exclusively dedicated to the arts and sciences. At the distribution of prizes recently made by the Academy of Fine Arts of the city of Bruges, a medal was adjudg ELEGIAC STANZAS On the Death of ed to a young man, who, though deprived by nature of the use of his hands, has nevertheless produced drawings admirable for their execution. Poetry. DR GLOVER, A. P. H. M. R. P. 5. E. The Scene of these Stanzas is on the side of the CALTON HILL, where PITY is figured standing in a bending posture, pointing towards the BURYING GROUND. TIME: -The Evening. WHAT form is that, at evening's twilight hour, Which, beck'ning to'ards thy rude and shapeless bier, Calls forth the muse from love's seducing bower, To shed the soft, the sadly-pleasing tear? 'Tis Pity! Glover! wedded to thy shade; In sorrow shrouded with thy fun'ral pall, That points to yonder spot, where thou art laid, Her child, her friend, her kindred, and her all!! "To thee, she says, no living busts I'll raise : "No glowing. statues shall adorn thy shrine; •No cumbrous pomp of monumental praise, But Pity's softest incence shall be thine!! "For thee, the village virgins all shall grieve! "With Spring's first flowers shall strew the tear-moist sod! "And little loves shall never fail, at eve, «To haunt the dearest grave they ever trod!!! "Remembrance too shall ne'er desert the Stern winter stalks proudly across the wide lawn, And summer flies conquer'd by ruthless decay. These changes are man truly pictured I Historical Affairs. STATE PAPERS. Prairies, his Prussian Majesty issued a The Declaration, or Manifesto, in which the PRUSSIAN MANIFESTO. "The politics of France have been the scourge of humanity during the last fifteen years. Those men who, in rapid succession, have been at the head of affairs in that country, have only sought the means of their dominion in war, and the guarantee of their existence in the wretchedness of the people, may be viewed without astonishment. But the introduction of a regular Government, to which the same necessity could not be imputed, gave new life to the hopes of the friends of peace.Napoleon, invested with the supreme power, victorious, surrounded by weaker States, friendly disposed Governments, or conquered or exhausted rivals, had it in his power to perform a better part. For the greatness of France, nothing more remained for him to do; for her happiness, every thing was in his power. The "It is painful to be compelled to say, that French politics still remained the same. An insatiable ambition was still the ruling passion of France. She made use of arms and of treaties with the same view. peace of Amiens was scarcely concluded, before the signal for the first acts of violence followed. Holland and Switzerland, two independent states, were compelled to accept a constitution which converted them into French provinces. The renewal of war was the consequence. Nov. 1806. "Peace, however, still continued upon the Continent. The German Empire had purchased it by incalculable sacrifices. In the midst of this peace, nevertheless, the French troops invaded the electorate of Hanover; a country which had no concern in the war betwixt France and England, while the ports of Germany were shut against the British flag; and the better to effect her object, France took possession of Cuxhaven, and the territory of a free state, which was still more a stranger to the war than Hanover. "In the midst of this peace also, the same troops, a few months after, violated the German territory in such a manner as to wound the honour of the nation still deeper. The Germans have never avenged the death of the Duke D'Enghien; but the remembrance of that event will never be extinguished among them. "The treaty of Luneville guaranteed the independence of the Italian Republic. In spite of the most positive promises, did Napoleon place the Iron Crown of Italy upon his own head. Genoa was incorporated with France; Lucca was very near sharing the same fate. Only a few months before had the Emperor, on a solemn occasion -an occasion which imposed very important duties upon him-declared before his people and before all Europe, that he wished not to extend the limits of his territory. Besides, France was bound by a treaty with Russia, to put the King of Sardinia in possession of indemnities in Italy. Instead of fulfilling that obligation, she made herself mistress of every object which could have been serviceable towards that indemnification. "Portugal wished to maintain her neutrality, but Portugal was compelled to purchase by gold the deceitful security of a few moments. "The Porte, who had not forgotten the invasion of Syria in Egypt, was the only power remaining in Europe which had not been subjected to the arbitrary proceedings of France. But to these acts of violence, a system of abuse and injury remained still to be added. A Journal, which proclaimed itself the voice of Government, was chosen as a chronicle of the attacks incessantly made upon every crowned head. "Prussia could be no stranger to any of these general acts of oppression. Many of them were nearly connected with her substantial stantial interests; especially as the wisdom of that system, which considers the states of Europe as members of the same family, calls upon each of them for the defence of all; and that the unbounded aggrandizement of one state exposed the rest to dan ger, was sufficiently manifest to experience. "Still it is most essentially necessary to represent in what manner the conduct of France was calculated to operate in its im mediate relation to Prussia. "It were superfluous to enumerate all the good offices rendered to Napoleon by Prussia. Prussia was the first Power that acknowledged him. No promises, no menaces, had been able to shake the King's neutrality. Every thing that the duty of a good neighbour could prescribe was most amply afforded during a period of six years. Prussia esteemed a valiant nation, which alone had learned, on its part, to respect Prussia both in war and peace; and she did justice to the genius of its chief. But the remembrance of these times is no longer retained by Napoleon. "Prussia had permitted the territory of Hanover to be invaded. In this she had countenanced an act of injustice; therefore was it her first view to remedy it. She of fered herself for it instead of England, under the condition that the latter should cede it. It must, however, at least, be recollected, that thus a boundary was prescribed to France, which she should not pass. Napoleon solemnly pledged himself not to compromise the neutrality of the Northern States; to exercise no violence towards any of them; and, in particular, not to increase the number of troops in the Electorate of Hanover. "Scarcely had he agreed to these stipu lations, than he broke them. Every one is acquainted with the violent manner in which Sir George Rumbold was seized; every one knows that the Hanse Towns were laid under contribution, under the appellation of loans, not by any means, for their interests, but exactly in the same manner as if France had been at war with them. For the first of these injuries, his Majesty contented himself with accepting an inadequate satisfaction. Of the second he took no cognizance, being prevented by the apprehensions and representations on the part of the Hanse Towns. His Majesty, on his part, did not scruple to make any sacrifice. as the preservation of peace was the dearest wish of his heart. "The patience and sufferance of every other Court were exhausted sooner than that of his Majesty.-War again broke out on the Continent-the situation of the King, with respect to his duty, was more difficult than ever. In order to prevent France from augmenting her troops in Hanover, he had promised to suffer ne attack to be made on that territory. The Russians and Swedes were preparing for an attack upon the French. From this period, the whole burthen of the contract between France and Prussia weighed up. on the latter only, without producing to her the least advantage; and, by a singular concatenation of circumstances, it seemed that Prussia, who only wished to remain impartial and neutral, could no longer pursue her former system, except to the prejudice of the allied powers. Every advan. tage which resulted from this situation of affairs was on the side of France; and the King was daily threatened with a collision, not less formidable to him, than decisively favourable to the plans of Napoleon. "Who could have thought, that the very moment when the King had given to the French Government the strongest proof of his determination, and a singular example of the faithful fulfilment of engagements into which he had once entered, should be chosen by Napoleon to do the King the most sensible injury? Who does not remem ber the violation of the territory of Anspach, which took place on the 3d of October in the last year, notwithstanding the remonstrance of the Provincial Administration, and of his Majesty's Minister? "This contest between that moderation which pardons every thing--that integrity which remains true to its engagements to the last, on the one part; and the abuse of power, the insolence inspired by deceitful fortune, and the habit of only reckoning on this fortune, on the other, continued se. veral years. The King declared to the French Government, that he considered all his connections with it as dissolved. He placed his armies on a footing suitable to circumstances-He was now fully convinced, that no pledge of security remained for the neighbours of France, but a peace established upon firm principles, and guaranteed by all the powers in common. "His Majesty offered the allies to be the mediators in negociations for such a peace, and to support them with all his force. It is sufficient to know the conditions then proposed, to be convinced of the moderation which, at all times, has governed the politics of his Majesty in their whole extent. Prussia, at this moment, listened not to the voice of revenge; she passed over the events of the late war, however violent they might have been, since they had been sanctioned by existing treaties. She required nothing but the punctual fulfilment of those treaties; but this she required without, limitation. Count Haugwitz repaired to Vienna, where the French Emperor Emperor then was.-Scarcely had this Minister been there a few days, when the whole face of affairs was changed; the misfortunes experienced by the Court of Vienna had compelled it to sign an armistice, which was immediately followed by a peace. The Emperor of Russia sacrificed his magnanimous views to the wish of his ally, and his troops returned home. Prussia stood now alone on the field of contest. His Majesty was obliged to limit his policy by his powers; and instead, as had been his wish, of embracing the interest of all Europe, made his own security and that of his neighbours his first object. The French Emperor proposed to Count Haugwitz a treaty, in which wa stipulated on the one side, a mutual guarantee of possessions, the inviolability of the Turkish territory, and the results of the peace of Presburgh; and on the other, the taking possession of Hanover by Prussia in return for the cession of three provinces. The first part of this treaty promised, at least, for the future, an acknowledged, guaranteed, and, if Napoleon had so pleased, a firm political Constitution. The results of the peace of Presburgh were a general misfortune to Europe; but Prussia sacrificed herself alone when she accepted them; and, to place a limit to the incessant usurpations of France, should the treaty be considered by the Court of St Cloud as any thing more than words, appeared an advantage. The King therefore ratified this article unconditionally. The second half of the treaty of Vienna related to an object, the importance of which had been manifested by serious experience. Prussia could not rely on security for a moment so long as Hanover remained involved in a war in which that country had, in fact, no concern. At whatever price it might be purchased, Prussia was resolved that the French should not return thither. She had her choice to obtain this end either by a treaty or a war. The cession of three provinces, which had been always faithful and happy, was a sacrifice not to be made for any plan of vain ambition; but these provinces, in case of a war, would have been the first sufferers: all the calamities of that war would have pressed upon the monarchy, while the acquisition of Hanover, could it have been made under less unhappy circumstances, would have been productive of the most valuable advantages to Prussia. The King, therefore, conceived that he reconciled his wishes with his principles when he accepted the proposed exchange, only under the condition, that the fulfilment of the same should be deferred till the general peace, and that the consent of his Majesty the King of Great Britain should be obtained. All the advantages of this treaty were for France. On the one side, she received guarantees which put the seal on her conquests; on the other, she gave what she did not possess, what might be again conquer ed by the chance of an uncertain war, while in the cessions of Prussia she found the means of enriching her allies. But between a policy which will do every thing in its power, and an integrity which regards its duties, and especially its promises, the contest is ever unequal. The King approached the moment when he was convinced of this by experience; this moment was the most painful of his reign. It was in the power of France to reject the modifications under which the King had confirmed the treaty, if she did not approve them. But she avoided doing this; for the whole Prussian army was still under arms. She continued to be lavish of assurances of friendship-she fulfilled the treaty as far as it suited her; but when his Majesty wished to reap the only advantages which he had proposed to himself from the late negociations, and which was nearest his heart, she suddenly altered her language-the modifications added to the treaty of Vienna were now rejected at Paris. Endeavours were made to force Prussia into the most injurious measures; and when Count Haugwitz, who was at Paris, remonstrated against this, the unconditional fulfilment of the treaty was haughtily insisted on, as were the immediate cession of the three provinces, and the recal of the patent by which the occupa tion of Hanover was declared provisional. Prussia was required to resign a part of the advantages stipulated, and to shut her ports against the British flag in the same manner as if the French had returned into the Electorate. The King at length was perfectly convinced of the true character of the friendship of the Emperor of the French-a soporofic draught for a power which still feels its own strength; an instrument of degradation, and finally of subjection, to every power which no longer possesses strength. In the mean time, Napoleon was in possession of every advantage. The Russian army had returned; his own, after some movements of no consequence, at which deceived Germany prematurely rejoiced, on some frivolous pretences, established itself on this side the Rhine. The first conflict might produce misfortunes. War, which is not, under all circumstances, the greatest of evils, might become such under those then existing. The King deter mined to continue the part he had hitherto acted for some time longer. Wishing to preserve his force, now more than ever necessary to Europe, and at least to secure the tranquillity of the North, he confirmed the new treaty. Confidence, however, was now utterly lost. Prussia was convinced, that, on the first opportunity to weaken her without danger, she might expect an attack from her pretended ally; convinced that there is a degree of ambition which nothing can satisfy, which proceeds without intermission from usurpation to usurpation, sometimes without a plan, but ever intent on destruction; careless of the choice of means, and employing alike arms and the pen, violence and oaths. But even with this conviction, so great is the unfortunate superiority obtained by such policy over those who wish only to be just, the King fulfilled all the conditions of the treaty with the punctuality of a faithful ally. It is known what the consequences were with respect to the connexions of his Majes ty with England. France gained nothing by this, but she triumphed in secret at the thought of having disunited the two Courts, the union of which might have been dangerous to her: and what, in the view of France, gave the principal value to her alliance with the King was, that this alliance isolated his Majesty, since it produced an opinion that Prussia was a participator in the cause of so many misfortunes. But, not content with this, we shall soon see in what manner the politics of France, assured that she had now no enemy to fear, believing that she had annihilated Austria, forming a judgment of Russia with equal ignorance and rashness, and blinded by the apparent tranquillity of Prussia, at length threw off the mask, and despising forms, which she had hitherto sometimes respected, openly trampled on all treaties and all rights; three months after the signing of the treaty with Prussia, all its articles were violated. The treaty had for its basis the status quo of the moment in which it was concluded; also the guarantee of the German empire and its states, according to the constitution then established.This truth a. rises not only from the nature of thingsthe treaty had also expressly prescribed to the two powers their duties. The relations in which the peace of Presburgh had left his Majesty the Emperor of Austria were guaranteed to him, consequently also the Imperial Crown of Germany and the rights connected with it. The existence of Bavaria, and consequently the relations which had connected it for so many centuries to the empire, were likewise confirmed by the same common guarantee. Three months after, the Confederation of the Rhine overthrew the Germanic Constitution, deprived the Emperor of the ancient ornament of his house, and placed Bavaria, and thirty other Princes, under the tutelage of France. But it is necessary to appeal to treaties to form a judgment of this extraordinary event. Previous to all treaties, nations have their rights, and had not France sported with the sanctity of an oath, this act of unexampled despotism would exasperate every mind. To deprive Princes who had never offended France, and to render them the vassals of others, themselves the vassals of the French Government--to abolish with a stroke of a pen a constitution of a thousand years duration, which long habit, the remembrance of so many il. lustrious periods, and so many various and mutual relations, had rendered dear to such a number of Princes, which had so often been guaranteed by all the European powers, and even by France herself to lay contributions on the cities and towns in the midst of profound peace, and leave the new possessors only an exhausted skeleton-to abolish this constitution, without consulting the Emperor of Germany, from whom a crown was wrested-or Russia, so lately become the guarantee of the German League-or Prussia, intimately interested in that league, thus arbitrarily dissolved---No -wars and continued victories have sometimes produced great and remarkable catastrophes, but such an example in time of peace was never before given to the world. The King commiserated the unfortunate Princes who suffered by these transactions, but he pitied not less those who had suffered themselves to be lured by the hope of gain, and he would reproach himself, should he increase their unhappiness by judging them with too great severity. Deluded by the reward of their compliance, probably forced to obey commands which admitted of no opposition, or, if surprised into consent, sufficiently punished by their acquisitions, and by being reduced to a state of vassalage as harsh and degrading as their former relations were honourable, they de serve not to be treated by Germany with the utmost rigour. Perhaps, when the magnanimous nation, to which they formerly belonged, arises round them on every side to contend for their independence, they may listen to the voice of gratitude and honour, and at last abhor their chains when they find they must be stained by the blood of their brethren. It was not enough that these despotic acts were immediately injurious to Prussia. The Emperor of France was intent on rendering them sensible to the person of the King in all his allied states. The existence of |