National Gazette

LONDON. Nov. 20.

The king of Prussia has shewn himself but a weak politician. Those who have paid most attention to the history of European politics, asserted before he took the field, that it could not possibly be true that he meant to join Austria in the war; they were led to this opinion by the evident bad policy, which the king of Prussia would manifest by lending his aid to aggrandize Austria, and to humble France, which alone could serve as a check to that power; and the natural jealousy subsisting between Prussia and Austria presented so many obstacles to their acting in union, that it must be admitted no sound politician could have believed it possible, till the event proved it that Prussia could have shewn so much weakness.

While he was thus carried away by a desire of legislating for France, he allowed the influence of Russia in Poland, which it had been the work of many years to abridge and annihilate, to acquire a preponderance and stability which all his power and influence will not be able to overturn again for many years to come. For this he was promised a reward by sharing in the spoil, and in this he shewed also his weakness. A courtier or a king giving implicit credit to a promise is a phenomenon in politics.

The king of Prussia has purchased a little experience; and it is probable that the jealousy which formerly existed between him and the House of Austria, will receive, from the events of the late campaign, fresh food to maintain it.

What have been the consequences respecting France? Victory! Confidence! Energy! The armies which last marched against them were great and powerful, but before such another force can be brought to oppose them, they will be able to bring into the field a much more formidable army than they have yet been able to shew. Already departing from their defensive system, they are carrying on an offensive war not only against their open enemies, but against all those surrounding states, who, calculating upon the impossibility of their being able to resist the combined armies, were not sufficiently cautious in hiding their opinions, or the dispositions they were making against them.

In short, calculating from the present circumstances, there is every probability that Prussia will not again take the field against France, and that, if an actual alliance do not take place between that power and France, the Constitution of the latter will be acknowledged at least by the former, if not, also by England and Holland, before the end of another campaign. Is this strange? We have seen stranger things—the independence of America acknowledged by Great Britain.

The Elector of Mayence, now drove from his possessions by the French, is in his 73d year.

The Austrians now say that the plan of the campaign in France was ill-conceived; and if be true, as is confidently asserted, that it was the work of Bouille and Heyman, now both in the Prussian service, to them the other emigrants may impute their present sufferings.

The king of Naples, apprehending a visit from the French squadron, has fortified the fine bay of that place, with several batteries for throwing hot balls. These however, it is suspected will not avail much against the impetuous attack of 20 French ships of the line:

Monks, mitres, and rags will fly in the air,
When once they have brought their bull-dogs to bear.

The gentleman, who not long since received one hundred guineas, to return one guinea per day until the Duke of Brunswick arrived at Paris, has offered one thousand guineas to be off the bargain.

Mr. Burke spends most of his time in inglorious retirement at his seat near Beaconsfield. Every account of the French successes is death to him; the degradation of Louis a dart that pierces his vitals; and the exaltation of Paine, a phenomenon he never dreamt of—The age of chivalry is departed!

The French are as generous as brave—they will disseminate their principles of legislation through all unregenerated Europe, and there never was a season better adapted to this end. The sunshine of reason has eclipsed the feeble rays of royalty—the people no longer gaze upon the bauble with that veneration it heretofore impressed; they have already laboured too hard under the iron hand of oppression; they now know the authors of their affliction, and have the mode of redress pointed out to them. But while we contemplate the prospect of their future happiness, we are led to lament the degradation of human nature. How base, how pitiable must be the condition of that man, nay a whole nation, who have been brought to believe that an individual, and he perhaps an idiot, has a right to dispose of the lives and property of thousands, merely in consideration of his forefathers, or himself, having by some unjustifiable means obtained a crown!—a nothing.