papers were sometimes made the summer of 1806, rather tended to expounders of his will upon these confirm him in this belief. The bat, topics. tle of Jena, however, and its immeThe court of Denmark could not diate consequences, dissipated the be the last informed of what was delusion. Then Buonaparte became passing; her own interests, and the the absolute disposer of all the north desire of Buonaparte, that she should and north-east of Germany: he plac. at once learn his determination, and ed garrisous in the Hans-towns; he the success he had met with in bind. violated the neutrality of the Danish ing Prussia to it, speedily put her territory, and as-umed, for the win. in possession of what she was to tır, a position so bordering upon expect. She took the alarm. In it, held himself, and by his agents, hopes, perhaps, of obtaining some such language, and authorized acts consolatory information, or in the of such magnitude, that there could still more delusive expectation of no longer remain, in the mind of deriving some assistance by which any unprejudiced man, a doubt as to avert the impending storm, count to his tuture intentions. The first Bernstorff, the Danish minister for of these portentous acts was issued, foreign affairs, undertook a journey as soon as the suspension of military to Berlin. That court, divided as operations allowed of a moment's it had been, for some months, be- repose. It was his decree of the tween the honest but feeble endea. 21st of November, declaring the vours of one minister, and the in. British isles to be in a state of block. famous intrigues of another, to re- ade, and rendering the circumstanco gulate its concerns according to of this pretended blockade being their respective views, had not yet violated by any neutral vessel, a thrown itself into the guli.h from ground of legal capture against such which it was never to arise. Its vessel. The nature and extent of final and official consent to Buona. this decree have been developed in parte's proposal had not been given. another part of this work; it is suf. He indeed knew what he had to ficient, therefore, to state here, that depend upon ; but the well-inten- without individualizing uny, it was tioned part of the Prussian ministry a virtual declaration of hostility was still in hopes of preserving against every neutral power that their own and their country's ho. was in habits of commercial internour. To these men, count Bern- course with Great Britain. If his storff directed his attention-on means of giving full effect to this them his hopes rested; and as they decree did not equal the injustice did not despair of maintaining their on which it was founded, no inferown independence, they allowed ence could thence be drawn in fa. him to believe that they would vour of its admissibility. It might assist in the support of that of be fortunate for neutral nations, Denmark. He accordingly did not that these means were not commen. hesitate to assert, that Denmark surate to the disposition thus shewn would resist any attempt upon her of abusing them; but the intention, independence, from whatever quar. although in some instances harmless ter it came. At that time, possibly, for want of the power of realizing ke believed it, and the events of the it, did not the less indicate a hostile mind, a spirit of encroachment totally incompatible with every idea of independence and neutrality. In this light, even the American government still professes to consider the French decree; a set-off against it has been found in our measures, which arose out of that decree; but in the utmost effervescence of their partiality to France, and of their enmity to Great Britain, the Americans have never pretended that Buonaparte's decree was not essentially hostile. As such they remonstrated against it; as the Danes also professed to have done; but, besides that they have never, although repeatedly called upon for the purpose, produced one public or official act, by which to shew the efficacy of their resistance, it seems to have lasted only until it was ascertained whe. ther the French government could carry their decree into full effect. When this was decided in the ne gative, it became convenient to call the Berlin decree absurd, impracticable, and to put quite out of view its injustice and offensive aggression upon the rights of neutrals. It was then, only a vain and impotent at. tempt, which was made merely for form's sake, to try to distress the natural enemy of France; but which it was wholly unworthy either of England or any other power, to treat otherwise than with indifference. It was to be regarded as an act entirely null and void. Far other had been the conduct of Denmark upon an antecedent and not dissimilar occasion. When the British flag and commerce had been excluded from the Elbe and the Weser, and those rivers were, in consequence, blockaded by British squadron, althou l little was said of the violation of all right, justice, and public law, by which this blockade was occasioned, yet the English government was inces. santly harassed with complaints and remonstrances. Prussia, the power principally concerned, and which suffered the most from our measures, acknowledged the justice of them; nevertheless, we were importuned from day to day, for the interests of Gluckstadt and Altona, aud called upon to give up a great measure of national policy for the benefit of the Danish herringfishery. The consequence of these importunities, was, our allowing of such modification in the exercise of our right of blockade, as entitled us to the gratitude of Denmark. But they produced only an increase of angry and captious remonstrance. What had been conceded, was taken only as a ground for asking more, and for aggravating the pretended injustice of withholding any thing. This also was the case, in respect to the very mitigated measure of retaliation adopted by Great Britain, in consequence of the decree of the 21st of November. There too, all the injustice was on her side. Remonstrances, in a tone little suited to the relative power of Great Britain and Denmark, were addressed by the Danish chargé d'affaires in London, to the secretary of state for foreign affairs, against his majesty's order in council of the 7th of January. They were answered by that minister with all the strength which the justice of his cause afforded him, with all the dignity which his station required, and with that degree of temperate reproof which well suited the occasion, and the character of the person to whom his answer was addressed. Although Denmark was the organ mark to concede á point to Buona. through which these remonstrances . parte, at which lie was so much reached the British court, it is not disposed to take umbrage. This to be doubted that they orixinated was, at first, brought forward as a in French conncils, and that they plan of amicable arrangement, by were advised by France, as a means which Great Britain could, without of forcing England to receile from injury or inconvenience to herself, her public measures, or of embar. disembarrass Denmark from the rassing her in the execution of importunities and threats of the them. Other steps soon after taken French government. The proposal by Denmark, demonstrate beyond was afterwards maintained with all possibility of doubt, the exist. more or less animation, according ence of such an iniluence. The as hopes were entertained of the official documents of the Danish British government acceding to it: government on the foregoing sub. it was, however, rejected by that ject, had not been long received, government; and served only to when others were presented, upon shew the obsequiousness with which, a topick the very discussion of in every even the minutest particu. which would appear to be incom- lar, the court of Denmark was dispatible with the continuance of a posed to further the designs of friendly intercourse between the France. There were not, however, two countries. The epistolary cor. wanting other co-existing indications respondence still carried on be- of the malignity of those designs to. tween Great Britain and Denmark, wards Denmark herself; and the sort as between countries at peace, and of infatuation with which they, as between the former and other con. well as every other means of intimia tinental states, had long been an dation employed against her, were object of jealousy and dissatisfac, overlooked, have convicted her gotion to Buonaparte. The British vernment, if not of being wilful packet-boats still arrived at Ton. accomplices in Buonaparte's nefa. ningen, delivered there the London ríous practices, at least of such mails for Denmark, and for other weakness and subinissiveness to his parts of Europe; and English mes. will, as must of necessity produce sengers were sent as far and as consequences equally pernicious to often as was thought requisite, in Denmark herself, and to the genethe same directions. Although the ral welfare of Great Britain and French bureau d'espionage may her allies. The manner in which the have occasionally benefited by this French decree of the 21st of No. intercourse, yet the desire of cutting vember was notified to the Danish off all our communication with the court, conveyed a sufficient notice continent was thought to overba. of the light in which that decree lance this advantage; and Denmark was to be regarded, and of the au. was instructed to propose, that our thoritative style in which it was packet.boats should no longer re- meant to he enforced. The French sort to the ports of Holstein or chargé d'affaires at Copenhagen, Sleswig; and that we should, by not satisfied with the accustomary acquiescing in their exclusion, have channels of official communication, the appearauce of enabling Dey repaired to Kiel, to make knows his master's will to the prince royal degree, his displeasure, which was himself, or to his principal minister. announced in gestures as well as With what other threats this intie expressions. Of granting their remation was accompanied, or how quest, he evidently did not enterfar the French agent was satisfied tain an idea ; on the contrary, he with the reception he and his pro. avails himself of the occasion, as a posal met with at Kiel, may be best fit one to frighten all other powers collected from the terms in which' from hazarding a similar interven. his master soon after mentioned the tion, and in particular, he adsubject. In one of the bulletins, dresses a direct and most intelli. published from his head-quarters, gible menace to the prince royal of in giving an account of the intended Denmark. It was, perhaps, diffi operation of his decree, he says, cult to speak to the deputies of the “peut-être le blocus du Continent commercial intercourse of Ham. ne sera-t-il plus un vain mot.” burg, without some allusion to the This surely was an indication that neighbouring towns of Altona and he had not been altogether unsuc: Gluckstadt, and to the commerce cessful in his application to the which Great Britain carried on in prince royal. If, however, this those, as well as other ports of the supposition be in any degree con. Danish provinces. He, therefore, tradicted or discountenanced by the specifically mentions the conduct of language he, about the same time, the prince royal, and, in a tone of held at the head-quarters at Posen, the most despotic arrogance, adds we find in that language abundant 6 Let that little prince take care motives to revert to the other alter- of himself.” The conclusion we native, viz. that Denmark was mani. should naturally draw from this festing a very weak, if not a very wil. expression, is, (in contra diction to ling submission to his dictates. The his preceding oracular delivery,) town of Hamburg, where this same that he was not yet satisfied with decree of the 21st of November ap. the conduct of Denmark; that he pears to have been better under. exacted still farther submission to stood, and to have excited conse, his will than she had yet shewn; quently rather more apprehension, that nothing short of the absolute than at Copenhagen and Kiel, surrender of her independence thought it advisable to send a des would saturate his ambition. But putation of its senate to Buona. if this be the interpretation which parte, in the faint and delusive an impartial observer of events, hope of persuading him to with which a wellwisher of the fair fame draw a decree, which must be fatal and political correctness of the to the commerce, and consequently Danish government would desire to to the independent existence of their put upon the transaction; if it is town. These deputies were received to be recorded, as the unbiassed (with what urbanity the world historian would sincerely wish, that knows) at the French head-quarters, Denmark was not the accomplice, then established at Posen in West but the victim of his domineering Prussia. Their having dared even to ambition; in what manner, let us think of altering the resolves of the ask, can the government of that autocrat, had excited, in no small country justify to its injured sub. jects, can jects, the concealment from them of tered for a few provinces. The the abyss in which they were about king of Sweden was, at all events, to be precipitated ? an unfit personage to whom to ad. We have related circumstances dress such a proposal. The use he which indicate a willing mind in the made of it, affords a worthy cha. obsequiousness of Denmark. The racteristic of his whole reigu. He anecdote last-mentioned be immediately communicated it to the taken only in an opposite sense: court of Denmark, and made, at in the sense most consonant to the the same time, an offer of a corps professions of the Danish ministry. of auxiliaries, to assist the Danish In adding to it the fact, which government in maintaining its inseems to form the climax of French dependence, should that, in conse., treachery and audacity, as well as quence of its just resentment of this that of Danish weakness, we must transaction, be threatened or en. admit that there is, upon the whole, croached upon. Was not this a more appearance of Denmark having warning suficiently awful and sus, been intimidated by Buonaparte ficient to arouse the most inert? into a conduct which good policy Did Denmark take any precautions would disavow, than of her having in consequence of it? And if she become a willing instrument of his did not, is it not going to the ut. ainbition. Upon a fair and impar- termost verge of candor, to admit tial balance of the account, this, we that she, with an unwilling mind, say, is the impression that remains acted in obsequious subserviency upon our minds. The following is to the views of Buonaparte ? the fact which has bad a great effect Such a state of things led neces. in producing this impression, and sarily to feelings between the British we submit it accordingly to our and Danish governments, at times readers. unfriendly, at times, also, to angry Count Moerner, a Swedish officer : sensations. These had been foment. of distinction, had been made pri. ed by the recollection of Denmark's soner at Travemunde, the sea-port conduct in 1805, when, at the moof Lubeck, after and in conse- ment of a coalition being formed quence of the assault of that town against France, she openly threw by general Murat, and the surren. what litt'e weight of influence she der of the Prussian corps under then possessed, into the scale of that general Blucher. No sooner were country. The French, troops were these events accomplished, than withdrawn from the frontier of Murat made overtures to M. de Holstein, to fight the Austrians on Moerner, for the purpose of in. the Danube ; there could be no veigling his Swedish majesty into a other than the troops of the coales. peace, and of detaching him by an ced powers, of whom apprehensious offer of territorial aggrandisement could be said to be entertained, and from his allies. The bait employed yet the prince royal chose that moon this occasion, was no less than ment for assembling his army on the whole kingdom of Norway, a the borders of Lower Saxony. tempting one it must be acknow. In the many public discussions ledged, if honour were a market. which this subject has undergone, able commodity, and could be bar. too much time has, we think, beet employed |