any
specious grounds for it, in propositions of affected moderation, or in
the most loose and general conciliatory language? The direct contrary.
It was but a very few days before the noble writer had commenced his
Remarks, as if it were to refute him by anticipation, that his France
thought fit to lay out a new territorial map of dominion, and to declare
to us and to all Europe what territories she was willing to allot to her
own empire, and what she is content (during her good pleasure) to leave
to others.

This their law of empire was promulgated without any requisition on that
subject, and proclaimed in a style and upon principles which never had
been heard of in the annals of arrogance and ambition. She prescribed
the limits to her empire, not upon principles of treaty, convention,
possession, usage, habitude, the distinction of tribes, nations, or
languages, but by physical aptitudes. Having fixed herself as the
arbiter of physical dominion, she construed the limits of Nature by her
convenience. That was Nature which most extended and best secured the
empire of France.

I need say no more on the insult offered not only to all equity and
justice, but to the common sense of mankind, in deciding legal property
by physical principles, and establishing the convenience of a party as a
rule of public law. The noble advocate for peace has, indeed, perfectly
well exploded this daring and outrageous system of pride and tyranny. I
am most happy in commending him, when he writes like himself. But hear
still further and in the same good strain the great patron and advocate
of amity with this accommodating, mild, and unassuming power, when he
reports to you the law they give, and its immediate effects:--"They
amount," says he, "to the sacrifice of powers that have been the most
nearly connected with us,--the direct or indirect annexation to France
of all the ports of the Continent from Dunkirk to Hamburg,--an immense
accession of territory,--and, in one word, THE ABANDONMENT OF THE
INDEPENDENCE OF EUROPE!" This is the LAW (the author and I use no
different terms) which this new government, almost as soon as it could
cry in the cradle, and as one of the very first acts by which it
auspicated its entrance into function, the pledge it gives of the
firmness of its policy,--such is the law that this proud power
prescribes to abject nations. What is the comment upon this law by the
great jurist who recommends us to the tribunal whi