TO THE READER. It may be proper to observe, that when any subject sought, has been found in the INDEX, a reference there marked to the TABLE OF CON TENTS, will enable the reader to ascertain whether that be the article ho desired to find; without turning over the volume for that purpose. TO THE BINDER. The Title, Preface, Table of Contents, Index, &c. are to be placed at the beginning of the volume: after which follow b, c, d, e, f, containing View of the State of Europe, &c. &c. from page xviii. to page xxx. The Binder will also observe that the Signature 2 Y. is omitted; but the pages are correct. The coloured map of India to face the article page 1. VIEW OF THE STATE OF EUROPE, &c. IN THE PUBLIC RELATIONS OF ITS NATIONS TO EACH OTHER, DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1808. Deduced from the principal Events in which they are interested. GREAT BRITAIN. That kind of optical instrument called a "multiplying glass," which consists of a chrystal cut into a number of facettes, each of which transmits an image of the object seen through the chrystal, may be considered as no bad illustration of the different aspects in which the same political object is beheld by. different observers. As the extreme images shewn in the glass are distorted, and are also discoloured by hues foreign from those of the real object, so do the passions, the party feelings, the imperfect informations, the perverted judgments of politicians, behold, in incidents and questions that interest the public,forms utterly unlike the true form of the original, and colours wholly imaginary and delusive; yet, amid all this perversion, a strong eye, intent on closely inspecting the object, and happily situated for direct vision, may obtain a distinct sight of the subject presented, and may enable the spectator to judge of its nature and aspect. It would be assuming in us to boast, that we only enjoy that situation which admits a direct view of political objects; but we most strenuously aver our endeavours to avoid forming incorrect opinions on facts, and the exertion of much diligence, as well as the exercise of our best judgment, in procuring that information which may guide our opinion and for our sentiments. In composing our Views of the State of Europe, we know that we are furnishing materials for future historians; and we feel the responsibility that attaches to our labours. We can honestly affirm, that we have never suffered unworthy motives of any kind, to colour or to bias our representations but have discharged our duty, to the best of our knowledge and conviction, with integrity, fidelity, and honour. If we consider attentively the situation of Britain, at the beginning of the present year, we cannot but be struck with the singular spectacle she presented to the nations around her. Confessedly not insensible to the effect of measures directed to her injury, because, those measures being recent, she had had barely time enough to determine on means to oppose them with effect. Confessedly not without apprehensions for the future, being placed in an untried situation, a situation of which history furnished no example, and therefore no precedent to direct, VOL. IV. [Lit. Pan. Supp.] no clue to guide, no authority, no suggestior, from which any use might be derived, or of which any advantage might be taken. Britain has often been called to endure hostility, has seen numerous enemies combine their powers, and, by acts of military violence, endeavour to effect her overthrow. But she had never seen all the nations of the Continent, under the power of a single ty rant, obeying his dictates, though with extreme reluctance, and obliged by their public actions to belie every sentiment of their hearts. They were ordered to suspend all intercouse with Britain, and they suspended all intercourse; they were ordered to confiscate British ships trading to their ports, and they confiscated British ships; they were ordered further to condemn neutrals having British property on board, or that had touched at a British port, or that had been visited by a British vessel; and they condemned such neutrals nay, rather than be polluted by the admission of any article of British origin, they closed their ports against all vessels without exception: and admitted no communication with an island declared to be in a state of strict and rigorous blockade. Blockade! by whom? By a power whose ships were safe in their own ports only, from British capture; and whose cock-boats crept along shore, dreading the appearance of a British flag, with greater anxiety than shipwreck itself. Whatever Britain could furnish, then, was prohibited, under the most terrific penalties, and British commodities were repulsed-by all who were not able to procure them.Were the commodities that Britain had been used to furnish, injurious in their nature, then? No; they were necessary comforts of life. Were they infected by any epidemic disease? No. Was their absence really desired by those who thus rejected them? No. Had their utility ceased? No. Were they useful to those who had been in the habit of depending on receiving them-did they supply their manufactures and afford opportunities to the industrious to exercise their skill-did they yield a profit to the fabriquant, to the merchant, to the carrier, and to the retailer? -All these questions must be answered in the affirmative: but these considerations are of no moment to the Despot of the Continent; He wills that the productions of Britain be considered as polluted with political malignant miasmata; and the forced-to-besubmissive governments, re-echo every prohibition, and affect to concur in every measute for preventing the dreaded contagion from reaching and contaminating them. really starving snatch by violence food from the mouths of strangers, Nature feels an apolo gy before justice has summed up the particulars; but what satisfaction can the craving appetite derive from the conflagration of stores?-If persons really in want of work, press urgently for it, we can forgive the absence of politeness from their manner, nor look to them, or such occasions, for the etiquette of the Drawing Room: but why cut the work in the loom? Why render goods already finished unsaleable? Why deprive others of value ?-The malice of such proceedings we can discover; but not the advantage, the propriety, the humanity, or the Christianity, of them. May they never again disgrace our annals! This he will consider as an argument of weight; and this will continue, and increase in effect, while the freedom of commerce is impeded. It is true that the people were led by their interests to dissent from the public measures of their governments, and to embrace every opportunity of procuring these forbidden commodities. This lessened the effect, and diminished the evil of the extensive combination operating against Britain; but that it was attended with some effect, and some evil, we are not at liberty to deny. The conduct pursued by Britain was not that of attempting by soothing representations to induce some part of this combination to give way; -but she fairly told the whole Continent, that We have elsewhere given an account of if she were blockaded, she in return would the Parliamentary proceedings and discussions blockade the whole posse of her enemies; of this session. We have attached great imand if they would receive nathing from her, portance to the deliberations, and to the they should receive nothing from elsewhere. measures adopted: time will prove whether She closed up the entrance of their ports our opinion be well founded. The British against all others, and left them to choose operations, intended to counteract the combetween a complete absence of supplies to pulsive exclusion of British goods by the which they had been accustomed, and the re- enemy, will be found, after a time, to have ception of those supplies from her, who had deprived his people of many comforts formerbeen used to furnish them. That the pres- ly enjoyed by them, and his revenue of many sure of these manoeuvres, plotted and execut-profits formerly levied on such merchandize. ed against British commerce should be felt, and very sensibly too, for a time, among our merchants and manufacturers, was extremely natural. And those who had been preparing for a totally different state of things, were considerably embarrassed by events. If the merchant who exports goods gives no orders to the manufacturer, the manufacturer can give no employment to his men; and his , men, who formerly obtained great prices for their labour, and expected at they should always be able to obtain the same, never anticipated the possibility of a change, nor reserved any part of their earnings against an evil day. They were poor, and poor they continued: the masters wished to retain them against better times; yet unable to employ them fully, they gradually diminished the quantity of employ, and the price of that quantity, till at length it did not afford subsistence to those who depended on it. The consequence was, mobs, riots, and mischief. The public peace was disturbed; and though some advances of price were made to the workmen, yet the bickerings it caused or promoted did not terminate with the termination of the tumult. However, this disturbance of the public peace has had no serious or permanent evil effect on the nation at large. Nothing appears more wonderful to considerate minds, than that redress should be sought through the medium of destruction. We are lost in wonder at the conduct of those who annihilate the property of others by way of increasing their own. If persons As the plans adopted must have time to operate, and as we have noticed the principal of them, such as the restriction of the distilleries from using corn, the encouragement given to our colonies for the growth of hemp, and other articles of naval stores, &c. &c. &c. in our previous pages, we shall omit further observations, because a future time will enable us to speak with more confidence on their effects. We close therefore by saying, that the concerns of Britain have a favourable appearance, so far as regards an independence on other nations for supplies of corn, and articles of provision; and that only those who have never considered the extent of supply demanded by our population, and the extensive evils that must have attended a scanty harvest, can be insensible to the bounty of Heaven in favouring us with every appearance of plentiful crops. For ourselves, we acknowledge that we should esteem it a deficiency in our character, as sensible and rational thinkers; and as politicians too, if we were not extremely grateful to the Beneficent Fountain of all good, for the incalculable advantages comraunicated by His providential favour on this occasion. The foreign relations of Britain differ little from those we had to record in our last retros pect. In general, there seems to be a remitting of political animosity: Spain has broken |