order to procure for France a glorious and useful peace. Germany, alarmed by our colossal aggrandizement, far from opposing our successes, endeavoured merely to ensure her own existence, by a submission to all the great changes which subverted the German constitution. England alone persevered in her enmity towards an ambition so fatal to mankind, considering Napoleon's prosperity as a new cause of fear to herself, and of terror to the continent. She aimed at the honour of putting a stop to that boundless ambition, and represented to the sovereigns of the north, that it was their interest to impede the progress of our extensive power, which was rapidly increasing every day. Vain efforts! those sove reigns had not yet acquired the requisite degree of conviction, that they must all be united to crush the giant who wished to devour them. Napoleon's passion for invasion, suggested to him, on his return from Tilsit, the idea of declaring to Spain an unjust war, which not only faded his laurels, but afterwards furnished his enemies with the long-wished-for occasion of subverting his power.

A weak prince governed but nominally that' unhappy peninsula; but a perfidious minister, treacherous towards his country, and ungrateful to his king and benefactor, governed the state'

with uncommon partiality. With the most abject deference towards foreigners, he degraded the nation, whose rights he seemed to have usurped for no other purpose than to drag it into long and shameful servitude. The credulity of the father, and the moderation of the son, promoted his criminal intentions. He incensed them against each other, and parties were soon formed. The discord arising from which, served the artful Napoleon as a pretext to create a civil war, and to kindle that flame which was requisite for the execution of the most unjust and the most abominable project. It presents in the history of a civilized nation an example of such atrocious ingratitude, that it is impossible to meet with a similar one, even amongst barbarians.

Spain, notwithstanding its proximity to France, was little known to us, and the character of its inhabitants was still less so; this fatal ignorance misleading the conqueror, induced him to attempt an unfortunate invasion, the miseries of which will, however, be easily forgotten, if we con sider that it was like the campaign of Moscow, the primitive cause of those events which brought about the happy deliverance of the world.

It does not enter into my plan to recapitulate an ill-fated aggression which made enemies of two equally generous nations, who had always

been united by a reciprocal esteem; which would have still continued, but for the perfidious politics of the tyrant, who seemed to support his existence by the hatred of nations. Those strug

gles, which were remarkable both for their inveteracy and their vicissitudes, will furnish the historian with an interesting subject, and the military with ample matter for meditation. I shall only briefly observe, that Providence appears to have excited in Napoleon the idea of those two unjust wars, for the purpose of convincing the Spaniards and Russians, that an alliance with the vicious will unavoidably prove fatal. As a final moral lesson, this instrument which the Almighty had made use of to accomplish his purpose, was precipitated from one error into another, to shew that the tyranny which attacks all mankind, may be easily repelled, if men, united by harmony, meet under the banner of justice.

Whilst Napoleon vainly endeavoured to clear the peninsula from the English troops which had arrived there, a new storm was gathering in Germany. Austria, whom he had so often humbled, could not tamely submit to the shameful yoke under which her defeats had placed her; the hatred of the Spaniards, and the great armaments of England, offered her a good opportunity for trying once more the power of her arms, to regain

the states which she had lost, and that preponderance in politics of which she had always been particularly ambitious.

The new war against Austria only opened a new field of triumph to the French military. Landshut, Eckmuhl, and Ratisbon, having been obtained, after a few months of brilliant success, prepared the way for one of the most memorable victories. The prodigious events of Austerlitz were renewed at Wagram, which secured to France the most glorious campaign, and the most decisive results.

The treaty of Vienna which gave us peace, brought several wealthy provinces under our dominion. Wurtemberg and Bavaria were ag grandized by it, and it seemed to promise to Poland her complete re-establishment. But that treaty, dictated by a power which usurped every thing, might, like many former ones, have been productive of another war, if the most august and most unexpected alliance, had not crowned the fortune of the happy Napoleon. Of all the blessings which fortune had granted him, that marriage was undoubtedly the greatest; since it secured, for ever, the destiny of a man, who, having risen from a private rank in society, became allied to a powerful monarch. Dazzled by this prosperity, trying to surpass his former efforts, he provoked fate, and lost the benefit of

all his endeavours. Thus, for want of prudence, that which was so well calculated to cement his power, occasioned his ruin.

That period ought to have been the happiest of Napoleon's life. Who could have enjoyed more prosperous and quiet days? From a private individual, he saw himself raised to the first throne in the world; his whole reign had been a long series of victories, and, to crown his happiness, a son, the object of his most ardent wishes, was born, to succeed him. The people, though oppressed under his government, became accustomed to it, and seemed desirous to secure the crown to his family. All foreign princes, subjected to his power, were his vassals, maintaining his troops, and paying tributes to gratify his luxury and his pleasures. In short, all obeyed him. Nothing was wanting to make him happy! nothing, if one could be happy without a love of justice. But, never having known that sentiment, he could neither enjoy happiness or repose. Possessed of a restless spirit, and tormented by ungovernable ambition, the very excess of his fortune was his ruin. He wished for what could never be obtained; and, not judging rightly of others, he forgot every thing, he forgot himself.

The sovereign of the German empire, tired