This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1793 edition. Excerpt: ...tie. Monsieur de Vergennes held out to the Emperor the flattering prospect of opening the navigation of the Scheldt, which he knew to be a matter of essential interest to Holland, and, as such, likely to call forth the strongest exertions of that republic, and of those States which were concerned in the prosperity of her commerce and navigation. This enterprize, as it is well known, was readily undertaken by the Emperor, with all that enthusiasm which marked his character. But as irresolution and mutability were equally the characteristics of that Sovereign, the design, after a few fruitless efforts, was abandoned, and Monsieur de Vergennes was reduced to the necessity of devising some other plan for the furtherance of his views. The fertility of his resources soon enabled him to H suggest suggest to the Emperor (of whose easy adoption of his schemes he had sufficient experience) the idea of effecting an exchange of the Netherlands for Bavaria, on condition that he should not prosecute his views against the Turks. From this plan the French minister expected to derive very important advantages. He conceived, that, by thus establishing the petty kingdom of Austrasia (for with that title the Elector of Bavaria was to be bribed to the exchange) which, by its situation, must always have been dependent on France, the accomplishment of his favourite object of perpetuating the dependence of Holland on that country would have been ensured, whilst England, whose reviving power he principally dreaded, would have been entirely cut off from all connexion with the continent. When this project was communicated to Russia, the Empress, grateful for the obligations she owed to England, and immediately perceiving, in the accomplishment of the plan in...