but be entirely disparted and separated from it--and ample means were allowed and provided for the maintenance of the regal dignitythe endowment of the queen-and every other expence incident to the high station the country had placed in the hands of Napoleon, the first of that name, king of Italy. Immediately after the promulgation of this body of laws, Prince Eugene, (Beauharnois) son in law to the new monarch, was appointed viceroy--a new order of knighthood was instituted, that of the iron crown," with considerable revenues attached to it; and the organization of the new kingdom was entirely arranged and completed.

It may easily be believed, that those powers of Europe, who were disposed to maintain their independence, considered this step of Bonaparte as an additional proof of his lust of acquisition, and his determination, upon every occasion, to concentrate in himself so large a share of the dominion and power of the continent, as would render it difficult for their whole united strength, at a period not very remote, to resist any further encroachment he might meditate upon what yet remained unsubdued by his arms in Europe. But before it was possible for the courts of Vienna, or St. Petersburgh, to concert upon any measure, whether of remonstrance or resistance, to this late act of aggression of Bonaparte against the tranquillity of Europe, for such it could not but be considered, a fresh instance of his insatiable policy struck too forcibly and immediately at the interests and freedom of the powers of the continent, to admit of extenuation, or of any palliative measure, and which forced

those powers to take steps, which ended in a renewal of continental war, and gave rise to circumstances the most calamitous, and the most unfortunate to the interests of man. kind.

It was observable that, at the ceremonial of the crowning Bonaparte, the doge of the Ligurian republic was present at Milan, doubtless in order the better to prepare himself for the part which, in a few days, he was called upon to play. Hitherto, Bonaparte had preserved to Genoa, the once proud rival of Venice for the empire of the seas, and always the firm and attached, indeed the natural ally of France, an appearance of independence, and, under the new constitutions of the Ligurian republic, had condescended to consider and treat with her as an independent state. It is true, the new republic had not much to boast of, either in the terms or the result of the treaty, which was concluded between her and France, in the course of the last year. For the liberty of sailing under French colours, and a few other as equivocal advantages, Genoa had bound herself to furnish France with 6000 sailors, during the continuance of the present war: she likewise ceded her harbour, dock-yards, arsenals, &c. to the disposal of the French government; and further engaged to construct a bason, large enough to build and equip ten sail of the line, at her own expence; the ships to be built from her stores, solely for the use of France!-For these concessions, her independence was to be acknowledged and secured.

But the tender mercies of the French ruler were not to be of long endurance. An extension of the

ed kingdom, and to France a most important territorial acquisition, Bonaparte returned to Paris, where he arrived on the 12th of August, and was received on the road and in his capital with demonstrations of the greatest personal attachment of his people, and of their entire approbation of his conduct.

Whether it were that these great arrangements having been completed to his perfect satisfaction, that he now seriously meditated the invasion of the British islands; or that, aware of the necessity there would be of speedily employing the whole of his disposable force upon the continent; the emperor had hardly returned to his capital, when he repaired to the encamped army at Boulogne, for the purpose of reviewing it, as well as to inspect the means by which it was to pass the narrow seas. Having satisfied himself of the efficiency and excellent appointment of this vast body of troops, not less at that moment than 115,000 disciplined soldiers, without counting upon the cavalry or artillery, he again proceeded to Paris, where the threatening aspect of affairs required his immediate pre

sence.

From the tenor of the official publications which appeared in the course of last year, on the part of those powers who could, with safety to themselves, openly remonstrate against the daily aggressions and increasing pretensions of the chief of the French nation, it might have been expected, that, ere long, further efforts would be made to assert the independence of Europe, and set bounds to his ambition.

In fact, early in the present year, (11th of April) a treaty of con

cert, between his majesty and the emperor of Russia, was signed at St. Petersburgh, whereby, after observing that the state of suffering in which Europe was placed demanded speedy remedy, the contracting parties mutually agreed to consult upon the means of putting a stop thereto, without waiting for further encroachments on the part of the French government. In this view, they agreed to employ the most prompt and most efficacious means to form a general league of the states of Europe, and in order to accomplish the end proposed, to collect together a force which, independently of the succours furnished by his Britannic majesty, might amount to 500,000 effective men, and to employ the same with energy, in order either to induce or to compel the French government to consent to the re-establishment of peace, and of the balance of Europe.

The object proposed to be effected by this league was the evacuation of the Hanoverian territory and the north of Germany.

The establishment of the independence of the republics of Holland and Switzerland.

The re-establishment of the king of Sardinia, in Piedmont, with as large an augmentation of territory as circumstances would permit.

The future security of the kingdom of Naples, and the complete evacuation of Italy, the island of Elba included, by the French forces.

The establishment of an order of things in Europe, which might effectually guarantee the security and independence of the different states, and present a solid barrier against future usurpations.

His Britannic majesty engaged to contribute to the common efforts, by employing his forces, both by sea and land, as well as vessels for transporting troops in the general plan of operations, and to assist the different powers by subsidies, which should correspond with the amount of their respective forces so employ. ed.

It was mutually agreed that, in the event of this league being formed, they would not make peace with France, but with the common consent of all the powers, who should become parties to it.

Sweden and Austria had already entered into these views; however, no intention was manifested on the part of these powers to proceed to hostilities, until an attempt to attain, by negociation, the objects of the concerted alliance had proved abortive; on the contrary, a Russian envoy (Baron Novosiltzoff) was nominated to negociate with France, and had actually proceeded to Berlin, on his way to Paris, when the intelligence arrived of the annexation of Genoa to the French empire.

Under this change of circumstances, he applied to his court for fresh instructions: the result was his immediate recal. But, before his departure, he addressed a note, dated the 10th of July, to Baron Hardenberg, the Prussian minister, which was communicated by him to M. la Forêt, the French resident at Ber. lin, explaining the cause of the interruption of his mission.

This was a signal to Austria formally to become a member of the league, and accordingly a treaty to that effect was signed on the 9th of August, by her plenipotentiary at St. Petersburgh.

About the same period, a note

was addressed, by the Austrian am bassador at Paris, to the French minister for foreign affairs, expressive of the anxious desire of his coun to concur with the courts of London and St. Petersburgh, in their endeavours to promote a general pacification, when the overtures to be made to the French government, by M. Novosiltzoff, were suddenly broken off, by the changes recently made in the condition of the republics of Genoa and Lucca. That these events still further urged the court of Vienna to recommend the renewal of measures of conciliation, in which she was willing to lend her most earnest assistance.

In reply to this note, it was observed, by M. Talley rand, that, from the conduct of England and Russia, little hopes could be entertained of the sincerity of their pacific intentions; that Austria had it in her power to compel them to have recourse to what they professed; for neither of those powers could act with effect against France, without the co-operations of Austria or Prussia, and that the latter was the steady ally of France. And it is asked, what reliance can be placed in these professions of Austria, when she continues to maintain an army of 72,000 men in Italy, whilst France has only 50,000 in that country, 15,000 of whom are stationed at the extremity of the kingdom of Naples? He then adverts to the military preparations on foot in Poland, and in Italy, the evident result of combined operations. In this state of things, what other course had the emperor of the French to adopt, than to antici pate his enemies? But if Austria would issue a declaration similar to that made by Prussia, and reduce

her

her army in Italy, and the Tyrol, and reduce her military force to the peace establishment, peace with England must ensue, and that the crowns of France and Italy should be separated for ever, and that Europe would be indebted to the wisdom of Austria for her tran. quillity and security, but that a contrary conduct would precipitate Europe into a situation which could not be foreseen or calculated.

This was followed by another note from the French minister for foreign affairs, to the Austrian am. bassador at Paris, wherein the former topics are repeated, and termiating with the demand,

That the twenty-one regiments which had been sent to the German and Italian Tyrol should be withdrawn, and that those troops only should remain in the said provinces which were there six months before. That the camp fortifications should be discontinued, including those at Venice.

That the troops in Stíría, in Carinthia, in Friuli, and the Venetian territory, be reduced to the numbers at which they stood six month before. And

That Austria declare to England her unshaken determination to preserve an exact neutrality.

On the 31st of August, a declaration was officially made, by the Russian ambassador at Vienna, the material substance of which was that, in compliance with the Austrian court, his majesty the emperor of all the Russias had resolved to accede to the request of renewing the negociation for peace, which had been broken off, by the recal of M. Novosiltzoff, as soon as the head of the French government should assent thereto.

And, as a measure of precaution,

to cause two armies of 50,000 men each, to march to the Danube, in order to give weight to the negociations, solemnly declaring that it was his imperial majesty's intention to recal those troops as soon as the so much desired security of all the states of Europe should be obtained.

To this succeeded a second note from the court of Vienna to the French government, which was transmitted on the 3rd of September, declaring, that that power had no other view than that of maintaining peace and friendship with France, and of securing the general tranquillity of the continent; that the maintenance of peace did not consist solely in a forbearance from any positive attack; that it required the fulfilment of those treaties upon which peace had been founded.'

The peace existing between Austria and France originated with the treaty of Luneville; that treaty guaranteed the independence of the Italian, Helvetic, and Batavian republics; Austria had to complain. that these stipulations were violated; that the maintenance of general tranquillity required that each power should confine itself within its own frontiers, and respect the rights of other nations, whether weak strong: in fine, when she sets herself up as an arbitress to regulate the common interests of nations, and to exclude every other state from taking any part in the maintenance of general tranquillity and the ba lance of power.'

or

The emperor had never ceased to demand the execution of the before. mentioned stipulations: however, the emperor Napoleon, notwith standing his frequent and solemn assurances, in his character of president of the Italian republic, that he

was