clairfait-He attacks the Lines round Mayence-Other Operations along the River-Republicans are driven from before Manheim-Which Capitulates-Wurmser drives Pichegru to the Lines of the Queich—Maritime Operations-Results of the Campaign-Declining Affairs, and exhausted State of the Republicans-Feeble Character of the War up to this Period-Great Results which might have followed a vigorous exertion of the Allied Strength, from the Lassitude of the French.

CHAP.

XVIII.

THE great successes which in every quarter had signalized the conclusion of the campaign of 1794, led early in the following year to the dissolution of 1795.