Vol- H. 0n War and Peace,; Btffte of tht( arrivals, we haTe5 received a Londdh' paper, containing the lUowing weTlHtten obfervations, traoflated from, the Parisifonitcur We maker ao apologx, for giving them to our readers, i , A a FOR feveral years the fwcet name of peace has relondea irora one end of the world: to tlje? others Thejibpe.of it is ,in thehearts,:pf ail people, ana yn iucup ui ihwi; who govern.. It is .the firft want of the nations themfelves who' do not take an active part iii I the war, who have been; unable to; efcape from its difaftroustiufluence. Never, in faft, 4 has any war in fo (hort a time, overthrown more States, defolated , more i families, fhaken more profoundly jthe bafis of focial order than the prefent conteft, equally aftjmifhing in its principlearidfj refults; Vher fsj the man whb fhould new be bold enough to fay that blood enough had not yet been fhed, and that the glory and profperity of his. country itiil required fome thodfands of human viclims ? But fince a fingle voice is not raifed for the conti nuance1 of this deplorable war, where then is that concealed power, which keeps peace at a diltancej while it is called for by all the world? What is this boafted em pire of opinion which governs, it is laid, the world, j it the fecret paf fions of fomg individuals counter balance the evident interefts of na tious? . j " I This phenomenon merits obfer vation, but it is not my pbjecl, to explain it. j If there could exift amah whofe defire ol continuing the war might; be pardoned it jdoiibtlefs would be that man who f is indebted fori his glory and his fortune to this war, and whole experience arid ta-; lents would be pledges of new tri umphs in new contefts. j It is not neceffary for me to pronounce the name of this man ; it is not necefiary for me to fay that he has not fhewh hirafelf ambitious for this increafe of military renown, Ail Europe fees, that he afpires to another kind of glory, if not more brilliant, at lea ft more humane and more permanent.. It is his defire to govern ; which is more difficult than to conquer. 1- Alter having for the j firft time conquered Italy, an outfet more glorious than therailtary careers of the greateft Captains, jie croiTcd the Julian Alps, and found himfclf on the Drave and Muhr, within a few marches from Vienna. The wi(h for peace was exprefled by the enemy. Buonaparte checked his victorious career, abandoned the fafcinatiug hope of proceeding to compel the Emperor j to peace, even in the- very capital of his flates fufpended hoftilities nc gociated and concluded the treaty of Leoben, which produced that of Campo Formio. Frainee would have never obtained fuch i vail ad Vantages by a treaty5, had not igno rance and blind paflionl' deftroyed at Raftadt tjie work of anj enlight ened moderation , -: , " It is incumbent on me to obferye once more,, that when jthe fbrtul nate revolution of the; :i8th Brii maire had placed Bonaparte at the head of the Government, the firft, aft of his authority was to exprefs his wifh for peace; and j that wifh was rejected, with as little reafon as decency, by the Britifh Miniftryr xiucnue aimou iaouious campaign of Marengo, the Conqueror figned upon the field of battle, an armi stice, which probably faved the re mainder of the vanquifhed army, i Moreau, after marches combined with equal certainty ; and fcillt moved forward from- fuccefs to fucccls into the heart of Germany; Who could maintain that the eneJ my s army, as much difcouraged as .weakened by a feries of difaftcrs, would have flopped him in this pre grefs ? But humanity' obtained hat the ambition oLglory would . : , r "S, V "i ' ' ' . . r. J, , , II beyond; air other, . confiderations, 1 preferred peace He granted aFa .Vorable - armi flice to the enen)y , on condlttbn.of negociattng without: cUy: ,v L, tVThe end of war is viSory; the; en,(i:of'vilory (hould be peace) but every enemy can commence a' war nit is the conqueror only' that can-pi4t an end, to'it.si faeje thoughts have been the rble 8f the? Firit, Conful's roeafures !:It;;ii neither- in publicatiorisxior Aih fpeeches, that we can formWopi nion of the man who 'Lgqverns)r In manifefloes, proclamations; minifterial notes, I behold Ion. every fide an equal horrror expref fed for the effufion of human blood, and equal defire to reftore tran quility to the people. But after allthefe vain proteflations, I, fee that rivers of human blood conti nue to flow and poifon all the fources of order and of focial hap-! jriinefs ; and I do not perceive tn any quarter weiWhty interefts which can counterbalance fuch vaft cala- mities. Let us then invert igate, riot in words, jjiut in their remits! the real intentions of men. Ltjus confider in that point of view, the refult of the conduct recently a-' dopted by our government to ac compiifh a general pacification., , ' The court of Vienna prppofed as the place of conferences for peace a central town of France. Luneville was fixed upon by the Firft Conful. That court fent thi ther a celebrated negotiator, equal ly efteemed for his character and his talents. He was received with honour as a friend to peace. The court of London roanifefted an in tention of taking part in the nego tiation, and thatt of Vienna ex preffed a defire of treating with its ally. The Firft Conful might have recalled to his mind perfonalities as indecent as theywere undeferved, to , which the principal men of the Britannic government had re courfeagainfl him ; but he was too much above infults to involve his private refentment with fuch immenfe ; interefts. He acceded without hefitation, to an overture which might: accelerate the peace of Europe. . .. . ' Citizen Otto, who refidedj at London as commiflioner of the go vernment for the exchange of pri foners, was immediately authorifed to treat with the Englifh Minifters. That negociation failed: and what cannot be obferved without con -, cern is, that the Englifh miniftry, far from preferving any defireof conciliation, appears to have been ftudious to irritate ftill more :the public mind, by a proceeding un necelfarily impolitic, and contrary to all the ufages of civilized nations it has juft made: public the detaRls of the negociatibiii ; ft " ; r One government only hadgiven, until the prefent moment, the ex ample of f u ch a conduct, and it was alfo the Englifh government, after the negociation of Lifle. The tone and forms with which.that ne-' gociation was conducted and bro ken off by an jmperioiis Directory which w ignpiantah every thing that was fuitable and decent, might perhaps, juftify the conducl: of the court of London." But no w, when the, Firft . Conful has afforded the example of the re fpel which governments owe to each other, aadf of the efteem which is due to ackowledged Jaws jn vdiplomatic trarifaclions, ; hat motive can have , authorifed the Englifh miniftry to publifh araica-J ble Communications, deftiried by their nature to remain fecret until their publicity fhould be required, by national intereft ? i i. It is an eftabliQied maxim in fo ciety, that letters of confidence written to each other by individuals cannot be publifhed by him who receives them without the confent of Him who has written tbera. un-' tcis the tormer be in want of them to : defend bis rights before the courts of law, or his honour before Why mould not this jnaxim of Iq cial morality be equally' refDetcd in political moraliy;?i Jt, is enfor ced by grc4teHritcfeftsand conTe-crated- by thie , ufages. of : nations. Is not a violiari Jcfbefe ufages, which are called the Ryrht of -Nations st fubverfionof ibe bafis ' al,s ready, too weako'nSvhicli ii place By publifhjn.thel' papcr$ Itq which n this . aflulidn zit madei'Slo? Britifh miniftry has,tvrierhap's fclo o e d t o i m o o f e . rl d t a n e ' n 1 i a h t f n i A menj: but onthe niultitudeA lt nai uuxcrvcu, iiiai in oruinary aiiputes the tone and countenance of qne.df the difputants made greater irn preffion on the mafs df 'the fpela tors i than,:.the;&undr& the other. IfV has nhoifcht: that the : cprifidet'eyj8h1uf in tfae crobdnef-bifitkea woiila uiipiic us j u uges j wuu r a i a v o u r able prapofleffidnfeBttt'A prepoflelfions are lightvand fugi-, 1 1 v e : t ho fe o t ? j u ft tee an d o frea-v fon-alonc are permanfetK , In looking to thei't oublicrtv:) given to thenegpiati"o'n OUo as-a proypcaUo1witnou''nib' tiyc the rehch. Government nothihgto apreheridlroni iuefictsfe "Ne v e r : ,were i h t cntiph sj(mprei ngKiiiianifeiiiedM more candidr VA-i m brtf arialy fislo f the progrefsof the negociation will prove, I hopei 'w la Vjl advance.! ,. I fhall commence, with a. general ob ferva tion . -The fie w hb;ha ve had occafibn to bbferve the cosducVbf Minifters and agents of the Englifh Government in public affairs, have refnarked that they proceeded in them with extreme caution ; that tney wrote jiutiei that: in every matter of importanee they exprefled in a vague and general manner : thofe qualities belorig.to the nature of the Government;.; every public man knows that he can neither write nor fpeak a. word- of which he may "not be liable, fome day or other, to give anf account to hi& country, rromtms tnere refults a general . fpirit of circumfpeclion, which increafes by habit, which often Becomes pedantic, auftere, or timid, beyond what prudence or intereft requires. 1 I 1 ms tort ot deportment dti played itfclf in a remarkable manner dur ing the two ncgociations bf Lord Malmefbury, and ftill more during that of Citizen Otto; becaufc in the latter the ufuall circtimfbe6tionr of the Endifh charafter was for tified by a fvftemauc wlfh to train time without concluding any thing,1 , To any pcrfon who reads the firft communications made by Citizen Otto to the Britifh Minifter, for the purpofe of opening! the nego ciation, : it wilt , appear, that the French iCommiffio!nerdid imme diately and unequivocally make known the obteel: tif his roifiion, and the powers with which he was invelted. L.ord Lrjrenville, on the contrary, appears it firft to avoid entering into the rrierits of the bu fihefsi by recurring to the minu iise of fprms;Cand (demanding jplanatiobs without r for inftance, nioqlcl; he - require Citizen :;Otto to communicate; to him the note addre fled to Baron be Turgut by the Englifh AmbafiadoF at ' Vienna, for thejpurpbfe of an- nouncipg me intention qi nis xn tannic Majefty to take a part in the hegociation at Luneville ? Surely JrdG'renvjlle . kiieW lthat note perfectly well; t ?rj3 1 the circum fiance of its havihttbeen commii hicated to prariceyppt is alfo bbf fervableV throughput . the whole courfe of the negocration of Citizen Otte,: that the Egliux Minifter reaped advantage fWrn every diffi--culty :; that he multiplied explana tions, and tiat,he everi mana'rre this obieBions in a imanner'to gain delay;! and to pfotrkft that preme ditated refufal witji which he fi- nifhed the negociation. j m I Bui let us.Jayv ajfiden all . forms, and enter ior a. mpmcnt into queftiwi' itfel f ; Jt .ije'd uccs thitpbinu, TheKirigf England with'Kis ally tti'eEmerpr ;Thc Fiyft Conful consents ttp!ifiis vitfaT-f out any objeQion., ButiHoulti we cpntiriue bc; Jattkcd.vwhllb treating' for s ah accmmdudbri ? .This1' wpul d !be to blaceysbri 8Lvcry: untavqurame loownsuo events of Harare ejer morrient prpdurjg, qhnges, ,bf, circUtnfUnceYtt which ferve.ito ltrenrthen' f he ntHefitiorts or one party, or lp influence, the,re-featmtnts- oihb', other-.v wnce and,A!uftri fplfc this is'fufpeHJibn bf hoftilities had b'eeifcTiheDVeli Mimai y io men iicaiiim ior, peace a it. :,tL L - neceflarv nrelimiriarv be'eommon! to them. r It-.was , alfo IcdHldrmable to the nature of tninas Vm:.-'S t. r.- o-: tnatT a maritime truce between Eriirice and Endand fhould take place i previous to their , entermer 4rttbthe difciifliont of 1 interefts leWtiSftheiJprojec&p ar mtftieeriwhich wasyreiected ; and SSJEhlifh Minfter prefented a cpuxiier-projeci, wmcn was iouna .ijiadmiffible. In -thist-ftate of thinffsi the French i Government reduced 'the propbfttioris1blhe al ternative either ;'QPiij6piunff'".: a- commbn negociation with' Erigland and Aultria, by concljuding'an ar-. miftice according to the modified project which France had propofed, or, of j negpeiating for a feparate peace With England, by concluding the armiftice according to. the nro- s - u jecY propofed by the Britifh Mi Irt is tnpde .'of ftmpli fying the queftipn and bf opemngitoT- Lrtl land vfcol ways by which khe negp ciation might be entered in to, it.is difficult not to oercei ve moft clearlv the fincere defire of fpeedily com' nig a i qjucniiiuuij. f i nc two efientiai points pfltBoriteft rwere firft, the poffibilityadhe tipns pi a , maritime armiltrce,; . fe cbnd, the propriety ttf;a' feparate peaccv Is :j If i$ UnnecefTary to,; prove the pofiibility of a maritime 'armiftice. One wks concluded between France and- England at the Cbngrefs of tftretcht in; 1782. Itits true that at hat Conir refs Dreltilri arie a haH been figned before -tliei armiftice wasraffteed to. " 1 he; concurrence of thefe two meafures' is 'without 3bubt iavourab!b to cbneiliation but it is ' nbt . indifiJehfablelThe orie wpuici hot be;withutHhltitheri a tep towards peace. - ' -);r , : .xicuaes, who prevemea tne nn tijh 'Miniftry from jbpofing pre Kruinalies ? Ther hole of the Chief Conful's conducl during this Weir lfC5 dtiUW ' Us iO OOUUI, but that h would 5 have Vreceived with eagernefs a propofition which could (tend to the aeceferatibri of negociations. AndCtainly.EngV land had at the epoch of the treaty of Utrecht ftrongef 'reafons than now tolr cjet an armiftice. France, exhaufteu at home, defeated abroad, without fjjiance, commerce- and a navy, had every thirfg' tb'look for in fufpenfion of hpftilitieVby fea. At prefent, France," .viclorious in Germany and Italy, recovered from her internal commotions, rich in her national refojlrces, has no thing in common with what fhe was then, hut the weak ftate of her navy arid commerce. ' k. It mu ft be admitted, that the ar rangements of a naVal armiftice iibound with difficulties which are riot to:be found in a continental armiftice ; but thefe diffituhies are an object for difcufhon, and every thins? tkleafilv fettled when the ar miftice is concluded 'with good f4TA T1 vr-try, kV- - Neither! is it doubtful; that a ina rnime.jrrucCiWpuia;;navpt-Deema b France. oecame r.ngiaiia wnneqito tnae common caufe , with: its 'filly 1' this mould alfo tenaea,,wnn reiuii&more.untavour- able' to Enfffahd'fthari That cbnfideration 'Was rieither difr4f.Iiiffb the' ' , ine lemb Jed nor eiuded'by thevrrnchJradyautages are. ln ravour 'OtbM ll II J.r " i '- I fii'.- S! i.'l.r'l-ii'J' -S J Ji ' - f "t a .' 1. itfelt to II Goverament1,1 xvhtcit'HemdetiltbiS'- vlan4:;forthefraedb'iol;fia?i P&K1 ?niyf a .neceflair 1 preparative,; it?, tbclfuccefcof the "SKPmfr:??- ngknd expe-, rienceC.mtne courc bf it . forne difadvantages, they bught tp be: cMd ; aTacrifice which fhe 'V V r1 r ' dV c ot peace tne fetffement r nlLth, adyantakefc which niiaht ref,ji tr-Ai S?!SlcfJ5 b? butaompen. 1Q1?r'inoIC'which the conti.' i nental armiftice lias procured for . i j: -JAl.ilaP0lnt has. beea fatis-' &9?Wjfwffed;byt French '3 Cornmiffioner. j lnja, the con- tmental armiftice givei to the Court ' l of. Vienna 4theV means. of rebrga- 'i ?J??ng i: armies of converting , imo foldiers, into arhls and iiores ?'j of all kinds, the fubfidies fuiniihedjr. by Englandrajjdbf, fortifying arid 1 viaaalhnjj thplace pf the fecond " negleetdi-becaufc it.wzt imnnflihu - QteWS ,thPldc.ceffes of the ! ?M4al i'cpoic , oir ux ; months. WQuldhayebeen fufficient to "re-animate.the -zeaf ol" droops, ;and.tto( weaken? the ,7 impjremqnji produced by r, multipljed'; via'oriesthat mbraL j mfluehce whTrh-aTfrTriArt.r,-. rr- $ of- theeonquerbr hyj. confidence:; -ana' diramifhes that jof, the con-i quered by con rarv fentimeht. i e mO it- lmnOrtnt as!uanf3(Ti WhiishFrancecbuid findm the ma. f rtoc: ftuVewas unqueftionably V klMW$Y&g-. the, garrifpn of .Malta and the army of Egypt with feinfor5eunts j and Hfttbfiftence;V uu uic. Aujuuae maniteiled by the ? vbb1 on ithatQccafiPti 'as ffiSfeiy, Prefcrib tp him by ; ?uni a well as .the national i9ttfjjL-;;Whatdid he require by " i?Jj.ca of tuce ? j, For Malta, iferteans of ekiftence;-i(brMhe " m$P Egy?! the means of -de- .feMirig itielt again ft , a cruel and perfidious people. What a bar barous political iyftem is that which , woI;orm an alliance with famine for the purpofe bf deflroying war. riprs whom it Was unable to van. quiflilr Which refufes bread to an e?exlt1y to whom! it holds out the lboLreconcUiation ! lheeftifal ma'de bythe- Britifh Mimbtyt lin its projea of armif. l ) funrer cvn limited fuccourx lthermy of Malta and M?y9 prcftms itfclf under a remarkable point of view.: Lord rPle hadf eilablifhed as,:the bafis'PMhe armiftice this fneeiou - rP WCiple tbat tlie. pofition of 'the f"5DOUm remain iucrt a uiaf bqthe ofhetr woukl acquire TSbvher, which it wjd.rtptnaye jhad without ihe arjfticfefei; brinciple. has-an impofin apkrance pf juftice, but by "airigbrbusi rapplicatioii it would giyeV rife tb endlefs difficul ties; -for during a fufpefibnl; of ;:; hpIUHties.'between. tw'oj.natibBltat warr there can never jbe t(uch5a ' ; parity of circumftanceifuchian equilibrium of interefti'ifiat-lbne of the two fhould not find iome advantages in the truce. : Had France concluded an ar miftice on the condition of not fending fuccours to Jthe troops of Malta and of Egypt, "fhe evidently would have ulaced herfelf. in a worfe condition inj that refpel than if fhe had continuied in a;ftate of war. In,the latte cafe,ftlhemight hope to accomplifh whaVfhe had already done, to aifpatSf tPilMalta ' and Alexandria fome')elsV)tfhich might efcape the jvigilance bf hhe ' ' enemy's fquadrons. ; ' Burin t the armiftice, according tothe;pian bf the Enelifh. France .wbuU:heet prived of , every refource;P'Was uui iutn ta uuipenuon fyr.rarms- a 1 meafurej truly ho ft i 1 e. -tij ' iuTi'isan artfurebmbinahonr where - H coodrfahb and thc. define of jebnei-' f (( w w ' i .1 hi Vi, 1! 11 8 I 5 rune rejected,4 1 he. far II conful ) the-public tribunal.