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Foreign News
April 4, 1798
The Kentucky Gazette
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
An address in a London paper urges English citizens to seek an honorable peace with France, fearing invasion by 200,000 advancing French troops just 11 leagues from the coast, while criticizing the divided ministry for prolonging the war.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
LONDON, November 25.
The following is an extract of an address inserted in the paper, which will give an idea of the impression made upon some minds by the projected descent of the French:-
"To the city of London;
Englishmen! fathers of families! inhabitants of this respectable city! hearken to the voice of honor and good sense. Behold two hundred thousand Frenchmen, proud of their conquests over the last of our allies, advance with rapid stride to within eleven leagues of our coast-at two days march to this opulent city! remember that the united forces of Europe have not been able to arrest the progress of these republicans! remember that they have leaped the natural bounds of empires; the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the sea itself, that favorite element of the English! the genius of our isle still triumphs throughout the vast ocean; but neither this, or our valor, or our superiority in naval tactics, is here the question. Alas! one dark night, one fatal night with a six hours south wind, is sufficient to pour on our native soil a swarm of furious desperate enemies. Shall we oppose to them our courage? that is great without doubt: but even should it triumph it is nothing to see the English ground sacred for more than seven years, drenched with English blood, shed by the hands of foreigners? May heaven preserve us from such a calamity! but our honor, our good sense, dictate to us a speedy and honorable peace with the enemy, while they are yet within their own territory. Can English honor be confounded with the degraded character of a minister in despair? shall we expose ourselves to the danger of an invasion, to the horrors of a civil war, to save the minister from accusation? but it is whispered abroad that there exists schism in the ministerial junto, which has prolonged the war to this moment. It is said, and it is very probable, that the whole cabinet is struck with a astonishment and fear. The majority dares not to stop: the minority trembles to go forward.
In the mean time, behold the enemy offering indirectly an honorable peace, on condition of a change of the ministry. Behold our band upon the brink of the precipice-behold, and make your conclusion."
The following is an extract of an address inserted in the paper, which will give an idea of the impression made upon some minds by the projected descent of the French:-
"To the city of London;
Englishmen! fathers of families! inhabitants of this respectable city! hearken to the voice of honor and good sense. Behold two hundred thousand Frenchmen, proud of their conquests over the last of our allies, advance with rapid stride to within eleven leagues of our coast-at two days march to this opulent city! remember that the united forces of Europe have not been able to arrest the progress of these republicans! remember that they have leaped the natural bounds of empires; the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the sea itself, that favorite element of the English! the genius of our isle still triumphs throughout the vast ocean; but neither this, or our valor, or our superiority in naval tactics, is here the question. Alas! one dark night, one fatal night with a six hours south wind, is sufficient to pour on our native soil a swarm of furious desperate enemies. Shall we oppose to them our courage? that is great without doubt: but even should it triumph it is nothing to see the English ground sacred for more than seven years, drenched with English blood, shed by the hands of foreigners? May heaven preserve us from such a calamity! but our honor, our good sense, dictate to us a speedy and honorable peace with the enemy, while they are yet within their own territory. Can English honor be confounded with the degraded character of a minister in despair? shall we expose ourselves to the danger of an invasion, to the horrors of a civil war, to save the minister from accusation? but it is whispered abroad that there exists schism in the ministerial junto, which has prolonged the war to this moment. It is said, and it is very probable, that the whole cabinet is struck with a astonishment and fear. The majority dares not to stop: the minority trembles to go forward.
In the mean time, behold the enemy offering indirectly an honorable peace, on condition of a change of the ministry. Behold our band upon the brink of the precipice-behold, and make your conclusion."
What sub-type of article is it?
Diplomatic
Political
War Report
What keywords are associated?
French Invasion Threat
Honorable Peace
Ministerial Crisis
London Address
War Prolongation
Where did it happen?
France
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
France
Event Date
November 25
Event Details
An address to the city of London warns of 200,000 French troops advancing to within eleven leagues of the English coast, calls for a speedy and honorable peace while the enemy remains in their territory, criticizes the ministerial schism prolonging the war, and notes indirect offers of peace conditional on a change of ministry.