Reasons Against National Despondency (Paperback)

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. 1797 edition. Excerpt: ...might obtain Peace, but that fhe might be permitted to fue for it. What muft the terms have been to correfpond with this extravagant preliminary? So violent was the Jacobin animofity againft this Country, that the ufual horrors and cruelties of War were not fufficicnt to gratify it. By a Decree of the Convention, vengeance, more unrelenting, indifcriminate, and univerfal, was to be exercifed againft the Britifh Soldiery, than the moft favage Tribes had had ever pra&ifed againft each other. No' prifoners were to be made; no quarter was to be given to wounded or unfortunate valour; but a War of utter extirpation was announced. Was this a difpofinon fo truly promifing, fo meek and fb pacific, that England ought to have fupplicated for Peace, or could have relied on its continuance, if it had been concluded? Laying afide for the prefent all confideration of thofe dangers which muft have befet our internal tranquillity, if this meafure had been adopted, could any hope exift that Peace was attainable under circumftances like thefe? The hatred of the Jacobins againft this Country was indelible; their jealoufy at its power, and their envy of its profperity, were openly avowed. So far from its being their intereft to conclude the War, Mr. Erfkine himfelf contends that the very exiftence of the Republic depended upon its continuance. The Page 49. I am not concerned to vindicate the juftice of this reafoning. I only requeft it may be remarked, that it is the reafoning of Oppofition, and that they are confuted upon their own principles., Mr. Erikine pronounces it to be the fact, with all the decifivenefs of the modern French ftyle, that " She (France) "was rent afunder by the divifions of her own People, but "cemented again by the con/piracy of...