Virginia Argus

Virginia Argus.

Richmond:

Wednesday, May 25, 1814.

We continue our observations upon the recent interesting news from France. The French revolution, after performing the tour of the European continent, has returned to the theatre of its commencement. A system of government, conceived by wise men, and consolidated by great talents, is about to be tried by a vast and unexpected political shock. What cause has bro't it to so important a trial? The invasion of Spain? No. The conquest of Prussia? No. The invasion of Russia? No. All the losses which these produced might have been surmounted, and the territory of France have still remained untrodden by a hostile foot. It is the marriage of Napoleon with a daughter of the house of Austria, that has occasioned this last and terrible misfortune to the French empire. We do not in this, follow the humor of Mr. Cobbett, and allege that Bonaparte's reverses have been the effect of his matrimonial connexion with one of the old race of Kings. His abilities were sufficient to overbalance the stupidity which such an alliance would introduce into his family. But this marriage induced unshaken confidence in the emperor of Austria, without which Napoleon would never have ventured on his Russian campaign. That confidence, so misplaced, now threatens to be personally fatal to him. We have seen, that after his return from Russia, whilst Austria remained neutral, Bonaparte easily made head against the battalions of Prussia and Russia. The battles of Lutzen and Bautzen sufficiently attest this fact. Too much confidence in the sovereign of Austria, therefore, produced by the family connexion, has been the true cause of all the calamities which Napoleon has experienced, and which France herself is still likely to experience. Amidst adversity, however, this extraordinary man still attracts admiration. It is at this moment that his individual qualities fix our attention more than ever. His empire invaded and desolated in three frontiers—from the side of Spain, of Italy, and of Germany—his capital taken, a rival family of high ancestry and with legitimate royal claims to the throne arrived against him, Generals whom he had raised to kingdoms and principalities opposing him in arms, and his life sought with deadly animosity and implacable thirst of revenge by the government of Great Britain; under all these disadvantages and perils, he sustains the reputation of a great Captain, and appears the hero of France. Environed by more difficulties than Frederick the Great of Prussia ever was, and combatting them at the head of armies, composed, in a great measure, of raw militia, if he falls in the sanguinary conflict, sword in hand, he will have fulfilled the expectations of the world, and have died with great consistency of character. So far from being disheartened, it now appears that he treated with disdain the attempts of the allies to dishonor him at Chatillon. Faithful to his friends, he insisted on the kingdom of Italy for Eugene Beauharnais. This young prince, son of the divorced Josephine, in the most critical and alarming circumstances, has displayed the highest magnanimity. Bonaparte, moreover, would not yield the natural limits of France on the Rhine; and even insisted on the line of the Waal, which branches off southwardly from the Rhine, and would enable him to over-awe Holland. In the refusal to him of the line of the Waal, and in the demand by the allies of the surrender of Antwerp, may be perceived the genius and policy of the British minister Castlereagh and of his government. It is known that a marriage is contemplated between the princess Charlotte, heiress, after the Prince Regent, to the English throne, and the son of the Prince of Orange. It has been generally considered that the shutting up of the Scheldt, and the occlusion of commerce at Antwerp, is necessary to the prosperity of Holland. When Philip IV. of Spain acknowledged the independence of that country in 1647, he ceded the sovereignty of the Scheldt, and stipulated that no large ship should go to Antwerp, but should unlade in Holland. In the year 1785, the emperor of Germany, Joseph II. questioned the validity of this stipulation in a practical manner; the Dutch resisted, and a war would have ensued, had not the court of Versailles interfered, and the Dutch have made atonement, Antwerp fell into the hands of the French in 1792, when they opened the navigation of the Scheldt. and the British made that act the principal ostensible cause of declaring war against France in 1793, although the true reason was the progress of the doctrines of the French revolution. In the union contemplated between the English princess and the Stadtholder's son, Great Britain no doubt foresees an ultimate union between the two countries, and from that view of things is led to regard the Interests of Holland as if they were her own : The same views, penetrated by Napoleon, would naturally induce him to insist on the sovereignty of the Scheldt and the line of the Waal. In doing so, he certainly consulted the future welfare of France; and every reflecting Frenchman will see his conduct in that light. In addition, the London papers assert that he demanded indemnities for his brothers Joseph, Louis, and Jerome; which is a proof, either that he suspected that the Allies were trifling with him, that he is resolved to perish nobly on the field of battle, rather than allow his family to be disgraced, or that he has the greatest confidence in his resources and in the attachment of the French people. In either case, he will have acted like a man of spirit; deserving, if not meeting with success.

We confess that we have hitherto considered Bonaparte more as the active enemy of England, and the formidable opposer of her schemes of universal commercial monopoly, than as the mere sovereign of France. We have felt for the man, and for his fortunes, nothing more than a wish that he might so far prosper as to succeed in curbing the exorbitant power of a nation, which had offered so many insults and done so much injury to citizens of the United States and their property. But now; Now, we frankly own, that we look at him in a much more interesting point of view. We regard him as a great military chief, fighting for the independence and reasonable rights of his empire—and as early obstacle which stands in the way of Great Britain to the accomplishment, by the corruption of gold or the force of arms, of universal dominion. The prospect is frightful—and it is impossible for the American patriot, whilst he waits to ascertain the current of destiny, not to be filled with fearful apprehensions for the future condition of the world. It is some consolation to know, that the Bourbons have not met with that unanimity in the south of France, which can alone insure their success. Already the plotters of a new revolution have divided in opinion and separated. This incipient distraction is but a foretaste of what the French will experience if the Bonapartist dynasty is put aside: Civil war, assassinations, and rivers of blood, will be the sad and awful consequences of such an event. It is only by adhering to Napoleon that France can avert such heart-rending visitations. Perhaps the emperor of Austria may yet hold his hand, from the final act of destruction to his son-in-law. But, the more we reflect upon the conduct of that monarch, the less reliance we have on his political wisdom. He appears to be indecisive and imbecile ; and is, perhaps, swayed by his ministers, who are most undoubtedly paid by England to lead their master on. We, nevertheless, do not abandon the belief, that his main object is to wrench Italy entirely from French control.

Meanwhile, the path of lord Wellington is not sprinkled with rose-water. Soult has compelled him to come out from Bordeaux to remarch upon the Adour, and to harass his troops by incessant combats. Bonaparte has still many faithful Generals and ministers: They constitute the talents and the main strength of the French empire. Their adherence will continue the people to his cause—and if Talleyrand and Cambaceres have gone over to his enemies, and have undertaken to sell the empire to its foes, their lives may pay the forfeit of so gross and treacherous a defection.